Jah Prayzah apologises for lifting Makore's beat

Contemporary musician Jah Prayzah has extended an apology to emerging Chimurenga artist Kurai Makore following allegations that one of the beats on his latest album, Ndini Mukudzei, was lifted from Makore's 2022 song, Kanyarugwe.

The apology was relayed by Chimurenga legend Thomas "Mukanya" Mapfumo, who is both Makore's uncle and mentor. Speaking from the United States, Mukanya emphasized Jah Prayzah's sincere intentions and his readiness to put the dispute behind them.

The controversy surfaced soon after Jah Prayzah's release of the track Moto, which Makore claimed featured a beat strikingly similar to his own Kanyarugwe.

"I heard about the issue and immediately decided to intervene and put the matter to rest," said Mukanya in an exclusive interview.

"Jah Prayzah called me and apologised. We accepted the apology, and I appreciated the show of maturity. He explained that he was given the beat by someone else and was unaware it had been used elsewhere.

"In fact, the beat is mine, but we have bigger things to focus on," Mukanya added.

He further highlighted that similarity in beats is common in music and not worth conflict. "I have reached a stage in my career where I do not want to fight younger artistes. I am now an elder in the industry, and these petty fights do not belong in music  -  it's not war. I am just glad the Jah Prayzah issue is resolved."

Mukanya also revealed that he is working on a 10-track album expected to drop soon.

Meanwhile, Jah Prayzah's management remained tight-lipped. His manager, Keen Mushapaidze, declined to confirm or deny the apology, citing a meeting and promising to follow up  -  a promise that went unfulfilled despite multiple attempts to reach him.

Kurai Makore, celebrated as the new prince of Chimurenga, expressed respect for Jah Prayzah despite the dispute. His camp insisted they were not trying to exploit Jah Prayzah's fame or pursue legal action for copyright infringement.

Makore's message to fans was clear: impartiality and understanding are essential when navigating such issues in the music industry.

"We were not trying to capitalise on the issue, nor do we want money," Makore stated.

"What we wanted was to shed light on some realities in showbiz. I am not someone who seeks conflict or drama  -  I am just a musician trying to make a name.

"I respect Jah as a star and appreciate that my uncle reached out to his camp. This shows we need peace in the creative sector, but we must also be vigilant and thorough."