WATCH The Anti-Racism Song to Help South Africa “Dance Against Racism”
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched an Anti-Racism Song on Wednesday to “tackle the continuing salience of race and racism and the negative role social media has played in spewing the racial bigotry”. Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg yesterday the Minister said music can play an important role in fostering social cohesion and building a non-racial society. In […]
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched an Anti-Racism Song on Wednesday to “tackle the continuing salience of race and racism and the negative role social media has played in spewing the racial bigotry”.
Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg yesterday the Minister said music can play an important role in fostering social cohesion and building a non-racial society.
In a local radio interview this morning he said “we need to dance against racism” and that people should not feel helpless in the face of racism but must fight and mobilise against it.
Not everyone is impressed. Many have taken to Twitter to voice concern that the song doesn’t have the emotion of a hit like Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World”, that it won’t be listened to by racists and that “it feeds into the stereotype that all Africans ever do is sing and dance”. Some said the government is yet again putting a band aid on an old wound, and Julius Malema’s parody account said “We don’t need an #AntiRacismSong we need to wake up. There is something big happening. I don’t think all this Racism happening is coincidence.”
Singer Yvonna Chaka Chaka tweeted: “Thks @ArtsCultureSA 4 #AntiRacismSong Say no 2 #racism #NotinMyName God loves all all equally.”
The minister urges that it’s time to declare war against racism, and hopes this song will bring South Africans together.
The song – “No Love No Life” – is performed by Mzwakhe Mbuli, Thokozani Langa, Zain Bhikha, Mbongeni Ngema, David Jenkins… with backing vocals from the late Miriam Makeba.