When South African singer Mawhoo stepped on stage in Zimbabwe this past weekend, she didn’t just perform; she connected.
Mawhoo performed in Harare at Karma on 31 May.
Mawhoo connects with Zim fans
After a lively set filled with sing-alongs and love from the crowd, the artist took to Facebook to share her feelings:
“I want Zim to adopt me… what a sing along…”
And just like that, Zimbabweans were sold. The comments came flooding in, fans praising her music, her energy, and most of all, her humility.
But Mawhoo’s Zimbabwean love story comes just a week after another South African star, Naledi Aphiwe, left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans in Zimbabwe.
Zim fans compare Mawhoo and Naledi
Last week, when a Zimbabwean admirer politely asked if Naledi Aphiwe could visit the country, Naledi shot back with a cheeky.
A TikTok user, Constance Muzenda, commented on one of Naledi’s posts, saying: ”Naledi, please come to Zimbabwe.” In response, Naledi replied: ”Hambani niyongilinda khona,” which translates to ”Go and wait for me there.”
The response, meant to be playful, didn’t land well. Zimbabwean social media users were quick to label her response as dismissive, even disrespectful.
And now, they’re drawing a clear line between the two artists and picking sides. Here is how Zimbabweans reacted:
@Akeem Dembo: “South Africans will grow jealous after seeing this.”
@Sean Craig: ” Mawhoo, please don’t come with Naledi…”
@InterpreterIIMlambo: ” Better than Aphiwe Naledi..”
@Daisline Tashly: “Oky, but please, Naledi must stay there, we don’t want her in Zimbabwe.“
Should artists be more mindful of how they engage with fans online, especially across borders?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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