Willow Smith Recommends Zimbabwe Music Icon Thomas Mapfumo’s Song: “This Goes Hard”

• Willow Smith named Thomas Mapfumo's 1984 classic as one of her favourite recent music discoveries during a Pigeons & Planes interview
• The American singer praised the Chimurenga legend alongside other picks, crediting a friend for introducing her to the Zimbabwean sound
• Zimbabweans flooded the comments after the clip surfaced, sharing strong feelings about Mapfumo's timeless musical genius

Willow Smith has sent Zimbabweans into a frenzy after recommending a Thomas Mapfumo classic during a music discovery segment on Pigeons & Planes. The 20 August 2026 interview-style clip, filmed in a stone-walled studio adorned with vinyl records and sculptural art, sees the American singer excitedly share tracks that have been on heavy rotation for her lately.

Seated across from host Sarah in the casual format, the two take turns spinning a game-show-style wheel between music conversations. When asked about a favourite album she had only recently come across, the Whip My Hair star mentioned Everything at Once by Tony Glause and When All Is Said and Done by Ami Blue, before pivoting to a gem from 1984.

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Willow Smith names Zimbabwean legend on her playlist

"Another cool song my homie showed me. Came out in 1984. Thomas Mapfumo. It's the first song on this record. It's called Ndanzwa Ngoma Kurira. Yeah, this goes hard. This goes hard," she said, visibly enthusiastic about the discovery.

Mapfumo, widely regarded as Zimbabwe's Chimurenga music legend, built a reputation over decades for politically charged, deeply rhythmic compositions rooted in traditional Shona sounds. Willow credited a friend with introducing her to the track, adding weight to Mapfumo's enduring cross-cultural reach.

Watch the Pigeons & Planes clip where Willow recommends Thomas Mapfumo:

Zimbabweans react to the shoutout

The clip quickly caught the attention of Zimbabwean fans and music lovers, who flooded the comments with pride and commentary.

Mai Pichisi joked:

"The friend is a Zimbo chete"

Regina Richards wrote:

"Thomas Mapfumo really went in on the Chimurenga Music, then there's Marshall Munhumumwe..timeless sounds"

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Mahara Goteka paid tribute to the artist's craftsmanship:

"We can take everything else we want away from the old man, but we cannot take away his music IQ. He is a genius of composing music, of sound and of arrangement."

Eddy Adonis Runesu brought up a surprising historical connection:

"Her father mentioned Zimbabwe in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

Ras Churu noted what tied Willow's selections together:

"All the songs she mentioned there have strong instrumental presence and arrangement. It's live music."

Kevin Hart vibes to Amapiano song

Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that American comedian Kevin Hart set Mzansi social media alight after busting out Amapiano moves in a poolside video.

Hart, known affectionately to South African fans as 'Mpho Hart', was filmed doing shoulder rolls and footwork in a beachfront setting.

Source: Briefly News