Image: Radiodialogue.com
Newsday, Zimbabawe — With the dust yet to settle following the recent xenophobic attacks that threatened to tear South Africa apart and render it a pariah among African States, several African gospel artistes – including Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Mahachi – have come together and penned a song titled Africa Unite to foster healing and unity.
BY SHADRECK MARIRIMBA
Other artistes featured on the song are South Africans Sifiso Ncwane, Khaya Mutetwa, Benjamin Dube, Dumi Mkokstad and Tina Zungu as well as Nigeria’s Uche Agu and Frank Chimpanzi from Malawi.
The video for the song, in which all the artistes joined hands to pen the lyrics, was shot two weeks ago.
Speaking after his return from South Africa Mahachi said the artistes decided to come together in the noble initiative after realising that they were all Africans and therefore should walk as one.
“The song is all about uniting Africans. We don’t have to hate each other. We are one as Africans,” Mahachi said.
“God loves us all despite our different colours, races, tribes or ethnicity.”
Ncwane described xenophobia as shameful and said there was need to spread peace and love.
“Xenophobic attacks are a shame. God must give us the spirit of peace and love. That is why we came together to do this song,” he said.
The song was inspired by the death of a Mozambican national, Emmanuel Sithole, whose brutal attack has become the defining moment of the attacks in South Africa.
It was sung in different languages such as Shona, English, Suthu, Zulu, Chewa and Nigerian dialects to capture the beauty of the diversity of African nationalities.
Following the wave of xenophobia, other South African artistes Refiloe Maele Phoolo, also known as Cassper Nyovest, and Big Nuz are set to tour Zimbabwe from May 22 and will perform in Beitbridge at Pagomba Café and other places.
The tour is dubbed “Zerophobia: A voice against Xenophobia”.
Meanwhile, Mahachi, who collaborated with Ncwane on his Declarations album launched last month called Declarations, will partner again for the album’s launch in South Africa in June.
The album, which is fast becoming a favourite among gospel lovers, carries an overriding message of love and hope.
The duo has already finished shooting a video for their collaboration song, Ndinoda Jesu, which is featured on the album.
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