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Urban Beats and Culture Nkosilathi Sibanda
AT a time when the nation is busy with things of great importance such as elections, the entertainment business takes a knock. Musicians and players of instruments do not appeal that much because all what people want to hear are the politicians’ promises. Remember, political affairs of any society also have an effect on the showbiz industry.

But, do professional musicians engage in political debate? Oftentimes this industry is taken for a ride and we are forgiven to think musicians don’t care about what happens in Parliament.

It is etched at the back of our minds that musicians are far from the political discourse, yet we forget the significance of music to the political landscape of any country.

I was not there when the gun liberated this country but I am told, in as much as I read, that music had a big role to play.  Even Hollywood has many war films that show the value of music to a soldier.

The “born free” generation would identify Cde Chinx as one of the musicians who took song and dance to shape the destiny of this country. Freedom fighters know many of Cde Chinx’s kind who mobilised the black man to carry the gun and kick out the white oppressors.

If in the 1970s music was significant in shaping Zimbabwe’s destiny, it should remain so, even in this day.

When young boys and girls abandoned school to take up arms, they were not stupid. It was partly because of music that they were influenced to do the honourable.

They called it Chimurenga music and what came about with that music was liberation. Musicians of the time should be proud of having had a hand in what we now call Zimbabwe.

They sang for a purpose.

Politicians know it too that music is powerful as it raises emotions. You would not assemble a rally and forget musicians and players of instruments.
That would be foolhardy.

At reaching this point in my piece, I failed to identify one musician in my time, who has championed the cause of the political struggle.

Even the politically incorrect musician is now a rare species.

My concern is on the “born free” generation. Few musicians from this privileged group have the guts to sing anything close to politics.

What we know of are performers who wait to be invited to perform at national galas and rallies but are reluctant to sing political songs.

I doubt if this generation had fought the war we were going to have the likes of Cde Chinx and Thomas Mapfumo.

There is too much obsession on things romantic. Music about emancipation of the black man is not attractive to the young.

This is a blame I would lay on people who themselves are musicians today. Why not sing and attack the world system that is disturbing the gains of African liberation?

Who among the celebrated urban groovers can rise up to say they sang to motivate people for a political cause?

Our political leaders have called for a peaceful election, so where is the crude musician to pen a song on unity?

Musicians must take heed of such calls and play a part in uniting people in their diversity.

In their claim of being apolitical, musicians should show by example that Zimbabweans would never allow politicians to divide them.

It is disturbing that our musicians take to the studio to do combined acts only when they are pushed to do so. If there is no donor money to fund a song about HIV/Aids, musicians would not dare to do collaborations.

So, here is a golden chance to sing about unity.

Peace and justice are on the lip of every voter and it is up to those gifted in voice and playing instruments to go the extra mile and sing about that.
Musicians must know they are our solace when politicians fail us.

The mad guy in Chitungwiza who beats up political opponents is sure to stop if Suluman Chimbetu and Khuxxman sing to him about peace and tolerance.

Zimbabweans are a peace loving people, so musicians go on, record what they love.

Generations to come would talk about musician who today will sing about peace at a time when the country is deciding its destiny.

There is a simple reason we single out Cde Chinx and others during the liberation struggle. In the urban movement we define music as the language that transcends boundaries. It is that power that must be used to promote tolerance in whatever form.

Legendary Bob Nesta Marley said every man has a right to decide his destiny. Let us take a leaf from that and exercise our right to vote.

With less than 20 days to the harmonised elections, what has the music industry contributed to promote unity, peace and tolerance?

The next time I meet a musician, I expect an answer.

If music be the food of love, play on and let love reign.