DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Daily Revelation
Music is inextricably linked with the context in which it is produced, taught consumed and there is a relationship between music, culture, and society. Music has such a strong influence politically, socially and to some extent economically.
It has an ability to heal a broken society either through its lyrics or to connect with the past with the message it carries.
Research demonstrates that music can therefore support our physical, mental, and emotional health. It can help regulate our emotions, improving our mood and enhancing productivity and concentration, and it can even help society sleep better.
Music can alter across contexts and therefore reflected in the ways music and sound is manipulated or constructed to form a larger works with different purposes.
For example, Luck Dube and Bobby Marley’s music was purposively produced to sensitize the people on various ills of society in South Africa and the World, respectively. In the Zambian context various artists have produced different pieces of music to advance a particular cause as a way of either social or political commentaries.
The country still enjoys PK Chishala’s songs who is credited as one of the most influential social commentaries of our time through music such as ‘pa Pastor’.
Further, the Dandy Crazy ‘Donchi Kubeba song and JK’s Dununa Reverse helped the PF to win elections in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Make no mistake, music produced during elections time have a strong influence towards a particular candidate and his party, it is a necessary evil for both politicians and society.
The current musical release dubbed ‘chalo na morale’ by a group of artists referring to themselves as ‘united artists’ is a nice piece with strong and admirable relics towards the President and his party in government.
The music piece has overshadowed the UPND media team because the song has catalogued the achievements of the UPND government under one year.
That as it may be the musicians themselves are not inspiring to say the least. Whilst there have been arguments that they are in the business, every entrepreneur has a philosophy that inspires him to succeed, and our Zambian musicians are no exception.
The latest musical release adds to the long list of arguments and counter arguments that Zambians lack ideological clarity as a society.
As stated earlier, music, culture and society are inextricably linked, our Zambian musicians are shaping cultures and the society itself and this may be passed on from generation to generation that we are a society that has no direction when it comes to important decisions of the nation.
We can say anything at any time and without shame say the opposite within seconds.
Whilst politicians are changing course every day from one political party to the other without exception, it is jaw dropping and striking today that the majority members of the ‘united artist’ could sit and produce such a powerful political musical song credited towards an individual and his party they were a few months ago demonizing and admonishing.
Its like Kanye West of the United States of America singing at the Democratic National Congress!
Nonetheless, the JK and others release is a good piece with soothing lyrics for the broken society!
Francisco Mumba
Governance Activist.
