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Godwin Muzari Showbiz Mirror
Jacob Moyana is an interesting musician. When his song “Munotidako” started circulating on social media networks late last year, most people thought it was a joke.
While the song’s lyrics have been a source of debate at various social platforms, Moyana got the attention mainly because of the vulgar connotations.
The musician has justified his song – and it is indeed justifiable – as a product that does not hinge on mischief.
The word “munotidako” has a clean meaning in some Shona dialects while it is vulgar in others.
Although Moyana cannot be crucified for going on the wrong side of the moral line, it is apparent his composition and the emphasis he puts on the word “munotidako” in the song goes beyond just singing about how fans want a musician to come to their area.
If Moyana was an honest musician, he would admit he played around with the controversy in the word to get attention. He knew that the song would attract attention, not because of the meaning he purports to be pursuing, but the vulgar connotations. In fact, the song has made waves because people associate it more with buttocks than the “you want us there” message. Talk of “the naked truth”.
Well, Moyana got the support of linguists and has every reason to castigate anyone that dares challenge his lyrics because the meaning can be far from vulgar in another dialect. He has successfully done so and went on to belt out the song at a family show at Extra Mile Leisure Centre last Sunday.
Honestly, the song is not for family consumption no matter how hard linguists would defend it. No one in their sanity would play the song in a family set-up, but Moyana did so at a family show. People sang along and applauded him. They sang along.
Of course, most of the family shows held these days (especially at certain venues) have eroded the level of decency that used to characterise such gatherings, but Moyana seems prepared to sing his song even at a chief’s traditional court.
He vehemently defends his lyrics, but he knows his trick. Many might call him a mischievous artiste but I feel he is just “interesting”.
He knows how to play around with art to get away with mischief. This level of artistry has mainly been evident in visual art locally when artistes explore issues about sex and intimacy in a subtle way and in abstract forms that would escape some viewers.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to explore such issues in music without attracting controversy because the art is about words and every listener weighs lyrics.
So, Moyana got the attention he sought because of his controversial lyrics. Moyana is not a bad musician at all.
He is one of the few musicians that have a unique sungura beat that is not made from copying established musicians in the genre.
Barring the controversial lyrics, Moyana has a unique type of music that could easily fill the huge sungura gap between stars in the genre and those on the second level. It is a huge worrisome gap.
But Moyana should know that consumers of his music are not zombies that would marvel at his controversial lyrics for the next two or three albums.
He has managed to get the attention he needed and it is now time for him to make something meaningful out of the opportunity. He seems determined to continue composing songs with vulgar inclinations. That is not the way to go Mr Moyana. You might coin several controversial songs and defend the vulgar connotations in the lyrics but that is not serious music. I heard other controversial songs about people eating doves and worshippers going to prayer meetings from Moyana last weekend. He maintains words with multiple meanings, some of which are not so pleasant.
You were fortunate “Mr Munotidako” to get recognition through controversy but it is time to move on and prove you have the talent and maturity to contribute meaningfully to the local music industry. The musician has a number of songs that are not controversial and he should start promoting those songs more.
With all this attention, it is time for Moyana to come up with an exceptional hit that would spur him to fame away from controversy.
Now that he has relocated to Harare and performing with seasoned musicians at various shows, it is an opportunity for serious business.
Moyana should not get carried away by the vulgar and controversy.
This is a music industry that can be very harsh even to the stars of our time.
Moyana has to grab his opportunity with a vision.
Online Reporter