“It’s Not Quality, It’s Genre” – Prince Kaybee Exposes Why Zimbabwe Music Struggles To Go Global

South African maker uncovers why Zimbabwe music cannot be exported

South African maker Sovereign Kaybee has touched off wrangle about after claiming Zimbabwean music battles to pick up universal traction—not since of quality, but due to class confinements, expressive surface and dialect barriers.

The blunt craftsman, known for his chart-topping Afro-house tracks, took to X on 23 May 2025 to clarify why, in his see, Zimbabwean music has not found far reaching victory past its borders.

“It’s not a quality issue,” wrote Prince Kaybee.

“You guys actually have world-class engineers and songwriting. The issue is the type of sonics that have been consistent throughout the years, which is Zimdancehall. It’s a very small genre… too layered to be commercially feasible in South Africa.”

‘Zimdancehall holding back worldwide growth’

Prince Kaybee, who went through a month in Zimbabwe recording his collection The 4th Republic, said he watched this design in both Bulawayo and Harare. He recognized more up to date classes such as Zim hip-hop and Afro-house were picking up a few footing but claimed the center “dancehall texture” in neighborhood composing was constraining broader appeal.

“Even when adopting what’s happening in the world, like amapiano, the lyrical approach melodically still has that dancehall texture,” he said.

“Whilst SA artistes are making money from Zimbabwe, our music is mediocre and carries no export value,” Mgucci wrote.

“When Zim artistes go abroad, they go there to play for Zimbabweans. That’s how mid our music is.”

The tweet quickly gained traction with over 180,000 views, sparking fierce reactions.

Kaybee’s comments were in reaction to a viral tweet from Zimbabwean social media identity Tabani Mgucci, who had scrutinized Zimbabwe’s music scene fair two days prior for being unremarkable and unexportable.