Rest In Peace Wapunza Hitmaker

Rest in peace Garry Mapanzure

By Panashe Siziba

Garry Mapanzure (June 18, 1998 – October 13, 2023) was a Zimbabwean Afropop singer.

Born Gerry Garikai Munashe Mapanzure in Harare, Zimbabwe, Garry grew up in church to pastoral parents and it is in church where he discovered his singing ability and honed his talent. He attended Kyle Preparatory School and continued to primary and high school at the same institution.

Music career

Mapanzure started his musical career in late 2017 and released his first single Wapunza which as of October 2023 has been viewed over 4.3 million views on YouTube.[4]

2019 saw the contemporary artist being nominated for an AFRIMA award in the Best Artiste, Duo, or Group in African R'N'B & Soul category for his song TV Room, a collaboration with Hillzy.[5]

In November 2018, he entered the emPawa Africa challenge created by Mr Eazi to help up-and-coming African artists launch their careers. To enter the contest, artists had to upload a short video of themselves performing either an original song, cover, or freestyle.[6] Mapanzure won and became the tenth emPawa Africa pick, the first ever from Zimbabwe. Through this initiative, Mapanzure released Slow, which was then uploaded onto the emPawa YouTube channel.

Artistry

In an interview with All Africa, Mapanzure described his sound as "Afropop", a fusion of Pop and Afrobeats.[7][8]

Personal life

Mapanzure was studying Architectural Design at North China University of Technology[5] before being signed to London-based record label, Runabeat Music. Under the label he released his first EP, Sushi Season: The First, in March 2020. His first world tour scheduled for March 2020 to support the EP's release was cancelled due to the global outbreak of coronavirus. Mapanzure resided in London, working on future music audio and visual projects until the coronavirus pandemic would pass. He spoke in Shona, one of the languages spoken in Zimbabwe.

Garry Mapanzure died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Masvingo on October 13, 2023.

Garry Mapanzure - Singles and Collaborations

Title Artistes Year Wapunza[4] Garry Mapanzure feat. Vicky 2017 Moyo Muti[10] Garry Mapanzure 2018 TV Room[11] Garry Mapanzure & Hillzy 2019 Slow[12] Garry Mapanzure 2019 Your Man[13] Garry Mapanzure 2019 We Party All Night Pungwe Sessions Vol II feat. Garry Mapanzure, Rhymez and Soko Matemai 2020

Compilations

Mapanzure's first music compilation, Sushi Season: The First, was released in March 2020.

Sushi Season: The First - Released in March 2020 TRACK # TITLE OF TRACK ARTISTE(S) RECORD LABEL 1 Go Low Garry Mappanzure Runabeat Music 2 Nditaurireiwo Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 3 Sweet Nothings Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 4 Way It Goes Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 5 Alone Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 6 More Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 7 Mungandigona Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music 8 Pindirai (A Million Tears) Garry Mapanzure Runabeat Music

Awards and nominations

AFRIMA Awards Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref 2019 Himself BEST ARTISTE, DUO OR GROUP IN AFRICAN R'N'B & SOUL Won [14][15] Masvingo Music and Arts Awards Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref 2019 Himself OUTSTANDING MALE ARTISTE Won Glamour Awards Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref 2018 Himself BEST UPCOMING ARTIST Won [ Source : Wikipedia REST IN PEACE Garry mapanzure 💔