Zimbabwe: The Power of Music

Zimbabwe: The Power of Music

The Herald (Harare)

11 August 2008
Posted to the web 11 August 2008

Terence Muringisi
Harare

Music is a universal language of phenomenal influence. Musicians who have managed to harness their talents and nurture the discipline required for greatness have seen themselves become global voices.

Their talents opened doors and brought them into the lives of millions.

They have become the endearment of many hearts, sometimes beyond the borders of their own nations.

Oliver Mtukudzi has become a respected musician across Africa receiving nominations for many coveted Pan-African awards.

His videos are aired on wide-reaching networks across the world.

Sometimes even language is not a barrier, noting Tuku's predominantly Shona lyrics.

Such is the influence of music.

Other African musicians who have enjoyed global influence are the late Lucky Dube, Miriam Makeba and West Africa's Yousso Ndour.

At the pinnacle of their careers, many musicians have realised that there is more to their trade than see people's feet tapping and hips swinging.

A musician like Irish rock star Bono has in recent years been at the forefront of several charitable and social awareness causes worldwide.

Musicians who allow themselves to tap into this extra-mural role to their careers have realised that there is more to their lives and talents than microphones and guitars.

The songs, the guitars and drums have brought the musician in front of millions, an opportunity many never see.

A question musicians should ask themselves is: "I am here, now what am I going to do with this phenomenal opportunity to speak to and influence my audience?"

Unfortunately, many stars have come to this world stage and failed ask this question of themselves.

They allowed themselves to be self-engrossed and being childish, complaining about media attention.

The limelight was soon switched off and they had not said a word to change anybody, much less the world.

There are numerous of these, too many to mention and I'll be sensitive and not adopt a name-and-shame attitude. This question is asked whenever an artiste's talent has brought him before the crowds, no matter the size.

He just has to hear it.

While others never confronted the question, others have and it is sad to say many have made the most unfortunate of choices.

The social responsibility of stardom straddles all forms of art, but many may want to know why have we focused on music.

Music is the symphony of melodical words, instrumentation and the artiste's personal passion. This is what makes music such a powerful force, a force which has impacted the world and, in many instances, the impressionable minds of the young.

Words create thoughts and sustained thoughts will manifest as action.

Instrumentation fuels the force and passion ignites it, creating a flame in the listener. It is with this in mind that artistes should "watch what they say".

Once they take to the stage with their blend of words, instruments and passion, they are sending images and ideas into the minds of their listeners over and over again.

John Maxwell, a prominent writer and "Leadership" tutor, has summarised leadership well, saying: "Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less." Unawares, some musicians have become tutors and leaders of whole social groups because their music has formed the patterns of thought that their audience upholds. Not only have thought patterns been created but they have been fuelled into passionate action.

The hip-hop culture is a keen example of the unfortunate consequences of a musician's irresponsibility with their chance in front of millions. For instance, in the 1990s, the United States saw the rise of numerous hip-hop icons.

Key among these were Tupac Amaru Shakur and Christopher Wallace aka "The Notorious BIG".

Tupac was born on June 16 1971. Hismusic was laced with the speech of violence and the promotion of an unrestrained lifestyle. The Notorious BIG was akin in his musical content. He was born on May 21 1972. The end of these young men's lives was tragic, being the reality of the words they had prophesied continually during their short careers.

Zimbabwe: The Power of Music

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The proverb, "you live by the sword, you die by the sword" was personified. Tupac and BIG died of gunshot wounds on September 13 1996 and March 9 1997 respectively, within six months of each other. Both had not seen the age of 26. Their deaths were sad; their mothers lost sons, not rap stars.

However, their mothers were not the only ones to cry. I believe that irresponsible words through the hip-hop microphones were responsible for spawning a culture of violence, disrespect, hate and immorality in the minds of millions of young people across the world.

Our own backyard in Zimbabwe has also begun to see the adoption of verbal irresponsibility in our young artistes, unfortunately influenced by the glitz and glamour that sometimes candy coats a dangerous culture.

It is a good thing that the musical story is not all dim, what we have dealt with is but a single perspective. Many musicians have mounted the stages of the world with honour.

We mentioned a few of these at the beginning of this article.

There are many more who have sung messages of hope, peace and liberty into the hearts of many.

We celebrate these and urge them on. Many like Tuku have been social and moral evangelists with songs that have dealt with HIV, child molestation and other social predicaments.

Music is a chance to speak, influence, lead and inspire. In what direction this is done, is an artiste's choice