Mbare Mourns Prominent Zimdancehall Artist DJ Jedza

31 July 2026

By Jose PedroMbewe Andras

The music in Mbare sounds different today.On Wednesday evening, the beat went quiet. Celebrated Zimdancehall DJ Gerald Chidodo, known to everyone as DJ Jedza, passed away at Sally Mugabe Hospital. News spread fast from Matapi to the rest of Mbare, and by nightfall the township was wrapped in a somber mood.

To many, Jedza wasn’t just a DJ. He was one of their own.

Born on 5 February 1993, Gerald grew up in Mbare when Zimdancehall was just finding its feet in Zimbabwe. He picked up the decks young, with a dream bigger than the block. Over the years that dream carried him to studios and stages alongside some of the biggest names — Killer t , Sir Callaz, Kinna, Ras Pompy, Tiyps Mabhanditi and others. But no matter how far the music took him, he kept coming home.

Those who worked with him say that’s what made him different.

“DJ Jedza was not selfish,” said Melusi Hlongwane, aka DJ Fresh, fighting back tears. “He always created space for upcoming DJs to showcase their talent.”
DJ Fresh grew up with Gerald in Matapi.
“I looked up to him as a role model since I joined the industry. He always talked about discipline. He’d say, ‘the music industry will break you if you don’t take it seriously.’ He helped me identify my talent by giving me support.”

At the family home in Mbare, Matapi Block 3, mourners have started to gather. His sister, Grace Papiro, spoke with a heavy voice.

“As a family we have lost a cadre, a friend and a father. Gerald loved everyone, not only in the family but in the society we come from. He was always there for family gatherings.”
She said funeral arrangements will be announced soon as some relatives are still traveling from the diaspora.

DJ Jedza leaves behind a wife, Privilege, and three children.

Mbare has given Zimbabwe some of its biggest dancehall voices —Chill Spot Family, DJ Fantan, DJ Levels, DJ Ribhe DJ Malovers to mentioned but a few . Now it mourns one of its own who helped carry that sound forward.

For now, the speakers in Mbare , Matapi are off. But the name DJ Jedza will keep playing in the stories people tell.