Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Richmore Tera
10 January 2009
Harare — TALENTED dancehall-ragga musician, Winky Dee - real name Wallace Chirimuko - has denied that his lyrics promote violence.
Winky Dee is the most popular musician on radio these days, appealing to virtually all age groups and he insists that his lyrics are about self-defense.
"It's not that I am promoting violence but through my lyrics I'm looking for a solution to the violence that is inherent in our society" he said.
Winky Dee however, conceded that violence was a part of every society, especially in the ghetto.
"Violence as you know is a system that's already entrenched in our ghettos. It is an everyday happening that people identify with.
"What I am saying through my lyrics is that people should sit down, introspect and find a proper way to deal with violence, which is self-defense.
"My lyrics are an artistic bridge that fills that gap whereby people are victims of violence and in most cases help the perpetrators escape scot-free because they can't defend themselves."
Winky Dee has enormously contributed to the revival of ragga music that was on the wane locally.
Some of his lyrics that clearly talk about violence include the lines:
"Ndinokupisa kunge mbaura" and "Ndazovaona vane godo, vabva mukurova chidodo/ Ndiri muninja ndati bodo/ Aya maoko hadzisi nhodo."
Winky Dee also took the opportunity to warn music promoters who are taking advantage of his popularity by flighting advertisements and putting up posters with his name without his knowledge.
"They are using my name to rip off my fans because they know that if they put my name on their posters people will converge to their shows. But the danger is that they will be tarnishing my name and image."
Winky Dee first burst on the mainstream music limelight with his debut album The Devotee in 2005 before unleashing his sophomore Singles Compilation a year later.
Vanhu Vakuru followed last year, further thrusting him to the top of the game.
"I am not stopping. I've got new things due for release any time this year," said the soft-spoken dreadlocked musician, whose soft voice belies the content of his lyrics.
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