ZIMBABWE Musicians’ Union (Zimu) is mobilising artistes to lobby for their South African counterparts to join the fight against xenophobia that has rocked the country putting at risk lives of millions of foreigners residing in that country.
By Silence Charumbira
Zimbabwe alone has an estimated three million citizens living in South Africa.
As the disturbances intensify in Durban moving into the central business district, local musicians have started engaging South African artistes to denounce the violence. Zimu chairperson Edith WeUtonga-Katiji told NewsDay they were working with different artistes.
“We are the mirror and voice of our societies. We will not stand-by and watch while brother rises against brother in such an inhumane manner,” WeUtonga said.
“Zimbabwean musicians and poets will speak in one voice engaging South African artistes coming to Zimbabwe for performances to act and take a stand against xenophobia. Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu regardless of where they come from.”
Willis Wattafi of Afrika Revenge, who is also a Zimu committee member, said they were not necessarily planning a demonstration against South African artistes.
He said they intended to use the platforms on which South African artistes would be performing to conscientise them on the need to denounce xenophobia back home.
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“The visiting artistes provide us with a platform to peacefully activate our message. We the United Zimbabwean Artistes Against Xenophobia are of the opinion that Zimbabweans at home and abroad provide a lot of support for South African music and we would want them to engage their own people and denounce xenophobia,” Wattafi said.
“There is Big Nuz and company coming to Zimbabwe to perform on Independence Day and we are organising just to go wearing our T-shirts and let them know how important it is for them to be on board. We are part of this because it is a social problem.” Founding member and vice-president of the DJs’ Association of Zimbabwe, Ronnie Bere, said: “I am glad artistes are united in fighting this madness through song, as a national DJs association we are fully behind them.
“We, however, implore Zimbabweans to desist from violence. Even the Bible urges us not to fight violence with violence, so like a civilised people we should not engage in violent protests if we decide to demonstrate.
“Art and music, in particular are above politics and we can only defeat hatred by love not by hate.”
A group of musicians that include WeUtonga, Clare Nyakujara, Lipsy, Wattafi, Diverse and Talking Guitars, among others, yesterday recorded a yet-to-be-named track at New dawn Studios under the theme No to Xenophobia.
The artistes are planning to engage a group of South African artistes expected to perform in Bulawayo for the Independence celebrations at the weekend.
For the past three days social media sites have been awash with various messages urging Zimbabweans to boycott shows by South African artistes.
