Stunner Urges Zimbabwe Artists to Stop Banning Cover Bands: “Our Teapot Is Too Small for War!"

"Our Teapot is Too Small for War": Stunner Urges Artists to Stop Banning Cover Bands

Rapper Stunner has urged Zimbabwean artists to stop banning cover bands from performing their music, arguing that the same acts being blocked could one day be called upon for free studio sessions, supporting slots, and return favors.

Stunner said the ongoing tension between mainstream artists and cover bands needs to be rethought. He pointed out that many musicians have slowed down on touring, yet the same cover acts they ban from performing their songs could easily be called on for favors later—playing guitar or drums in the studio, serving as a supporting act, or helping out at a show.

Collaboration over Conflict: Rapper Stunner argues that cover bands provide vital promotion for original artists and should be embraced rather than banned. (Representational Image)

The Issue Copyright enforcement vs. Cover bands performing hit songs

The Advocate Stunner (Veteran Zimbabwean Rapper)

Core Argument Cover bands offer free promotion and future networking favors

The Real Problem Missing performance royalties at live venues, not the bands themselves

Key Metaphor "Ka Tea pot kedu aka kadiki kuti tirwidzane, dirai sugar tinakirwe chete."

The Favors Historical Precedent Missing Royalties The Teapot

Building Bridges: Return Favors and Free Deals

Stunner stated that he could sing a Mudiwa or Maskiri song as many times as he likes and simply make a fun, free deal with a promoter, adding that there is nothing bad about it. The veteran rapper believes that alienating these bands cuts off a vital resource for original artists.

"Maybe it’s because some musicians have stopped touring or doing shows but did you know that the same acts you are banning from performing your songs, you could actually have them play for you at close to nothing at a gig (they obviously doing an amazing job at playing you)?" he wrote.

Studio Favors Calling upon cover band members to play live guitar or drums on a new recording.

Supporting Acts Utilizing the bands as reliable, crowd-warming opening acts at major shows.

Free Deals Making flexible, fun agreements with promoters without resorting to legal threats.

Legends Built on Covers & Respecting Rights

Musician Stunner noted that legendary acts blew up without ever taking power or money away from the original artists—if anything, they gave them massive grassroots promotion.

Mic Inity & Transit Crew Acts that achieved massive popularity by perfecting reggae and dancehall covers.

The Police Band Blew up entertaining the masses with renditions of popular hits.

Still, he accepted that if a song owner says no to their music being covered, that is unequivocally their right. "If the owner says I don’t want with my song it’s his or her right," he admitted.

His only ask is simple: "Where I can sing and I’m available, I say give me the call first before a cover artist but if I’m far or it’s a festival where only one of my songs will be sung out of 30 ….. just acknowledge me and one day I will ask for a favour."

The First Call Promoters should call the original artist first if they are nearby and available.

Simple Acknowledgment If performing at a long festival, a simple shoutout to the creator is enough to keep the peace.

The "Godo" Reality and Missing Spreadsheets

He urged artists to look for the positive in every situation, adding that anyone making money from his creation must give back somehow—unless someone is collecting these royalties and not handing them over.

Stunner touched on the real systemic issue driving artist frustrations: the failure of royalty collection systems at live venues. He claimed his own massive hit (often referred to as the national anthem) is played constantly, but the financial paper trail is non-existent.

The "Godo" Phenomenon "I know for a fact the national anthem GODO gets played at every gig every weekend..."

Missing Spreadsheets "...but I have never seen that login on any spreadsheet." The royalties are simply not reaching the creators.

"Our Teapot is Too Small for War"

Concluding his thoughts, Stunner emphasized that the Zimbabwean music industry is fundamentally built on mutual support and shared talents. "War builds nothing, let’s try and find the positives from all situations," he urged. "We can’t be fighting as artists coz we have always been sharing and partnering zvipo izvi since the beginning."

In a poignant and humorous metaphor for the local entertainment business, he called for unity over division:

"Tangidzai ma records, ka Tea pot kedu aka kadiki kuti tirwidzane, dirai sugar tinakirwe chete. Pamwe ndiri wrong but yah!"

(Play the records, our teapot is too small for us to be fighting over, just add sugar so we can all enjoy it. Maybe I'm wrong, but yeah!)