No woman musician in top 30

When Coca-Cola honoured local musicians who excelled in 2015 on Tuesday in Harare it was interesting to note that not even a single female musician made it into the top 30.

Selmor Mtukudzi, daughter to megastar Oliver, told the Daily News that she suspected there was something wrong about the selection criteria.

“It is only unfortunate that I am not well-versed with the voting process but the fact that no single female artiste managed to make it in the top 30 of Coca-Cola Radio Zimbabwe top 50 is depressing, there is something wrong about the whole process.

“Zimbabwe is awash with talented female artistes, so how did they fail to make it on that list,” said the Nguva Yangu singer.

Selmor Mtukudzi

Fungisayi Zvakavapano-Mashavave, whose hit song Vanondibatirana with Zimdancehall chanter Killer T is making waves in the music circles, is of the opinion that it was the timing that failed women musicians.

“I think this has something to do with timing. In 2014, I was the only female artiste in the top five with Ammara Brown coming in sixth position.

“We had released earlier hence the music got enough promotional time. This time around, I think female artistes released their music late hence they failed to make it on that list,” she said.

Fungisai was on number 33 with the song Makandirera.

“As for me, I am being driven by passion not the love to win awards hence I released my music whenever I feel I have to, not necessarily rushing for awards,” she said.

Mathias Mhere of the Favour fame said it is not that female artistes are not good but it is just about time.

“It just happened this year and next year you will be surprised to find the list being dominated by ladies,” he said.

Award-winning band manager Jonathan Banda, who manages Winky D, said the environment the artistes are operating in is impacting hard on female musicians.

“There is a lot of competition in the music industry. It is like survival of the fittest. The environment is very informal, women have a lot of domestic responsibilities, especially in a society like ours hence at times they lack time to perfect their work therefore I do not blame them for being dominated by male artistes on that list,” said Banda.

Coca-Cola honoured artistes including Blessing Shumba, Winky D, Simon Mutambi,

Trevor Dongo, Ex Q, Roki and Soul Jah Love among others for their excellence in the music industry and this was achieved after fans voted for their favourite artistes on the annual Coca-cola Top 50. Daily News