Urban Grooves
This is a new type of music in Zimbabwe that is sung by young musicians and generally appeals more to youthful listeners. Coming on the music scene around 1999 Urban grooves mainly gained ground because of the 100% local content policy advocated for by unpopular former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo. The policy required all radio stations to play only music by local artists for the sake of promoting local talent. This policy was reversed after the expulsion of the Information Minister from government in 2005. The 100% local content policy saw the rising of many new artists like Sanii Makhalima, Roy and Royce, David Chifunyise, Roqui, Leonard Mapfumo, Stach, Betty Makaya, Extra Large, Maskiri,from the Midlands groups like Nehoreka also emerged to mention a few. The style of music closely resembles American Rap, Hip Hop, RnB, Soul and other international music genres.Despite that original artists were also produced who even up to now can also stand their own, such artists include Alexio Kawara, Q Montana,Mokoomba and Nehoreka who have come up with their own type of sound, but still maintaining the Zimbabwean feel.
This "imitation" of the West has resulted in Urban Grooves being unpopular with older listeners and artists who accuse the younger generation of shunning their cultural music and identity. At the moment a young lady that has somewhat tried to increase popularity in the Southern African region is Tia. One of her videos was showcased on the popular African Music Channel (Channel O) and this saw her gaining ground on most urban groovers. However, Channel O has not discriminated against any musicians in Zimbabwe and has actually encouraged them to bring forth their music videos. To assist these young talented Urban Groovers in their quest for perfection is a company known as Broadshow Events owned by (Sharon Chatambudza) closely working together with (Kevin Mafunga-Events Co-ordinator). Some of the young talent that the company has signed so far includes the top brass of the Urban Groovers Rocqui, Stunner and XQ.
Read more about this topic: Music Of Zimbabwe
Famous quotes containing the words urban and/or grooves:
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—C. Wright Mills (1916–62)
“The evolution of a highly destined society must be moral; it must run in the grooves of the celestial wheels.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)