Eureka! Eureka! I’ve got it! I’ve got it! For a longtime now, people had wondered if Winky D had lost his touch. The doubt was so much so that it had gotten ahold of me and I’ve been a lifelong fan.
Three years had been the wait for a new album from the Gafa. Three years of feeding on scraps. Scraps made up of a lacklustre EP and a single that brought about mixed feelings. So would Winky D‘s Eureka finally be it? Would the magician who gave us Disappear finally be able to give us something new? Something that truly appeased the sonic tastebuds deep within our eardrums and left the musical palate in a state of ecstasy.
Something the Winky of old had done on a regular basis. Yet if Midas had the musical touch, he certainly would’ve given us something ressembling Winky D’s catalogue. I’ve got it, the album title announced but did he truly have it?
Eureka comes as something totally new and different from Winky D. It’s his storytelling reimagined through collaboration and a momentary adoption of other genres. Overally as an album it’s certainly not good dancehall but it carries a great message and even with its eclectic sound it makes for a good music. It is an album made of collaboration. On every single track, a different artist was featured, and not just those based locally but Zimbabwean artists practicing their art overseas too.
Winky puts on many different hats with Eureka. Yet even in the albums nature of social commentary, lamentation and calling for a more just society, it remains true to the sounds of reggae and dancehall. It also balances out the social consciousness with purely playful songs like High Grades.
High Grades represents a true meeting of two different generations of artists as Winky D collaborates with the teenager Herman. The song has a somewhat dual nature as it filled with double entendres that leave you wondering if the grades are scholarly or more herbal in nature. Shingai and Winky D come together for Dzimba Dzemabwe, and as Shingai’s first high profile local collaboration, she excels in her delivery.
The now somewhat regretful Holy Ten and The Gafa sing full of passion and depth on Ibotso. Now seen as controversial, the song perfectly encapsulates our daily struggles. It tells the story of everyday Zimbabwean life without embellishment or sacrificing melodies to tell the story. Winky D then displays his more than capable skills as a HipHop artist on Dreamswith Saintfloew. It is a more confident record, that speaks of overcoming and triumph.
All throughout the album Winky D is not afraid to enter the court of whoever he’s collaborating with. Even on Shaker, a record that more resembles Soca Music rather than dancehall, Winky D goes toe to toe with Enzo Ishall who has made that sound his home. It talks about a change of fortunes in the life of rich man, but not your typical rich man but the often loud mouthed ones who want it known that they’re wealthy.
Nherera ft Mwenje Mathole tugs at your heart strings and the tear ducts threaten to let the floodgates open. Winky and Anita Jaxson deliver an equally poignant performance on Tears. Heartbreak, loneliness, regret and a search for healing are all themes that light in the song. The songs contemplative nature along with it’s mellow tempo make for a somber mood. What could have beens come to mind and it instantly makes sense why the tears will never dry.
XYZ was an instant favourite. It’s this concoction of Afropop, Afrobeats and Zimdancehall, that somehow just sounds right. Qounfuzed and Winky D are telling us to let go of our ex’s but it’s upbeat, vibrant and the rhythm is contagious. MuSpirit which features Dr Chaii is the duplicate of XYZ if not even more energetic and upbeat. Winky D sings about being in good spirits and it speaks to mental wellness being more important than the health of our flesh.
Gonyera ft ExQ is an elaboration of the Shona proverb “Zingizi gonyera pamwe maruva enyika haapere”. A proverb that tells us to choose one partner because those in the world are countless. Peter Friend ft Nutty O is a simply brilliant song that speaks about wanting true friendship. The reggaton track which has “Peter” seemingly pronounced as “Bitter” calls for us to protect our peace and it’ll have you reflecting on your own friendships.
From beginning to end, Eureka is a journey of different stories, different genres and different emotions. It’s brings you all the way down in some moments then takes you up again. The music is brought together by the richness of it’s message. It might not be the best Winky D has offered up but it’s up there. Undoubtedly memorable.
