Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
GOSPEL hip-hop singer, Mudiwa Hood, has a message for his social media critics — keep trolling, he is not going anywhere.
The rapper and businessman says no amount of online criticism will force him out of music because, unlike many artists who see music simply as entertainment, he believes his journey is a God-given calling.
Mudiwa has just launched his latest album ‘Dhara Re Madhara’, and has opened up about the backlash he regularly receives online, insisting that the noise from critics has done little more than make people pay attention to his work.
“I am not fazed by the naysayers and critics. Let them say what they want to say. I know what God said to me,” he said.
For Mudiwa, the decision to remain in music is not about money, fame or proving his critics wrong.
He says that it’s spiritual.
“Music is not entertainment to me. It is a calling. People will say a lot of things, but I cannot give up.
“The inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit,” he said. His declaration comes at a time when Mudiwa could arguably walk away from music and concentrate entirely on business.
But he says even if he was given a choice between his businesses and music, he would still choose the latter because of what he believes God has called him to do. “If I was given a choice, I would quit because I have faced a lot of backlash and focus on business, but this is a calling,” he said.
“I am a man of God before I am a businessman. Henceforth, I will not quit music.”
That statement could be interpreted as a direct response to those who have repeatedly questioned why a successful businessman continues to put himself through the pressures of the music industry.
But Mudiwa appears to thrive on the controversy. According to the rapper, social media trolling has ironically worked in his favour because it keeps his name and projects in the public eye.
“Social media always trolls me, but it does not deter me. In fact, it has boosted me and given me something positive because people are seeing what I am doing,” he said.
Mudiwa was in celebratory mood after revealing that the album launch tickets for Dhara Re Madhara sold out.
The launch ceremony drew an impressive crowd, bringing together businesspeople, musicians, celebrities, fashion personalities, producers and other influential figures from Zimbabwe’s creative industry.
For an artist, who has endured criticism over the years, the reception represented another victory.
But, perhaps the biggest statement came when Mudiwa reflected on where he started.
The rapper chronicled his journey from humble beginnings in Chitungwiza’s Unit D, one of the toughest neighbourhoods in the town, describing a life far removed from the success and wealth associated with his name today.
He has moved from the townships to becoming a businessman, recording artist and brand in his own right. Mudiwa confirmed that he is now a millionaire in his own right, presenting his journey as evidence that humble beginnings do not have to determine one’s final destination.
His story, however, is not merely about accumulating money.
For Mudiwa, it is about building a life while remaining faithful to what he believes is his assignment.
He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is comfortable occupying both worlds — business and music — but insists that when the two are placed against his spiritual calling, music remains non-negotiable. That appears to be Mudiwa’s ultimate response to the trolls.
They can criticise the music. They can question his style. They can mock him online.
But, as far as he is concerned, the trolling will not stop the music — because he believes the plunging into music was never his decision to begin with.
