NIGERIAN music star D’Banj is reportedly in Zimbabwe to forge collaborations with local artiste Roki who has been curiously in no show at the Nigerian star's public appearance.
Roki failed to appear at the Robert Mugabe International Airport when D’Banj landed and he was received by record label owner Passion Java, Mike Chimombe and Zodwa Mkandla.
Roki’s absence during D'Banj’s media briefing at the Rainbow Hotel also raised eyebrows. To make matters worse, the Nigerian has been in the country for close to a week and not even a picture with Roki has surfaced.
When D’banj made his State House visit to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Roki again was not present, and the Nigerian was flanked by the usual suspects Java and Chimombe.
Unlike when Koffie Olomide came for his collaboration, Roki was seen all over with the Congolese Rhumba legend.
Addressing the media, D’Banj said he was here (Zimbabwe) to forge collaborations.
“We are doing a feature. As you know how big Afro-beats are now, I always tell people that collaboration is the new competition," he said.
Musically D’Banj has already done collaborative work with Roki’s “master” Passion Java after Java made a cameo on D’Banj’s live performance at the Big Brother Titans last week.
However, Roki's Manager Tobias Matavikwa confirmed to the Standard Style that collaboration between the two was in the pipeline
“Yes, there is collaboration between the two, but I can’t give much information about that,” he said.
“The rightful person to speak on Roki’s business with Passion Java Records is Boss Lashan.
“But this year we are continuing with the strategy from last year, which is making more good music.
“We need to give Zimbabweans good music.”
Efforts to get a comment from Boss Lashan were fruitless as his mobile number was not reachable till the time of going to print.
Music critics have claimed that Roki is a pawn, used by Passion Java records to advance Java's political mileage and campaign for Zanu PF ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
Roki once attracted the wrath of some followers who accused him of campaigning for Mnangagwa after the 'ED number One' chant in his song Patati Patati with Congolese star Koffie Olomide.