Winky D facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winky D
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Winky D at the Africa Unplugged concert, Wembley Arena 2012, in London
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wallace Chirumiko |
| Born | February 1, 1983 |
| Origin | Kambuzuma |
| Genres | Dancehall, Reggae, Zimdancehall |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Black Lab Records, Vigilance Music, Independent (current) |
| Associated acts |
Mathabiso Njela
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Winky D, whose real name is Wallace Chirumiko, is a famous Zimbabwean reggae and dancehall artist. People often call him "The Big Man" or "Gafa." His music is well-known for talking about important issues in Zimbabwean society.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Winky D started showing off his musical talent when he was a young teenager. He performed at many small events and concerts. When he was 16, he took part in something called the Getto Lane Clashes. These were like DJ battles that helped new artists get noticed.
Winky D's Music Career
Winky D has become a very popular musician. He was even featured at the Southern Africa Music Airwaves (SAMA) Festival in 2009.
He has released seven studio albums and has toured all over the world. He has performed in places like the United Kingdom, the United States, Asia, and South Africa.
In 2012, he launched a special song in Harare. In 2013, Winky D was expected to perform at a big event for President Robert Mugabe. However, he did not perform, and there were different stories about why he wasn't there.
In 2023, Winky D released his album called Eureka Eureka. Some songs from this album, like "Ibotso" and "Dzimba Dzemabwe," talk about social problems in Zimbabwe. They discuss things like corruption and the challenges young people face. Because of these songs, a group linked to the ruling party ZANU–PF asked for his music to be banned in Zimbabwe. In March 2023, the Zimbabwe Republic Police stopped one of Winky D's concerts in Chitungwiza. This happened just as he started to sing "Ibotso," which many people thought was unfair.
On December 31st, 2023, Winky D filled the Harare International Conference Center (HICC) for his "Ghettocracy" show. This big event celebrated his 20 years in the music business.
Albums and Songs
Winky D has released many popular albums. Here are some of them:
- War
- The Devotee
- Igofigo – The Unthinkable
- PaKitchen
- Life Yangu
- Gafa Life Kickstape
- Gafa Futi
- Gombwe: Chiextra
- Njema
- Eureka Eureka
Awards and Achievements
Winky D has won many awards for his music. Here are a few:
- Best Male Artist (Southern Africa) in 2022 - All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)
- People's Choice Award - National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) 2020
- Best Dancehall Artist at the 2020 African Entertainment Awards USA
- Best African Dancehall Entertainer at the International Reggae and World Music Awards
- Best Album 2020 'Njema' - Zimdancehall Awards
- 2024 People Choice - National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA)
See also
- Afropop
- Chimurenga
- Mbira
- Music of Zimbabwe
- Shona music
