Dancehall violence on spotlight at beer fest

Entertainment Reporter
A number of stakeholders in the music industry will converge at the Zimbabwe College of Music on Thursday for a discussion that tackles the culture of violence and vulgar language in the dancehall sector.
The workshop has been initiated by organisers of the upcoming Sunset October Beer Festival that is set for October 24 and 25 at the Sunset Arena in Harare where a number of dancehall artistes will perform.

There has been a growing concern among music critics over the rise of violence at dancehall shows and use of vulgar language in dancehall music. The beer festival organisers said they organised the workshop to find ways to discourage dancehall artistes that will perform at the festival from fanning violence among fans and using vulgar language.

Artistes Suluman Chimbetu and Pastor Charles Charamba as well as Winky D’s manager Jonathan Banda will lead the workshop.
“Recent events in Zimbabwe’s music industry, especially in Zim dancehall which has been punctuated by vulgar language, sexual abuse and violence have put the industry in disrepute.

“Many artistes are worried that emerging artistes are killing the industry rather than developing it,” noted the organisers in a press statement.
“Something must be done immediately to nip this new phenomenon in the bud. For this reason, a seminar has been organised by Sunset October Beer Festival where music fans, musicians and all stakeholders are invited to debate these issues.”

The workshop panellists are expected to discuss various ways in which unacceptable behaviour in the industry has affected fellow musicians and fans.
“Suluman Chimbetu will look at how Zim dancehall has affected sungura and dendera music, Jonathan Banda (Winky D’s manager) will address the issues from a Zim dancehall perspective and Charles Charamba will look at the implications of this development on gospel music,” noted the organisers.

Dancehall musicians will dominate the first day of the Sunset October Beer Festival and among the performers would be Soul Jah Love, Ricky Fire, Shinsoman, Freeman, Seh Kalaz, Killer T and Lady Squanda among others.