Holy Ten

With relatable rhymes steeped in social commentary, delivered over melodically blessed 808-laden beats, Holy Ten ushered in a defiant new generation of Zimbabwean hip-hop stars. While his persona and sound are western-inspired, Ten (born Mukudzei Chitsama in 1998 in Harare) remains deeply rooted in his native Shona teachings and upbringing. A self-proclaimed “leader of the youth and speaker of the truth”, he delivers lyrics that reflect not only his life and struggles but those of his countrymen, too, as seen in his 2020 breakout “Ndaremerwa”, a heartfelt lament about youth unemployment, crime and drug use. The gravel-voiced MC and producer has equally rich musical taste—he’s sampled Afro-jazz, reggae and funk-soul from the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Lucky Dube and Dan Tshanda. Like those Southern African legends before him, Ten takes on tough topics, including poverty (“Kumba Kune Vanhu”), mental health (“Taura Zvinokunetsa”), loss (“Tavada”) and gender-based violence (“Pandichamuka”)—proof that he's a true man of the people.