HKD Festival Tour to Celebrate Music Legends and Fans
AFRO-fusion Zimdancehall kingpin Freeman HKD Boss is humbled by his incredible journey from modest beginnings to a celebrated youth icon.
Now in his late-30s, the Dzivaresekwa chanter — real name Emegy Sylvester Chizanga — has gained national recognition, transcending his ghetto roots to become a household name across Zimbabwe.
As a chart-topping artiste and renowned philanthropist, Freeman HKD Boss has dedicated himself to uplifting the Dzivaresekwa, Chipadze, Mazowe and Bindura and community in Harare, particularly through his (HKD) Hatimire Kusimbisa Dangerzone Record label, which empowers upcoming artist a chance to be recognized.
The Zimdancehall Doctor, as the chanter is fondly known today in an interview with Prince Meke our reporter, he expressed how the challenges he faced in the musical journey made him who he is now.
“One of the biggest challenges was learning how to monetize the craft and turn music into a sustainable business. In the beginning, it was all about passion, but over time I had to understand the business side — branding, distribution and staying commercially relevant.
“The journey hasn’t been easy, but those challenges pushed me to grow, and today I’m proud of how far we’ve come.”
He noted that being recognised as a youth icon is a significant achievement for him.
With all eyes on the upcoming HKD Festival tour, Freeman HKD reiterated that the events celebrates life and honours the legends and icons of Music industry and the fans who laid the foundation for his success.
Zimdancehall music prodigy, HKD Boss has continued to ride the crest of a wave following the release of his hugely popular album, “Me versus me” and his melodious voice is way above the best.
In a genre where pretenders to the throne and fly-by-night artistes chant meaningless lyrics as long as they rhyme, the Chipadze Dzivaresekwa-bred artiste is miles ahead, with music that speaks to life’s realities in the ghetto.
Here people often pay a huge price just to go through the day in an unforgiving economic environment marked by high unemployment.
“There are things that happen here in Dzivarasekwa that are so interesting. In fact, I get inspiration from the people here. Their lifestyles, aspirations and challenges make me want to pen more songs,” he was quoted saying.
Being a musician, he became a keen observer of his society — with his finger on its pulse — and understands some of the vices that hard-pressed young people get into just to survive.
“These people want to pay rent. They have to do what a man has to do to survive. I condemn their activities but I do not blame them,” he said.
His latest album Me verses me – with tracks such as La Liga, Muchandinzwawo and Parikuda Plan — is from the top drawer.
Many of his songs have become “mini-anthems” in shops in downtown Harare, commuter omnibuses and on national radio. These are songs that appeal to the ordinary man.
