Johannesburg - With racism frequently rearing its head in South Africa, the Department of Arts and Culture, together with a collective of legendary African musicians, launched a song to challenge racism on Wednesday.
No Love, No Life, composed by Mzwakhe Mbuli, is a song that conveys the message that nobody is born racist, but racists are influenced by evil minds.
“There is no DNA for racism, there are no genes for racism, love has no colour, and love transcends all boundaries,” Mbuli said on Wednesday.
The launch, which took place at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, was attended by Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, legendary jazz singers Letta Mbulu and Dorothy Masuka, as well as Sipho Sithole, founder of Native Rhythms.
Mthethwa said racism exists without racists.”Because we cannot physically see people who directly perpetuate racism, we should, through the arts, influence the abstract being,” he said.
Artists featured in the anti-racism song include Thokozani Langa, Zain Bhika, Mande de Jesus, David Jenkins, Mbongeni Ngema with backing vocals from the late Miriam Makeba.
After Mbuli and his band entertained the crowd of mostly journalists with his rendition of the anti-racism song, a panel discussion was held on whether music could still shift the minds of society as it did during apartheid.
Masuka, as one of the panellists, stressed that the message was lost in today’s music.
Masuka mentioned kwaito star Mdu Masilela’s hit song Gibela phezu kwendlu (Climb on the roof and let them know) as an example of today’s “meaningless music”.
“Youngsters, your music does not have lyrics. When you get on the stage to perform as a musician, it should be about conveying a message, then entertaining. Tell us stories through your music. When you say get on the roof and tell them? Tell them what exactly?” she asked.
Sithole urged that racism should be criminalised.
An emotional (Letta) Mbulu said: “Music should continue to convey a message of love and nurturing, just like an African child is taught.”
But Twitter’s response to the song was not at all nurturing, with many blasting the idea and the reportedly R800 000 spent on it.
The Star and IOL