Wadiwa Musiq & Growing Afrosoca

Mr. International is back again with a spotlight on Zimbabwe. About two weeks ago I had the pleasure of chatting a few hours with Wadiwa Musiq via WhatsApp so I can get to know this artist.

What does Wadiwa mean?

It actually means David, there are a lot of Davids and we can’t be all David, so Wadiwa is my name in my language.

How would you describe your music?

I am an unashamed Christian who does Reggae, Dancehall, Afrosoca, and Afrobeat but I am not limited to any genre.

Who is your favorite CHH artist?

Dee-1. I like what he does and how he brings his message [Be Real. Be righteous. Be Relevant.] to those in the streets and meeting them where they are at.

Some things don’t need theology, they need the fruit, and they need a walking Bible in the streets. They want to see the love of God in your life, or they want an ear – just someone to listen to them.

When did you start doing music?

I was told when I was young that I used to dance but I don’t dance now. When I was in the 4^th grade the teacher used to ask people to sing or dance or do something artistic, so I knew I had the personality to entertain since then. I got serious around the age of 16 and was part of a group but eventually went solo. Then I went secular for about two years before giving my life to Christ in 2006. I later went into ministry and was in a group for about three years and am now solo again.

What were some of the musical influences in Africa?

Whether secular or Christian we [Africa] are influenced by what is popular. In churches, they used to sing Hillsong, even the church I attended was like a mini-Hillsong. There were other types of music but there weren’t many – Israel Houghton was a big influence also.

When Pentecostal churches came to Africa, their desire was to capture as many people as they could, so they looked at the most influential music which at the time was dancehall and hip-hop.

What is the state of CHH in Zimbabwe?

Hosting a big urban concert was and is difficult because the support is not there. When Lecrae came around 2011- we hosted four pre-concerts just to prepare people but the people that attended ended up being artists who wanted to learn, and they invited their friends and family – so it wasn’t necessarily fans.

I’ve done some shows in the ghetto and have seen a lot of gifted people give up because they couldn’t provide for themselves and do Christian hip-hop. There was a time when they outnumbered the secular artists but there was a decline. We are rebuilding.

What are some roadblocks for CHH in Zimbabwe?

1. Access to Technology – Such as buying equipment, like a basic soundcard online, is sold for $29 but shipping and international fees make it more expensive and you end up paying $250. The Visa card limits are low so large purchases aren’t possible. Buying on Amazon or online is not like in the U.S.
2. Economy – We do not have a thriving economy, people are working on survival, so music is either for fun or business. The government invests in things that sustain the people, not entertainment so there is no real music industry established and if you do sign a legit contract then you need to move to make it, or worse, you may get taken advantage of.
3. Losing God – CHH artists who want to be like other CHH artists can lose the source of their music, God. Just as secular artists can make it by copying what is trending in the world, they lose themselves.
4. Online Marketing – There are many setbacks like the learning curve to getting online, marketing, and learning algorithms but people are trying and learning. It will take possibly years to catch up, but we are headed in the right direction.

What are you currently working on?

I am going for a narrative. This is a different project than what was done prior, it will be different as it will be “a heart-to-heart project” speaking of things that the church is afraid to say. Sometimes we have to address the system, the church, and our personal struggles like depression that we go through. There are bitter Christians who serve in churches every Sunday.

A standard reggae album has 12-14 tracks, but I have about 16 planned, I just need to secure the funds to record it. I am also looking to collaborate and mix some of it as well. The project will be titled Uncensored and Rapzilla is the first I’ve told about it.

I believe my ministry is in the streets. I write music for people on the streets on drugs or hustling. The funds for me may not be there but if our God is big, we can put in whatever we can and do it well God will help.

How do you go about making your music?

Although it costs more money than just buying a beat, I pay three producers. One for the beat, one for additional melodies/instruments, and then someone who knows how to do that genre.

With the rise of Afrogospel, what sound do you think will be popular next?

I have been building on Afrosoca and I believe that it will be big in the next two years.

In closing, for those who have never heard of you, what do you want them to know?

I’m a really creative open-minded person. I want people to know me as realistic but know his source. At the end of the day, I want people to know who my source is. It’s easy to have a title but not have the lifestyle. Regardless of the genre, my music will show who I am. I am not defined by the title but by my experiences. I want people to remember me or connect with me as a person who is all about faith, but fruit. To see the God element in the music, I will never sell something I am not.

It’s an honor to chat with Rapzilla, one of the first of three websites I logged into when I was younger was Cross Movement then Rapzilla. I used to pay for an hour of Internet at a PC cafe and the Internet was so slow it would only be three pages of Rapzilla within that time, but it was worth it.

Until Uncensored drops, check out his back catalog, give Wadiwa Musiq a follow on socials, and give some words of encouragement. We are all working for the Kingdom worldwide.

Listen to Wadiwa Musiq Below: