Jah Prayzah, one of Zimbabwe's biggest music stars, has postponed his wedding and pulled out of a scheduled performance at the Jacaranda Music Festival. He said the death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo had left him and his team unable to take the stage.

The musician, whose real name is Mukudzeyi Mukombe, and his wife Rufaro had planned their wedding for Saturday, 3 October. Days earlier, on 30 September, Chivayo, his wife Lucy and three other people were killed in a helicopter crash near Marondera.

Out of love and respect

Explaining the decision, Jah Prayzah said there are times when everything else has to stop so that families can grieve.

"Pane nguva yekuti zvimwe zvinhu zvese zvinofanira kumbomira," he said. ZimEye reported that he explained there are moments when other commitments have to be put aside to allow families to grieve. "Out of love, respect and the need to grieve with family, our wedding which was scheduled for 3 October has been postponed," he said, according to ZimEye. "We will continue with our wedding plans when the time is right."

He later announced that he and his band, 3G, would not perform at the Jacaranda Music Festival, ZimEye reported on 4 October.

A close relationship

Chivayo was one of Jah Prayzah's best-known backers. He was also behind the most talked-about booking of the year: Chimurenga legend Thomas "Mukanya" Mapfumo was paid US$1 million to perform at two events, Jah Prayzah's wedding and Chivayo's birthday celebration in November.

Mapfumo has since confirmed that he received his fee in full before the crash. His Chimurenga Music Company has formally told Jah Prayzah's management that he remains committed to playing at the wedding when it is rescheduled, Nehanda Radio reported.

The Jacaranda Music Festival

The Jacaranda Music Festival is one of Harare's biggest annual live music events. It takes its name from the purple jacaranda trees that line the capital's streets every October, and it usually draws a mix of local stars and regional acts. Jah Prayzah's withdrawal left a gap in the line-up. The organisers have not said whether he will be rescheduled for a later edition.

Who is Jah Prayzah?

Jah Prayzah rose to fame in the early 2010s with a sound that blends traditional mbira and Afro-jazz with contemporary pop. He became known for his military-style stage outfits, and hits such as "Mwanasikana", "Watora Mari" and "Goto" made him a regular headliner across southern Africa and in the diaspora. He has collaborated with artists including Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz and remains one of the country's most-streamed performers.

Grief across the music industry

Chivayo was a well-known patron of Zimbabwean musicians and often paid for cars, cash gifts and bookings in public. After his death, social media was split between tributes to his generosity towards musicians and criticism of his business record. For Jah Prayzah, the decision was framed as personal: he said it was about standing with a grieving family.

What's next

No new wedding date has been announced. When it is, all eyes will be on whether Mukanya's long-awaited performance goes ahead as planned. We will update this story when the couple or their management announce new plans.

Sources: ZimEye, 4 Oct 2026: https://www.zimeye.net/2026/10/04/jah-prayzah-postpones-performance-at-jacaranda-festival-over-wicknell-chivayos-death/ · Nehanda Radio, 2 Oct 2026: https://nehandaradio.com/2026/10/02/thomas-mapfumo-confirms-chivayo-paid-full-us1m-fee-before-his-death-vows-to-honour-postponed-show/ · Herald / H-Metro, 14 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/abuse-of-mukanya-is-a-sign-of-how-toxic-weve-become/