Maskiri

Maskiri

Maskiri (real name Alishias Musimbe) is a controversial Zimbabwean rapper[1] whose rapping style is similar to that of the American rapper Eminem. He rose to fame in late 2002 with the track 'Muchinda Wangu' (My Friend) which later featured on his debut album 'Muviri Wese' (The whole body). Almost every song on the album became a radio hit with tracks like 'Zimhamha' (Voluptuous, mature woman) and "Kwedu Kuchafiwa" which loosely translated to "My Loved Ones Shall Die Too!". The latter is a song bad mouthing an inheriting son by boasting that his rich relatives shall die too and he will also get inheritance money and women.

In the track 'Muchinda Wangu' ("My Friend") he compares God to a streetwise gangster and he refers to Him as 'dhara rangu' which is slang meaning 'my old man'. The song courted exceptional controversy resulting in a public condemnation of his work. The song was eventually dumped from the airwaves after Christian protests. In "Madam Mombeshora" he sings about an illicit relationship with his school teacher.

These are but just a few examples but Maskiri has proven to be popular in the Zimbabwe Hip Hop scene (which is often referred to as Urban Grooves). He has had quite successful collaboration concerts and has released the following albums, Blue Movie, Muviri Wese ("The Entire Body") and the very popular Tapinda Tapinda. Known for his hit song Tiri tsono with Munyaradzi Musiwacho on a song written by popular radio and TV personality Admire Mhungu, a song that became an instant hit across the country mainly because of its close resemblance to the lives of Musiwacho and Mhungu.

References

  1. ^ Fanuel Jongwe (28 November 2004). "Zimbabwe: Maskiri Banned". The Standard. AllAfrica.com. http://allafrica.com/stories/200411300967.html. Retrieved 20 April 2011.