Winky D says goodbye to local music, passes torch as he eyes global stage
ZIMDANCEHALL icon Winky D has signalled a new chapter in his illustrious career, declaring that he is passing the torch of local music to a younger generation as he sets his sights on a wider African and international audience.
The Gafa made the bold declaration during his sold-out Tête-à-Tête Season 2 concert at Alex Sports Club on Saturday, August 30, just a day before releasing his 16-track album, Tête-à-Tête: Hello Africa.
During the show, Winky D appeared to suggest that after dominating the local music scene for close to two decades, the time had come to allow the emerging generation popularly known as Ama 2K to carry the domestic baton.
“A good dancer knows how to introduce new style,” Winky D told his fans.
“So I pass the torch of local music to the new generation of Ama 2K.”
The statement is unlikely to mean Winky D is walking away from Zimbabwean music altogether, but rather points to an ambitious attempt to reposition his brand beyond the country’s borders.
That direction is evident on Hello Africa, where the musician increasingly experiments with Jamaican Patois and English while retaining the social commentary that has defined much of his career.
For years, Winky D built a loyal following through predominantly Shona lyrics addressing poverty, inequality, corruption, social injustice, politics and the struggles of ordinary people.
That approach transformed him from a dancehall entertainer into one of Zimbabwe’s most influential contemporary musicians.
However, Hello Africa appears designed for a much bigger audience.
The project features Nigerian reggae-dancehall star Patoranking on Leadership and Ghanaian Grammy-nominated reggae musician Rocky Dawuni on the title track Hello Africa, collaborations which underline the continental direction of the album.
Other songs on the 16-track project include Spirit of Kunta, Freedom, Roots & Culture, Blind Patriots and Desperate Situations.
While the language and sonic approach may be evolving, Winky D has largely retained the themes that have made his music resonate with his followers.
His message at Alex Sports Club has consequently triggered debate among fans over whether the veteran musician is deliberately moving away from the local market or simply expanding a brand already firmly established at home.
One fan suggested on X that the change in language could be part of that international push.
“Some fans say he is Bob Marley. Some say reincarnation of Lucky Dube,” the fan wrote.
“Now he’s singing in Patois. The world is next.”
The shift presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
Winky D’s mastery of Shona and his ability to package Zimbabwean experiences into dancehall have been central to his identity, while the greater use of Patois and English could make his music more accessible to audiences outside the country.
His presentation at the Tête-à-Tête concert also reinforced the sense of transition, with the musician embracing elaborate stage imagery, including a black-and-gold horned costume and an astronaut-inspired look.
After years of commanding Zimbabwe’s dancehall scene, Winky D appears determined to test how far his music can travel.
For the Ama 2K generation he referenced on stage, the message was equally significant: the veteran believes there is room for new stars to take greater responsibility for driving the local scene.
But rather than a goodbye, Hello Africa looks more like an expansion.
Winky D has conquered much of the territory available to him at home.
