(December 19, 2025.)
Team keeps winning. A weekly planner and journal, featuring nuggets of wisdom drawn from ZimDancehall songs, has just been published and is now on Amazon.
The planner, the first one of its kind, is the brainchild of U.S based cultural commentator, artist and (perhaps most impressively) prominent contributor at back-to-back Zim Hip-hop Award-winning platform, Riddims & Rap (yep), Shingi Mavima, and was compiled in collaboration with Harare-based public intellectual, Maxwell Chimedza.
In describing why he had felt the planner was necessary, Mavima explained that it had been:
“birthed out of three realities. First, we live such fast- paced, layered lives that it has become virtually impossible for many to go through their day-to-day errands without some sort of plan or reminder. Secondly, even in an era of heightened digital communication and access, there is something to be said for an old-timey planner; physical or otherwise. Thirdly, and our critical intervention here, has been to celebrate the culture of ZimDancehall - the definitive sound of urban Zimbabwe for the better part of the past two decades. Oft-maligned and understated, the genre has sustained not only its practitioners, but the larger community with its nuggets of wisdom such as those presented here.”
The compilers of the project went on to describe it as “a love letter to a genre and culture” which “has been conceived, compiled, and published in all absolute love and good faith.”
Based in Toledo, Ohio, Mavima is a professor of African history, who has also published a string of other books, including the novels, Pashena and The Leak. He is also a frequent music commentator, writing prolifically for Riddims and Raps and other platforms. Harare-based Maxwell Chimedza is a reputed public intellectual, who went viral a few years ago after appearing on such platforms as BBC for his impeccable work tutoring high students via WhatsApp.
In December 2021, he was selected #Changemaker by the global conglomerate Meta. He is also a fixture on the ZimDancehall scene.
Chimedza commented on the planner’s accessibility and potential reach, predicting that “those English translations(for each of the quotes used) can also capture the international audience”
Speaking on working with Chimedza, Mavima explained that he thought he was “an all-round stellar ambassador to our communities.. He is also one of the biggest ZimDancehall Fans I know…when I conceived the #ZimDancehallPlanner, I knew exactly with whom I wanted to collaborate. He graciously agreed; and ended up being integral to our project.”
The editors are excited to share the work, saying “our hope is that this brings you good vibes, some order and, in all things, a happy and inspired new year.”
Co-editor Maxwell came through…like hurricanes do..
Type Stuff:complete with English Translations!
The planner has been available on Amazon as of December 19th. You can purchase it here.
https://a.co/d/iE6NKmxWe will also let you know other brick-and-mortar locations as they become available.
