Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo-Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
There was money in the room, designer fashion on display and enough corporate muscle to turn an album launch into an auction house, but gospel singer Mudiwa Hood insists his latest offering, ‘Dhara remaDhara’, was never about claiming to be the “goat” of Zimbabwean music.
It was about God.
And on a night where business tycoons battled it out for a signed copy of the album, eventually pushing its value to a staggering US$90 000, Mudiwa’s message was as deliberate as the event itself.
The rapper, businessman and entrepreneur launched his latest 12-track album Dhara remaDhara at a lavish black-tie affair that brought together some of the country’s biggest names from the corporate, entertainment and social circles.
True to the Mudiwa Hood brand, nothing appeared accidental.
The fashion was sharp, the guest list carefully curated and the money conversation impossible to ignore.
But behind the glamour, Mudiwa said the title was not a declaration that he was the “dhara”, or goat, of the music industry.
Rather, it was a reflection of his relationship with God and the journey that has shaped his career.
“I am not saying I am the dhara in music. The Dhara is God. This album came from my journey, my experiences and what God has done in my life. I bow to God and people may mistake that I named the album, ‘Dhara remaDhara because I want to label myself as GOAT,” he said.
That distinction was important for the rapper, who has frequently found himself at the centre of debates about his musical relevance, style and position in Zimbabwe’s crowded hip-hop landscape.
Mudiwa, however, appeared unmoved by the criticism.
He said he was not interested in allowing critics and naysayers to define his journey because he considers music part of his calling.
“I am not bothered by people who say I am not the best or that someone else is better than me. That is not for me to fight about. This is my calling. Those who judge me are looking at it from far away, but I know the journey I have travelled,” he said.
The album carries 12 tracks, but boasts an impressive 16 collaborations, bringing together musicians from Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United States.
The collaboration includes Jah Prayzah, Canaan Nyathi, Andy Muridzo, Bagga, Kae Chaps and Takura, among others.
For Mudiwa, the unusually high number of collaborations was strategic rather than a sign that he lacked confidence in his own material.
He said he wanted to reach new audiences through the fan bases of other musicians while also creating opportunities for emerging and diverse voices.
“I have many features because I also wanted to tap into the fan base of those artistes. At the same time, I wanted to give a platform to artists who are coming up and allow myself to diversify,” he said.
Despite the multiple voices, Mudiwa said he had not abandoned his musical identity.
Rather, he had chosen to fuse and blend different sounds while remaining faithful to the genre and style that have defined him.
“I did not change my genre. I fused and blended well. The music has evolved, but I remain Mudiwa Hood,” he said.
Perhaps more telling was his revelation that none of the collaborations on the project were paid engagements.
He thanked God for allowing him to work with artists without having to purchase their participation.
“Of all the collaborations I did, none was a paid job. I thank God for that,” he said.
If the music was the heart of the evening, money became its theatre.
The auction for a signed copy of Dhara remaDhara started among a group of prominent business personalities, with bids reportedly climbing to around US$45 000.
Then came the moment that changed the temperature in the room.
Joanna Sharpe, wife of West Property chief executive Ken Sharpe, entered the bidding and declared that she would top the highest offer.
The room watched as the bidding eventually settled at an extraordinary US$90 000, making the signed album arguably one of the most expensive music collectibles to be sold locally.
It was a fitting climax to an event where corporate Zimbabwe had clearly understood the assignment.
The black-tie dress code was embraced, with guests turning up in carefully selected formal wear, transforming the album launch into as much a fashion and networking affair as it was a music event.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe chief executive Napoleon Nyanhi, who was guest of honour, hailed Mudiwa for demonstrating that artists could create value around their work beyond traditional music sales.
Nyanhi urged other creatives to think bigger, invest in their craft and recognise the economic possibilities within the creative sector.
“Mudiwa has shown us that creativity can have value and that artists must learn to invest in themselves and in their work. We need more creatives who understand that the arts are not only about entertainment, but also about business, innovation and creating wealth,” Nyanhi said.
For Mudiwa, Dhara remaDhara therefore arrived as more than another album.
It was a statement of faith, independence and commercial ambition — wrapped in 12 tracks, 16 collaborations and a launch where the price of one signed copy became the night’s biggest headline.
And if the album was inspired by God, Mudiwa made sure the launch came with a very earthly reminder: in Zimbabwe’s increasingly ambitious creative economy, music can be business too.
