Skeffa does it, again
Good people, there is greater joy in doing well without expecting praises than playing to the gallery.
This feeling was captivating on the World Aids Day five days ago when UNAids recognised Skeffa Chimoto as a lead music celebrity for its Protect the Goal campaign for which he composed a stunner of a theme song.
Skeffa never ceases to seize his stage appearance to spread vital messages on the pandemic which kills nearly 130 people every day in the country said UNAids country rep Amakobe Sande.
Surely, Malawian artists cannot continue staying put or churning out offerings with damaging misconceptions at a time the world is vying for zero new infections, zero stigma and zero Aids -related death.
Forget guitar maestro Saleta Phiri’s hit Ili mu Ufa which suggests the virus is unavoidable because it lives right ‘in the food basket’—a metaphor for sexual intercourse which fallen reggae star Evison Matafale later termed ‘a poison so sweet’ in a masterclass of the same title.
Its 2014! Nearly everybody knows a way to reduce HIV transmission.
Being crowd-pullers, Skeffa’s feat should jolt artists to always use their influence to propagate and strengthen these ideals—abstinence, condom use, faithfulness, circumcision and getting tested—to contain the spread and stigma.
By the way, is there anything for artists to smile about when they sit aside and look while nearly 50 000 of their compatriots die every year?
What do they gain by composing songs that deepen the widespread mentality that seemingly says: “HIV and Aids is not their business, but other people problem?”
What does it benefit them to keep singing Wadwalika, Akunenepa Nako and other songs which vilify people living with HIV and pushes them underground and makes them stop seeking treatment?
Would they lose anything by singing songs of hope and enlightenment just when the nation is striving for the three zeros?
Many are the questions about artist’s forays in HIV awareness, but Skeffa’s certificate of commendation comfortingly confirms there are some celebrity who care and dare to the right things to bring change in times of HIV and Aids. Thumbs up!
