ENTERTAINMENT DESK | REGIONAL TENSIONS

Don’t Call Macheso ‘Baba’ If You Can’t Condemn Xenophobia: Makhadzi Faces Severe Backlash

Focus: Music, Politics & Human Rights  |  Sentiments: Cancel Culture & Public Outrage  
  Report By: Tafadzwa Zimoyo (Zimpapers Entertainment Editor)

South African music sensation Makhadzi has found herself at the centre of a massive social media storm. The dance goddess, known for her electrifying performances and massive regional fanbase, has been told to condemn xenophobic attacks rather than finding convenient comfort in describing Zimbabwean sungura king Alick Macheso as ‘BABA.’

THE SOUND OF SILENCE: While Makhadzi preaches unity on stage, fans and promoters are demanding that regional superstars use their massive platforms to explicitly condemn xenophobic violence.

The backlash erupted after Makhadzi roped in Macheso for an upcoming show in Venda. The invitation comes at a highly volatile time, as tensions have exploded over xenophobic attacks in South Africa. While Makhadzi insists that music should unite rather than divide people, critics argue that her silence on the violence against her compatriots' countrymen renders her calls for "Ubuntu" deeply hypocritical. The outrage has even sparked calls for Macheso to drop Makhadzi from his upcoming festival in Harare later this month.

The Backlash Promoter's Rebuke Public Divide The Verdict

"Ubuntu Knows No Borders"

Makhadzi’s attempt to bridge the cultural divide through music has collided head-on with the raw, emotional reality of the xenophobic crisis affecting the region.

Defending the collaboration amid rising regional tensions:

Preaching Unity Over Division Amid calls for cancellations, Makhadzi insisted that her event must go on. She declared: “Ubuntu knows no borders. We are all one. Baba Macheso is coming to Venda this coming Saturday. He has all the papers... We have no reason to cancel him when he has a passport. He is our baba.”

The Call for Reciprocal Cancellations Her defense comes as the regional entertainment industry feels the squeeze. Just recently, organizers of the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon were forced to completely drop South African outfit Mafikizolo from their line-up of entertainers due to severe security and xenophobia fears. Consequently, there are growing local demands for Macheso to drop Makhadzi from his upcoming Harare festival.

The Industry Speaks Out

Entertainment commentator and promoter Tally Ndudzo launched a viral critique of the singer, pointing out the immense role Zimbabweans played in building her brand.

Who Built the Brand? Ndudzo challenged Makhadzi’s remarks, claiming Zimbabwean promoters and fans played a huge role in elevating her career beyond South Africa. "Zimbabweans have consistently filled her concerts, promoted her music and embraced her collaborations," he argued, noting that Zimbabwean audiences supported her long before she became a continental star.

Exploiting Local Fan Bases Ndudzo went further, claiming that Makhadzi specifically works with established Zimbabwean stars such as Jah Prayzah and Macheso primarily to tap into their massive fan bases. He insisted it was deeply disappointing for her to preach unity without first using her massive platform to publicly condemn attacks on foreigners.

The Social Media Divide

Ndudzo’s comments quickly went viral, attracting thousands of reactions from both sides of the border and splitting public opinion into two distinct camps.

How the fans are reacting online:

Demanding Empathy First Many rallied behind Ndudzo. One user wrote: "Where was this Ubuntu when our brothers and sisters were living in fear? A statement of solidarity would have gone a long way." Another added: "We love Makhadzi’s music, but timing is everything. People are emotional and they wanted empathy before entertainment."

Defending the Artiste Conversely, a vocal contingent defended the singer against cancel culture. "She has always shown love to Zimbabwean artists. Why should she be punished for something she did not cause?" read one post. Another argued: "Music is supposed to bring people together. Cancelling artists because of politics or xenophobia only creates more division."

SONA EDITORIAL VERDICT

You Cannot Cherry-Pick Ubuntu

The backlash against Makhadzi highlights a critical turning point in how African audiences engage with their celebrities. For too long, entertainers have enjoyed the financial rewards of cross-border popularity while remaining safely silent on the systemic human rights issues affecting those exact same fans.

While it is true that Makhadzi did not cause the xenophobic violence, her platform gives her immense power. Calling Alick Macheso "Baba" to promote a concert in Venda rings hollow to a Zimbabwean diaspora currently living in fear. "Ubuntu" is a profound African philosophy of shared humanity; it cannot be invoked solely when selling concert tickets. If regional superstars truly believe that borders do not exist in music, they must be equally vocal when those borders are used to justify violence against their most loyal supporters.

@ Leaders Mandate (Entertainment Desk) | Equipping Fans. Reporting the Culture.