Tanzanian singer Zuhura Othman Soud, better known by her stage name Zuchu, has dismissed claims that she vowed never to collaborate with Kenyan artists or perform in the country, calling the reports baseless and hurtful.

According to Zuchu, one the most hurtful comments people made about her was the claim that she had rejected Kenya.

“One of the most hateful comments I’ve seen is the claim that I said I was not going to perform in Kenya and that I hate it,” she said during an interview with Kiss100.

The singer clarified that the rumour came from a misrepresented radio discussion, and her first reaction was simply to block those pushing the false narrative.

“I’ve always said I block people who leave hurtful comments, and this is exactly what I did when I first saw it. I knew where it came from two guys on a radio session discussing it. I was like, who told you that?” she explained.

Asked why she did not address the trolls directly, Zuchu said she chose silence over confrontation.

“Give me the evidence. I never said that. The typical me just ignored it, blocked it, and didn’t deal with it,” she noted.

Still, she admitted that the false narrative resurfacing online has left her disappointed.

“It really breaks my heart because half of my viewers come from Kenya. I truly respect my fans. I don’t respect trolls, I respect my fans,” she emphasized.

Zuchu will be performing alongside Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo and Kenya’s Savara Mudigi at the Closing Ceremony of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, set for Saturday, 30 August, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The final of the tournament will then follow at 18:00, featuring Morocco against Madagascar. Morocco, two-time champions, are chasing a record third crown, while Madagascar are aiming to complete a fairytale run by winning their first-ever continental trophy.