Top 10 Zimbabwean Albums of the Year in 2025

TAWANDA CHARI & TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA

2025 was such a great year for Zimbabwean music at large. It is always pretty much hard to compile a list of the best long-form projects, simply because of the sheer quality coming out of Zimbabwe at this juncture. With each and every year, the output significantly improves. And it becomes crystal clear that only the sky is the limit for Zimbabwean music. Across different genres. One might still be a bit dissatisfied that this music is not particularly crossing borders in the manner that may be desired, but that is a conversation for another day. For now, we discuss what we feel were the best projects of 2025 in Zimbabwe. And so we have come up with a list. We do hope you enjoy the read, and feel free to add your views.

So yeah, let's get into it. The albums are arranged in no particular order.

Jah Prayzah – Ndini Mukudzeyi

Ndini Mukudzeyi is Jah Prayzah at his most introspective and spiritually grounded. Naming the album after his birth name frames the project as a return to self, ancestry, and purpose. Across the album, Jah reflects on identity, faith, responsibility, and destiny, often positioning himself as both a messenger and a man still navigating life’s moral complexities.

What truly elevates the album is its cohesion. “Ruzhowa,” the undeniable song of the year, became a cultural moment – omnipresent on radio, social media, clubs and in everyday conversation almost overshadowing the project. Instead, it complements a body of work that feels carefully curated from start to finish.

Standout tracks range from the introspective title track and existential musings on morality and home to spiritually evocative songs like Kuno and more dance oriented offerings such as Ibvo, Shuga, and Sori. Jah Prayzah once again proves why he belongs in conversations about Zimbabwe’s greatest lyricists of all time.

Shona Prince – Pariah

Pariah is an emotionally brave album that thrives on vulnerability. Shona Prince positions himself as the outsider — wrestling with faith, mental health, love, and self worth.

On Pariah, Zimbabwean artist Takura (performing as Shona Prince) delivers a deeply personal farewell project that explores the complexities of being an outcast. Released following his public battles with mental health and several announcements of retirement, the album serves as a vulnerable "necessary exhale".

While tracks like "My Side" and "Simba" offer raw, introspective looks at his spiritual and mental struggles, the project maintains a polished balance with high-energy R&B and pop-infused tracks like "Blaz Vebhosvo" and "She Dance." Featuring collaborations with artists such as Zimpraise and Nutty O, Pariah is described as a triumphant final statement that encourages listeners to embrace their status as outsiders and find strength in their scars.

Runna Rulez – SKUNYU The Conquering Son

Young Government was making the waves this year. Coming with an offbeat style that the streets were seemingly hungry for, Runna bettered the trajectory of his career by releasing his debut album, SKUNYU The Conquering Son.

It is an album that marked a pivotal moment for his rap journey, with the whole point of the album being revolving around the central idea of unorthodox deliveries. Which is Runna's strongest ability really. It's a unique path he has carved for himself, and it has yielded bountiful dividends.

By all accounts, SKUNYU was a daring project, wonderfully blending rage rap (a new advent in Zim for that matter) with a tinge of soulful and introspective sounds. This album solidified Runna's status as one of the most important emerging voices to pay attention to. Which is why it finds space on this list.

Nisha Ts – Gender iiH (Woman King)

Nisha Ts’ album Gender iiH (Woman King) is a profound and emotionally resonant body of work that celebrates feminine strength and a deeply personal exploration of growth. The project, which acts as a successor to her previous thematic explorations, delves into the complexities of womanhood, balancing the power of the "Woman King" archetype with the vulnerability of the human experience.

Musically, Nisha Ts delivers a sophisticated blend of Afro-fusion and soulful melodies. Through tracks that navigate themes of resilience, self-love, and cultural pride, the album is described as a cohesive and empowering narrative that solidifies her position as a thoughtful and visionary artist within the contemporary Zimbabwean music landscape.

Kae Chaps – Tarantino

Kae Chaps’ third studio album, Tarantino, is a cinematic and emotionally vulnerable project that signals a significant evolution for the artist, moving beyond his reputation as a "heartbroken bard" to explore themes of success, regret, and the industry’s pressures.

Framed as a "film by Kae Chaps," the album opens with the two part track "Ndaikuda," which reflects on past heartbreak while critiquing the isolating effects of fame.

Throughout the project, Kae Chaps takes accountability for his own mistakes in songs like "Mai Vevana," addresses the influence of social media on modern romance in "Dhorobha," and offers pragmatic advice on privacy in "Zvisina Loud."

Featuring high-profile collaborations with Nutty O, Killer T, and Holy Ten, Tarantino is a polished 8.2/10-rated body of work that balances dark, introspective moments with soulful anthems of resilience and healing.

RayKaz – Those Around Me Tape

RayKaz’s Those Around Me Tape is a cinematic and deeply personal hip-hop project that uses sophisticated storytelling to navigate complex themes of family legacy, mental health, and political frustration.

Drawing stylistic inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, RayKaz balances intellectualized protest rap in tracks like "Born A Victim" with raw vulnerability in "Tahani" and "Ray's Insomnia," where he candidly addresses depression and the unique burden of his father’s political status as a government minister.

The album reaches its emotional peak with the 12 minute finale "I Got It," a multi act exploration of generational trauma and reconciliation that solidifies the tape’s status as an authentic "sonic odyssey."

Rated 7.8/10, the project is praised for its "collage artistry" that successfully translates global hip hop influences into a uniquely Southern African narrative. The tape is cohesive, focused, and purposeful – qualities that earn it the title of Zimbabwe Hip Hop Album of the Year and place RayKaz among the country’s most dependable elite rappers.

Gemma Griffiths – Gemma

Gemma Griffiths’ self-titled debut album, Gemma, is a 16 track body of work with Afrobeat foundations and strong gospel influences to showcase her growth as a multifaceted artist.

Released in May 2025, the album is described as a "personal and spiritually influenced" project that balances diverse emotional states, from the ambitious drive of "Mhaka" and the spiritual vulnerability of "Ndichatarisa" to the cheeky, modern dating commentary in "Mjolo."

Standout moments include "Gold," a soulful love letter to her home city of Harare, and powerful collaborations with artists like Nutty O and Feli Nandi.

Holy Ten – Musoro Wenzou

Holy Ten’s Musoro weNzou highlights a significant shift in the artist's approach. It is perhaps his technically superior rap project to date. Moving away a bit from the "chart friendly" hits, Holy Ten focused on lyrical density and controlled aggression, presenting a more disciplined and intentional version of himself. While the album may not feature the massive singles seen in previous albums, Musoro Wenzou is a cohesive body of work.

ExQ – Rhaka Rhaka

Consistency has always defined ExQ’s career, and Rhaka Rhaka reinforces that reputation. EXQ’s Rhaka Rhaka is a 16-track project that celebrates his enduring legacy as a "Certified Urban Grooves Legend" while pushing the boundaries of contemporary Zimbabwean sound.

The title, derived from a Shona idiom meaning to be "all over the place" or "uncontainable," perfectly reflects the album's sonic diversity, which blends Afrobeats, Pop, Jazz, and traditional Mbira rhythms. Throughout the project, EXQ balances nostalgia with innovation, collaborating with a wide array of talent from established stars like Jah Prayzah and Freeman to rising voices like Bagga and Voltz JT.

From the smooth, guitar driven melodies of tracks like "Mwendamberi" to the high energy club anthems and deeply personal reflections on his 20 year career, Rhaka Rhaka solidifies EXQ’s position as a versatile icon who remains remarkably relevant in an ever shifting musical landscape.

Freeman HKD – The Notebook

By Freeman HKD’s own high standards, The Notebook may sit lower on his discography hierarchy — but that context is crucial. Freeman’s consistency over the years has set an almost unfair bar, and even his “lower-tier” projects outperform most releases in the industry.

While it may not redefine his sound, it reinforces why Freeman remains one of Zimbabwe’s most dependable hitmakers. Its inclusion on this list speaks less to hype and more to sustained quality.

Honourable Mentions

MUTSA – The Children Are Always Ours (EP)

This EP is one of the most emotionally rich hip hop projects released in 2025. The Children Are Always Ours is thoughtful, socially aware, and beautifully written, tackling responsibility, legacy, and humanity with maturity and grace.

MUTSA’s EP is a devastatingly poignant concept project that frames existence as a "group project," arguing that the suffering of one is the responsibility of all. Inspired by a James Baldwin quote, the 8-track project finds MUTSA laying his soul bare as he dissects heavy global issues—including neocolonial oppression, gendered violence, and the Palestinian genocide while simultaneously battling his own internal psychological demons.

The EP is a masterclass in storytelling, utilizing haunting soundscapes and powerful samples, such as the voice of Palestinian diplomat Riyad Mansour and historical PBS documentaries, to bridge the gap between personal trauma and systemic violence.

From the chilling "fields of evil" imagery in "Bolvangar" to the existential drift of "Vagrant," MUTSA refuses to dilute his message, ultimately delivering a sonic documentation of pain that demands both individual accountability and universal solidarity.

Its exclusion from the top 10 is purely technical. As an artistic statement, it stands shoulder to shoulder with full-length albums and remains a standout release of the year.

Karville – Karvment (Mixtape)

Karvment is a compelling coming-of-age project that fuses pop laced hip hop with themes of survivalism and emotional growth. The 10-track project opens with the gritty "Musango," framing the Zimbabwean hustle as a metaphorical jungle where youth must move with tactical precision, before transitioning into soul soothing reflections like "Dzikamisa Hana," which addresses the anxiety of "making it" in one's mid 20s.

Karville also showcases his versatility through romantic anthems like "Chitekete," a modern reimagining of Leonard Dembo's classic, and explores existential themes in "Anozvigona," acknowledging that no one truly has adulthood figured out. Produced with lush, nocturnal textures, Karvment is described as a sincere and warm sonic blueprint that captures an artist confidently carving out his own lane in Zimbabwe’s urban music scene.

Shona Prince – Pariah (Deluxe)

Rather than feeling like an afterthought, Pariah (Deluxe) expands the emotional universe of the original album. The deluxe edition of Shona Prince’s album Pariah is a deeply reflective and atmospheric project that acts as a musical mirror for the listener’s own vulnerabilities, faith, and experiences with love.

Opening with a therapeutic invitation to self-discovery, the album explores spiritual themes in tracks like "First Love," which features soulful contributions from Zimpraise, and touches on the raw pain of grief in the powerful song "Nherera."

The project also delves into the complexities of modern relationships—from the joy of falling in love in "Chipo" to the necessity of boundaries in "CTL" and the sting of unrequited love in "Someone Else." With its polished R&B production and guest appearances from artists like ExQ and Desire Kuda, Pariah (Deluxe) is hailed as a profound, essential listen that balances heavy emotional introspection with moments of warmth and healing.

There will always be debate about which version is superior, but that debate itself speaks to the strength of the Pariah era. Few artists manage to release two versions of the same project that both feel complete. Including both on this list acknowledges the quality of the music.

There you have it folks. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.