HARARE — Chimurenga music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has agreed to perform at businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s birthday celebration and musician Jah Prayzah’s rumoured wedding, accepting a combined US$1 million payout after weeks of speculation over whether he would take up the offer.

Chivayo made the proposal on July 4, while marking Jah Prayzah’s 39th birthday with a gift of a 2026 Ford Ranger Platinum and US$250,000 in cash.

In the same post on X, he offered to pay Mapfumo US$500,000 to perform at Jah Prayzah’s anticipated wedding, reportedly set for August, and if the wedding fails to materialise he would pay Mapfumo US$1 million to perform at his own birthday celebration in November.

“If the wedding is there, I will be happy for you to invite the legendary Thomas ‘Mukanya’ Mapfumo, your mbira mentor and one of Africa’s greatest Chimurenga music icons, to perform on your special day. If he accepts this invitation, I will personally pay him US$500,000 in cash for that performance,” Chivayo wrote in the post.

He added: “If, for whatever reason, that performance does not happen, I will still gladly invite him to perform for me and my family in my own backyard on my birthday and pay him 1 million USD… it would be an honour for our Chimurenga icon to finally retire from music as a millionaire, and perform his last bira in style.”

The offer triggered days of public debate given Mapfumo’s long history as a fierce critic of the ruling Zanu PF government, of which Chivayo is a prominent backer.

Mapfumo has previously turned down financial gestures from the businessman: in December 2024, he rejected a luxury car worth US$200,000 and a US$300,000 house, saying he did not accept “dirty money” and valued his integrity above material gain.

Mapfumo’s nephew, Kurai Makore, and his former publicist, Blessing Vava, were among those close to the musician who publicly urged him to accept the latest offer, arguing it carried no political conditions attached.

On Monday, Mapfumo confirmed in a video message that he would travel to Zimbabwe for both performances, describing the arrangement as a professional undertaking rather than a political statement.

He said: “I wish to inform you that we are coming to Zimbabwe to perform at Wicknell Chivayo’s birthday and Jah Prayzah’s wedding. Jah would be most delighted that I played at his wedding.

“We will also host our own Bira Guru. This is work, we’re not doing other things, it’s just work.”

Mapfumo said he had stayed in America for many years without seeing his fans, adding: “We look forward to seeing you.”

Chivayo confirmed the arrangement in a follow-up post on Monday, saying he would pay the full US$1 million as promised.

“I am pleased to announce that I will wholeheartedly honour my commitment by paying a record-breaking US$1 million for these two shows at US$500,000 per show. This will make the legendary Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo the highest paid singer ever in the history of our beloved country,” Chivayo wrote.

He also invited Mapfumo to perform at the housewarming of his Gandami property in Wiltshire once construction is complete, expected around late November or mid-December.

Jah Prayzah has not publicly commented on the wedding rumours or on Mapfumo’s planned performance.