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“GAFA Futi – Chi Extraterrestrial” hit shop shelves on October 7. The latest Winky D effort has seriously divided opinion among his fans, music lovers in general and critics. Below The Sunday Mail Leisure reporters Prince Mushawevato and Takudzwa Chihambakwe deliver their opinions on Winky D’s latest album.
. . . Magic still there
Love him or hate him, Wallace “Winky D” Chirumiko cannot – and will not – be ignored. Simply put, the Gafa’s career has been locked in overdrive since he came onto the music scene after the turn of the millennium. His stock has risen over the years, making just about everyone sit and take notice of the small but lion-spirited artiste.
Without doubt, every foreign act has to up its game the moment the Ninja President is made part of their performance package and he always gives them a good run for their money. His beat, vocal prowess, compositions and stage presence have endeared him to many, and his latest offering “Chi Extraterrestrial (Gafa Futi)” shows the musician is a dynamo whose copper coils are far from burning out.
“We are back again from where we left last year. The imagination has been from beyond. I’m just trying to keep it going. The majority may not understand some of the things now but their great grand-children will,” said Winky D as he officially unveiled his latest album recently.
“Chi Extraterrestrial” carries the traditional Winky D touch and one can easily notice progression in his art. His performance has steadily improved from the time of “Musarova Bigman”, “Pakitchen”, “Type Yezvimoko”, “Paita Party”, “Disappear” and now “Chi Extraterrestrial”.
The dancehall singer has beaten monotony by creating fresh sounds and avoiding the temptation of recycling beats. Of course, he might face challenges in pleasing hardcore dancehall fans with some of his music that is at times fused with Naija and Calypso rhythms, but the bottom line is he still has massive endorsement from his multitudes of followers.
His experimentation is within the parameters of the genre and has helped him stay relevant while separating him from the rest of the pack. In Zim dancehall, he is in a league of his own. And the musician explains himself in track number 11 titled “Mwendamberi” when he sings “ . . . vanoda kundidhonza kumashure but kwandabva kure, ndoenda mberi. Pavanokanda ziso ravo munelife yangu ndiri kutarisa money market paWall Street”.
Wink D’s collaboration with superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi on “Panorwadza Moyo” only cements his status as the best dancehall chanter around. Sometimes, fans fail to pick out who the owner of the song is since the track writer is easily swallowed by the featuring artitse or collaborator. Examples that quickly come to mind are Betty Makaya and Jamal (“Kurwizi”), Mtukudzi and XQ (“Pane Rudo”) and Ammara Brown and Titan (“Mukoko”).
But there is no mistaking the owner of the house and the guest on the Winky D-Mtukudzi alliance. The laid back track has Winky D leading the vocals and the senior superstar coming in with gentle but hard-hitting soulful support. The mature sound and conscious decision to avoid profanity has successfully won Winky D appreciation from fans across the generational divide.
“Winky D’s music is decent and I can tolerate it even when my kids play it in the car. I’m a church person but I can hire him to any of our functions because most of his messages are a fight against poverty and drugs, which is in sync with our gospel,” says BigTime chief executive and Gwanda Gospel festival organiser Justice Maphosa.
The opening track on the new album, “Happiest Man”, is a mellow start to things, describing what the artiste is all about including the religion he follows.
“Gafa Party” has the makings of a party anthem, while many youths will identify with the message on “Twenty-Five”. In the track, the singer narrates dreams that most ghetto youths have while growing up. He knows not all dreams come true, but this does not mean people should stop fighting for a better life.
In “Daddy”, Winky D sings about a child asking his parent why he does not own a house or car, and cannot provide decent clothing like other fathers. Other tracks on the album are “Extraterrestrial”, “Karma”, “Photo Life”, “Hooray” and “Bhebhi RaMwari”.
Online Reporter