Gift Amuli Declares Himself 2nd Best Sungura Artist After $1,000 Clash Loss

‘I’m Only Second to King Alick Macheso’: Gift Amuli Breathes Fire After Losing $1,000 Clash to First Farai!

Focus: Genre Rankings & Stage Controversies  
  Location: Harare, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼  
  Report By: Trust Khosa (Zimpapers Arts Hub) / Sona Digital Culture

Outspoken Zimbabwean musician Gift Amuli has sensationally declared himself the second-best sungura artist in the country, completely dismissing his arch-rival First Farai following a highly controversial US$1,000 winner-takes-all clash that ended in tears, allegations of rigging, and bitter backstage politics.

A live music microphone set against dark stage lighting representing a musical clash
BITTER RIVALRY: Gift Amuli has cried foul after losing a high-stakes $1,000 performance clash, refusing to concede defeat to First Farai and declaring himself Sungura's true runner-up to Alick Macheso.

Following his contentious defeat at Makuluwani in Whitehouse, Harare, Amuli did not mince his words. Breathing fire over what he termed a dubious adjudication process, the Zvishavane Sounds frontman opted to set the record straight on who actually rules the local sungura hierarchy.

Defining the Sungura Kings

Amuli is not holding back on where he believes he sits in the pantheon of Zimbabwean music greats, firmly placing himself above First Farai.

"I Can't Be Outclassed"

The King and The Successor Dismissing the results of the clash, Amuli stated: “I can’t be outclassed by First Farai because I am the second-best sungura musician in Zimbabwe where Alick Macheso is the king.”
Mark Ngwazi Takes Bronze He further clarified the rankings by crowning a newer giant in the genre: “Mark Ngwazi is the third-best sungura musician in that order. Those who know sungura very well will certainly agree with me.”

The US$1,000 Makuluwani Robbery?

The “Clash of Titans” event, organized by the Ester Music Development Association, was meant to settle scores. Instead, it ignited a bigger war.

A Botched Voting Process Now managed by seasoned promoter Venencia “Mai Jojo” Madake, Amuli claims he outwitted Farai "left, right, and centre" in the first round. However, he alleges MC Mamaradha (Leonard Katsangu) messed up the adjudication, forcing a bizarre five-minute rematch on stage that left both artists fuming.
The Sabotage Plot Amuli dropped bombshell allegations of a coordinated sabotage effort: “There was a plot against me by fellow artists, especially Wasu Dacoda, who was mobilising musicians to vote against me.” He claims supporting acts were illegally allowed to cast votes.
Promoter Was Powerless When Amuli approached the event sponsor, the sponsor clarified that his only role was funding the clash, not judging it. "I understood him and we are moving on. We don’t stop doing sungura, even if it means being robbed of what is rightfully mine," Amuli conceded.

A Rivalry Turned Cyber-War

The stage clash was merely the physical manifestation of a bitter feud that previously ended up in the hands of the authorities.

From Police Reports to Diss Tracks:

Chipaz to the Rescue Earlier this year, First Farai filed actual cyberbullying charges against Amuli over their public spat. It took the intervention of veteran music promoter Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza to mediate the dispute, leading Farai to drop the charges.
Weaponizing the Beef Rather than making peace, the two capitalized on the controversy, turning their differences into content by recording diss songs aimed at one another, setting the perfect stage for the Makuluwani showdown.
"My Tears Are Wiped" Unfazed by Amuli's complaints, First Farai (real name Aliyah Mwanambo)—who represented Zimbabwe at the Music Crossroads regional finals in Tanzania during his early days—basked in his victory. He posted online: "I do my magic on stage. My name is Aliyah Mwanambo. Thanks to everyone who stood by my corner. My tears are wiped."
Two musicians clashing conceptually via musical instruments
CONTENT IS KING: The two veteran musicians have successfully turned their long-running public dispute into monetizable content, keeping sungura fans engaged with diss tracks and live battles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gift Amuli unequivocally recognizes Alick Macheso as the reigning king of the sungura genre in Zimbabwe. He places himself second and Mark Ngwazi third.

While First Farai was declared the winner, Amuli claims the judging process was flawed and chaotic. He accused MC Mamaradha of mismanaging the votes and alleged that fellow artist Wasu Dacoda illegally mobilized supporting acts to vote against him.

First Farai, born Aliyah Mwanambo, is a veteran sungura musician who rose to prominence through the Music Crossroads competitions, eventually representing Zimbabwe regionally in Tanzania. He is Gift Amuli's most bitter industry rival.

OFFICIAL EDITORIAL VERDICT

Controversy Fuels the Genre

Sungura has always thrived on competitive tension, and the Amuli vs. First Farai saga is proving to be incredibly lucrative content for both veterans. While Amuli’s claims of being second only to the legendary Alick Macheso might be fiercely debated by fans of Mark Ngwazi, Romeo Gasa, or Simon Mutambi, his sheer audacity keeps his brand relevant.

The Makuluwani clash dispute proves one thing: controversy sells. By morphing cyberbullying charges into diss tracks and high-stakes $1,000 live battles, these two artists are writing a masterclass in staying within the public eye. Whether Amuli was genuinely robbed or simply outplayed on stage by Farai, the culture of sungura clashes is well and truly alive.

@ Sona Headlines | Entertainment & Digital Culture Desk

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