Malawi rights activists condemn Mwiza Chavula’s ‘rape’ song
Rap musician Mwiza Chavula’s song entitled “Rape” has come under heavy criticism by activist Emma Kalia and law expert Edge Kanyongolo.
The song talks about a man who plans to rape a woman who denies a sexual relationship with him. There is a crying voice in the background at the beginning and end of the song emphasizing the act of rape.
Rights activist Emma Kalia said the song is demeaning to the womenfolk. She added that rape is a serious crime in the country and nobody should cherish such type of relics and allowing such to be aired in the country is a portrayal of a society which is morally rotten.
Chancellor College law expert Edge Kanyongolo said freedom of speech should not be a warrant for artists to present issues that in turn infringe other people’s rights, in this case women.
President of Musicians Association of Malawi (MAM), Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango also said such types of songs are a disgrace to the nation.
“As an association, it is now time that we bring in mechanisms to ensure that our music is critically analyzed before it goes for sale and on air because this song is against our culture,” added Mhango.
On his part, the artist Mwiza Chavula said it was unfortunate that people were quick to judge his song which was only part one of two.
He said part two was going to expose the consequences men suffer for acts of rape.
“I regret this scandal. I think we need to be careful in the way we compose and present issues in our songs,” he said.
It’s unfortunate that Chavula chose to release this in 2 parts: many people will only hear the first and be influenced by that. Why didn’t he integrate the 2, to show how wrong the act of rape is, alongside the act itself? Maybe because he wanted the publicity to boost sales?
Komatu a Malawi nthawi zina rushing to condemn:
Let me declare right from the start: the song is bad, the message is irresponsible. Morally reprehensible even.
Should he be arrested for it (as has been reported in another article on this website)?
No.
You may deny his song airplay, remove it from internet sites, and so on. Koma much as we may hate what someone proclaims to be a work of art, we must realize that we too have limits with regard to what extent we want to bend the law to our purposes. Our claim for artistic freedom means we must swallow bitter pills such as this one. Otherwise, where do we start and where do we stop?
Malawian urban music, to which this example belongs, is full of songs with denigratory, objectifying depictions of women (the music videos for these songs actually feature young women seemingly accepting and celebrating this objectification; they seem to thrive in the presence of young men who explicitly state what they wish to do with the girls). Do we tolerate them because they never explicitly mention words like ‘rape’? Are they a ‘lesser evil’ that we are able to live with? We can’t have our cake and eat it too: either we condemn the objectification of women on all levels (which some would read as infringement of artistic freedom), or we embrace artistic freedom entirely (which others say promotes irresponsible creativity). Either option will have opponents and proponents.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not in support of Chavura’s song. It is bad. I only want Malawians to wake up and smell the hypocrisy which makes them selectively critical of various things.
Ndipo palibe nkhani yomangiranapo apa. Ndaseka kwambiri ndikumva achina Chanika akuwauza apolisi kuti mumangeni uyu chifukwa cha lamulo la “hate speech” ndi “incitement”, Section blah-blah, Penal Code mwakuti… If we go down that road, Malawi’s police cells and prisons will not be enough.