Where Did We Lose the Plot ?

 Producer Corner

There was a time when music from Matabeleland reflected the heartbeat of its people. The rhythms expressed the language of the streets, the townships, the villages, and showcased a proud cultural identity.

Sandra Ndebele 

Matabeleland has never lacked talent. Legends such as Solomon Skuza, Fanyana Dube, Vusa Mkhaya, Jeys Marabini and Sandra Ndebele helped shape the cultural soundscape of the region. Their music was not just entertainment; it was identity, storytelling, and pride woven into melody.

Vusa Mkhaya 

Today, however, the region's music industry stands at a tough crossroads and asks a painful but necessary question... Where did we lose the plot? The crisis facing Matabeleland artists isn't simple,it has many layers. First, there is confusion about identity.

Jeys Marabini 

In a quickly changing global music scene, many artists have decided to chase trends instead of refining and updating a sound rooted in Matabeleland. Instead of sharing our cultural voice with the world, we often adopt styles that water down our uniqueness.

The late Solomon Skuza 

There is also a gap in production quality. In an age defined by sonic excellence and top-notch engineering, average production can not compete. Today's audiences enjoy music without borders, a song produced in Bulawayo faces direct competition from records in Johannesburg, Zambia, Botswana, Lagos, and London.

Novuyo Seagirl 

Excellence isn’t optional,it’s the entry fee. Another quiet factor is audience trust. Listeners support what moves them emotionally. They can't be forced to love music based on regional loyalty alone. When audiences feel a real connection to a sound, they back it with passion. The industry itself is fragmented, artists, DJs, producers, promoters, and radio platforms often work in isolation rather than as a unified ecosystem.

Kaykid Umfanomsotho 

Without a shared purpose, even the most talented voices struggle to stand out. Culture, however, has never thrived on nostalgia alone. It survives by evolving while keeping memories alive, a bold reimagining of tradition that engages with the present while respecting the past.

Diliza 

A new generation of artists continues to carry the torch. Voices like Novuyo Seagirl Dube, Lewanika M, Bhila, KayKid Umfanomsotho,  Fab G, Diliza, Vuyo Brown, Acquillah K and Luchi Shiki represent a wave of emerging talent determined to keep Matabeleland visible on the musical map.

Bhila

Yet even among these rising voices, the influence of global trends is undeniable, shaping not only production styles but also artistic direction.

The crisis, therefore, is layered...

Perhaps the real question isn’t whether Matabeleland music is fading. The real question is: Who among us is ready to rebuild it?