Staff Writer
Fresh from winning Best African Dancehall Entertainer of the Year at the Jamaican 40th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), Winky D has hinted that he will mark 20 years in music in 2024.
The 40th edition of the awards (IRAWMA), was held under the theme Reggae Rise saluted dancehall music and its monumental contribution to the evolution of Jamaican music over the last 50 years.
According to the awards organisers, the 2023 edition received 135 nominees for the 32 categories.
Winky D real name Wallace Chirimuko started out a career in music in 2004 having been a deejay in most pubs and clubs around the capital Harare.
In a post via Vigilance Band page his backing group, Winky D said next year he clocks 20 years in the music industry.
Winky D has churned out a string of albums which endeared him well to his legion of fans.
His success was not overnight as fans and music promoters alike rallied behind him shaping a strong fanbase.
And true to this, Winky D acknowledges that without fans he wouldn’t be where he is now.
One of the promoters who was instrumental to Winky D’s rise was Barbara Chikosi who is popularly known as Mama Redrose.
At the time around 2004, Mama Redrose organized a clash in the Harare Gardens pitting Winky D against his rivals in the likes of King Labash and Sniper Storm.
This was to be Winky D’s last clash after emerging the crowd’s firm favourite thereby ascending to the throne.
Since then, Winky D has had bragging rights to the title of king of Zim dancehall.
And the recent award confirmed his growing status as a superstar in the making.
“Being recognised by our wider music community reaffirms the universal nature of heartfelt music and its unshaken ability to bring humanity together regardless of diverse beliefs and superficial differences.
“This award is particularly poignant as it has been presented to us during a period of intense challenges and adversity. Thank you and may the music continue its mission to educate, uplift, heal and inspire,” Winky D said about the IRAWMA.
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