UNDER siege dancehall chanter and social commentator Winky D was conferred as the best African entertainer at the recently held International Reggae and World Music Awards.
Bigman, as Winky D is affectionately known, shrugged off competition from Nigerian Patoranking , Star Zee (Sierra Leone), Shatta Wale (Ghana), and Ghanaian Stoneboy.
Despite being snubbed from local awards ceremonies, the international award affirms that Winky D’s music and performances have made a mark on global platforms.
The award comes at a time when Winky D has had a run-in with authorities for the release of his political and socially conscious album Eureka Eureka.
In a message to his followers, Winky D appreciated the recognition, which came amidst adversity from the state in Zimbabwe.
“Thank you for your unwavering support, which has seen us winning the best African dancehall entertainer of the year at the Jamaican 40th international reggae and world music awards,” Winky D said
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“Being recognised by our wider music community reaffirms the universal nature of heartfelt music and its unshaken ability to bring humanity together, regardless of diverse beliefs and superficial differences.
“This award is particularly poignant as it has been presented to us during a period of intense challenges and adversity, thank you and may the music continue its mission to educate, uplift and inspire.”
There was a chilling ambiance at his recent performance at Kingfisher Park in Harare because of a heavy police presence with dogs and a truck prowling the area.
A fortnight ago in Bulawayo, it was reported that a group of Zanu PF members commanded Winky D to alter his playlist by not playing songs that speak to social injustice and the country’s maladministration.
Sources close to the organisers told the Standard Style that Winky D had received an instruction to self-regulate his set from Zanu PF members.
“There was an instruction from certain members of Zanu PF who were in Bulawayo. The message was simple — do not perform tracks that might lead to mayhem within the crowds. One of the songs is iBotso and other politically charged songs,” he said.
Winky D went on to respond to the instruction on stage by saying he had been warned not to play certain songs.
"They want to arrest the music. Music should flow like water in a river. They don't have to control my playlist. I want to play what I want, I have to play what you want," said Winky D, before performing another crowd favourite — Gafa Party (Toyi toyi).
As calls from the crowd for Winky D to perform iBotso grew louder, the artiste responded by saying he had been cautioned not to perform the song.
"I have been warned. I have been cautioned and they said if you sing that particular song there is going to be disaster. So, I do not want disaster, I want people to have fun,” he said.
Ibotso speaks on how the elites are looting resources meant for the ordinary citizens and how the economic meltdown and corruption has contributed to social and cultural erosion.
Winky D has been receiving threats since the launch of his politically charged album — Eureka Eureka.
Following the release of his album in January, a Zanu PF-aligned Economic Empowerment Group led by Mike Chimombe demanded that Winky D’s music be banned from all radio stations and he should be blocked from performing live.
EEG claimed the artiste's lyrics are dangerous to society and cause despondency, hence he should be banned.
In his first public appearance after the launch of his album, Winky D’s show at Damview in Chitungwiza was prematurely ended by the police.
Police stormed the stage in the middle of his performance and forced the dancehall chanter to go off stage leading to pelting and violence from disgruntled fans.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police at the Winky D show were deployed to monitor drug peddling and use at the venue.
In 2018 the artiste and his Vigilance band were attacked by machete-wielding attackers suspected to be Zanu PF supporters in Kwekwe when they attempted to perform their song ‘Kasong ke Jecha’.