Journalist Plot Mhako has dismissed claims that Chillspot Records producer DJ Levels started Zimdancehall, stating that the genre existed in Zimbabwe long before the producer and his studio rose to prominence.
Mhako made the remarks in a social media post endorsed by Hopewell Chin'ono, amid renewed debate over the origins of the popular urban genre.
“What I honestly don’t get is why some people still conveniently insist on saying they ‘started’ Zimdancehall even when they know they joined the party midway,” Mhako said. He added that there is already documented evidence explaining the genre’s origins, key contributors and development.
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His comments come in response to claims attributed to DJ Levels that he and his team started Zimdancehall and that earlier artists mainly relied on Jamaican riddims. Mhako rejected the claim, saying it ignores existing historical records.
Available historical accounts show that Zimdancehall traces its roots to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when reggae and dancehall music from Jamaica began influencing local artists in Zimbabwe. Early performers adopted Jamaican rhythms and styles while incorporating local language and experiences into their music.
Music historians note that sound system culture in Zimbabwe during this period helped shape the genre, with artists such as Major E, Booker T and others performing on adapted dancehall beats in the 1990s.
The genre continued to evolve into the 2000s, when it gained wider recognition. According to published reports, Zimdancehall became more defined around 2004, with the use of Shona lyrics and a distinct local sound helping it connect with urban youth audiences.
Further records indicate that the term “Zimdancehall” itself was coined in 2006 by UK-based artist Slaggy Yout, who also created an online platform to promote the genre and distribute music internationally.
Industry accounts also show that before the genre was formally named, Zimbabwean artists in the 1990s and early 2000s were already producing dancehall music locally, although it was not yet widely recognised as a distinct genre.
Mhako acknowledged the role of Chillspot Records in the genre’s growth but maintained that it came later. “They’ve played a huge role in pushing it into the mainstream, no doubt,” he said, adding that the studio is part of a broader network of producers and artists who helped amplify the sound.
Historical accounts support this position, showing that Zimdancehall’s mainstream breakthrough occurred in the 2010s, when studios such as Chillspot helped popularise already existing talent and sounds rather than originating the genre.
Mhako also pointed to the contribution of Zimbabweans in the diaspora, particularly in the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as early online platforms that helped distribute Zimdancehall music before it gained mainstream attention.
He said it would be disrespectful for individuals who joined later to claim they started the genre, instead of acknowledging earlier contributors. “That history is there and well documented,” he said.
The debate over the origins of Zimdancehall continues, but available evidence shows the genre developed over several decades through multiple contributors, rather than being created by a single individual or studio
