Whenever a year comes to an end, the debate of what song defined the year is ignited. In fact once the festive season kicks off, people argue about the song for December. Often times that is the song that earns the most plaudits in defining the year. So what Zimbabwean song earned the most marks in 2025?
This decision is often based on personal feelings and resonance, yet as a platform that shapes culture and analyses the arts space, we’re going to try to be technical. Yet obviously certain biases may remain, so please forgive us for those.
The Radio Charts
When people have their say in the music debate, there’s no platform as important as radio. While listenership is not what it once was, when it comes to voting for the song of the year, even the casual radio fans take part. For Star FM and ZiFM Nutty O’s “Too Much” came out on top, while for Power FM it was Winky D’s “Siya,” and Radio Zimbabwe had Jah Prayzah’s “Ruzhowa” dominanting.
Across these charts Jnr Spragga’s “Marulez,” Nisha Ts “Admire Kadembo,” Nyasha David’s “Ta Ta Ta,” and Donator Calvins “Door Ratovharwa” all made regular appearances in the top 10, stating a case for the title. However above and beyond the regular radio charts, Jah Prayzah’s “Ruzhowa” was 5th on the Gospel Greats Top 10 Countdown.
So for the radio charts it’s a tie between “Too Much” and “Ruzhowa.”
The Streams
For the Zimbabwean market, YouTube is the go to streaming platform. As the popular phrase goes after a new release, “Mwana wese kuYouTube!” Here “Door Ratovharwa” topped the list with 7.5 million views, followed by “Ta Ta Ta” with 6.2 million views, “Admire Kadembo” with 6 million views, “Ruzhowa” (audio) with 5.4 million views, then “Too Much” and “Siya” both on 4.3 million views.
Spotify is more popular across Zimbabwe’s borders but unlike the government we’ll allow a diaspora vote. “Ruzhowa” had 2.4 million streams, “Ta Ta Ta” had 1.72 million streams, “Admire Kadembo” had 1.62 million streams, “Door Ratovharwa” had 1.59 million streams, “Too Much” had 1.44 million streams, while “Marulez” had 1 million streams.
Here however “Admire Kadembo” gets disqualified due to the “India Connection.” You can’t win the song of the year if you buy views, those are just the rules.
So for the streams it’s a three way tie between “Door Ratovharwa,” “Ta Ta Ta” and “Ruzhowa.” While numbers differ quite much on YouTube, “Ruzhowa” is handicapped by only having an audio track on the platform, so an even split.
Lyricism
Great music is the work of songwriting and production, in tandem with rhythm and melodies. In the category of lyricism it is 2 tracks that excel above the rest, and these “Ruzhowa” and “Marulez.” For very different reasons these songs are the work of great songwriting (Winky D’s “Siya” is a close third but it’s just not quite as good). This is already an expected trait from Jah Prayzah, who ranks as one of the greatest songwriters to come of Zimbabwe.
“Ruzhowa” brings together possibility 10+ biblical phrases and it is woven so beautifully that it is fitting for the religious and the heathens. “Marulez” on the other hand is an abandonment of all musical rules and it sees Jnr Spragga rhyming “Masaramusi” with “Pussy.” Unrivalled ingenuity from the young artist.
Here the win goes to “Marulez.”
The Streets
Now what’s on the ground is always difficult to judge. Mbare might be in love with “Marulez,” while Hatfield can’t let go of “Ruzhowa,” and the Avenues are resoundingly in support of “Admire Kadembo.” Yet we’ll try and come to a fair conclusion on all parts.
When the year began Nyasha David’s “Ta Ta Ta,” and Nisha Ts “Admire Kadembo” were constants on the airwaves and across bluetooth modulators. They deniable in the first half of the year but unfortunately they lost momentum, or the relationships we celebrated on Valentine’s Day came to an end and they became a point of sour reflection. “Marulez,” “Door Ratovharwa,” “Too Much,” “Ruzhowa” and a bevy of names came out and overtook them.
Now going back to the importance of December. During Harare’s biggest weekend in the month, King Kandoro, a proponent of Zim hip hop, walked out on stage to Jah Prayzah’s “Ruzhowa” at a sold out Celebration Centre. The following day “Ruzhowa” was played at the Unplugged Music Festival and it was greated by a rapturous welcome, and this was equally so at Carpe Diem, Harare’s biggest music festival. “Marulez” had the bars and clubs in a chokehold, yet it was still not at the same level.
So what song had the streets? It was undeniably “Manhanga Matete.” If you’ve been in a place outside your home when it’s played, you’ll understand why. No song was sang word for word quite like that.
In conclusion we have to say the year belonged to “Ruzhowa,” but just by the smallest of margins (and December momentum). You couldn’t be faulted for going with “Too Much,” “Door Ratovharwa,” “Siya,” or “Marulez.”
