The 2nd edition of the ZimDancehall Summit which took place on the 30th of July 2020 was a huge success. A cocktail of debate, ideas and sought to proffer solutions for the growth of Zimbabwe’s Reggae and Dancehall music industry. It was hosted in partnership with PLAYAFRIKA TV and ZIMCELEBS

The event was organised by Sonny Chibuwe aka Changamire Dombo, Godfrey Bakasa aka Vokal, Everjoy Blair and Plot Mhako.

Having started in 2018 the summit is a one-day convention that seeks to bring together artists and other stakeholders to share knowledge, and have dialogue on how to have a viable & sustainable industry. This year the conference took place virtually owing to the Covid_19 global pandemic.

The summit had three key topics:

1. Online Distribution + Royalties 10-11:30am (CAT) _ Plot Mhako [Moderator]

2. Artist Management, Promotion (Covid_19 & the Future)1-2:30pm (CAT)_ Nico Abote [Moderator]

3. Music & Society _ Identity, Content + Influence 4-5:30pm (CAT) _ Dj Everjoy [Moderator]

A collective of local and international panelists were drawn from 7 countries to deliberate and map the way forward on the three topics set.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS FROM THE SUMMIT

“Stakeholders need to create a positive social image & brand for Zimdancehall to get a wider Intl’ appeal” Tauzen Dollar

“Lets create unity, platforms and real engagement that helps not only ZimDancehall but music in Zimbabwe” Tauzen Dolar

“From 2014-2018 i never got a cent from my music online. I was robbed” Seh Calaz

“When you leave a manager / contract / label to the next look at vision & value. Dont follow groupies” Joe Machingura

“What we lack as producers is we lack of confidence with our own sound. We had created Zvigubhu but now we are on Afrobeats” DjFydale

“Lets put more energy in sharing knowledge and positive energy to move ZimDancehall forward” Tauzen Dollar

“Ma Big artists mu Zimdancehall suffer from an identity crisis. They follow waves” Seh Calaz

“When most ZimDancehall artists tour outside they never appear in the media there. We need plugs for our content” Hillary Mutake

“Yes! Zimdancehall sounds very much original. The style is Dancehall but the melody very Zimbabwean” Canute #Jamaica

“Street piracy is killing us. Vendors approach me, selling (to me) copies of my own music. Gvt must intervene” Seh Calaz

“Let these conversations not end as just discussions. Action plans & walking the talk” Joe Machingura

“Every new music genre needs that one star quality artist & the numbers in support for an international break” Canute

“Big Up to every ZimDancehall artist & activist who put in the work to build the culture. Zimdancehall is a reaction to lack” Chamunorwa Mashoko

“Maybe we need to start sampling old Zimbabwean music from different genres to create new” Dizzy Dee

“We are a small community. Unity is key. e.g If Nutty O makes a big break we all need to rally behind” Seh Calaz

“One way Zimdancehall could go international is by Zimbabwenizing the sound by including traditional sounds”Mono Mukundu

“Lets embrace new sounds & evolve. We are too afraid to embrace the new” Joe Machingura

“The Zimdancehall music space has not been friendly to female artists. Most of them end up giving up” Seh Calaz

“Several artists who started off as Zimdancehall no-longer do Zimdancehall” Seh Calaz

“When u have a sound / melody & the world doesnt have it, stick with it & be confident about it. The world will soon embrace” Canute Neil Ellis USA, Producer/Engineer/Technical Director (Jamaica)

“Us as women in #ZimDancehall we are never a priority but last option. We need equal opportunity & respect” Cece

“Promoters’ main goal is business & to make money. Its the artist & management’s role to create value & benefit” Mono Mukundu

“Going international is not about singing in English. Its misleading.” Seh Calaz

“Producers would record (us for free) & they would host a Riddim Launch event & we performed for free” Seh Calaz

“Hoping to get on airplay on foreign radios is an uphill. Penetrate festivals through a new sound” Mono

“Piracy hits us hard. How do we make a better life and a viable music career?” Seh Calaz

“Chillspot made great deliberate efforts to create the authentic Zimdancehall sound” Dj Fydale

“We need more women in ZimDancehall. They dont feel safe. Producers, Artists, Promoters & the fans exploit them” Seh Calaz

“How come the administrators have more money than the talent (artists / creators of content)” Joe Machiingura

“We have a challenge in the media. We give too much coverage to foreign. Some radios here sound more American” Mono Mukundu

“Ma artists vazhinji rightnow havana mari.” Seh Calaz

“Most new / unknown artists still struggle to get their music on Zim radios without giving “yeDrink” Dizzy Dee

”lets have content that is good quality & progressive” MelB Melhuchi

”Some artists sing fake Patois. Staying true is the best foot forward” Lindsay

Can you upload music on your own on: Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music. NO! You need a record label /music distributor / approved aggregator.