Don’t underestimate the power of music

I began to wonder about the extent to which our society understands the power of music. Without doubt, music has made a significant contribution to our economy and I am surprised that 32 years after our independence, the Government has still not decided to build a single venue which will be used entirely for music.
I am amazed to see that there are still a lot of people in this society who underestimate the power of music.
Music touches every aspect of human life. Music deals with all human emotions, be it anger, sadness, fear, happiness or disgust. Songs have been written over the years about these different emotions.
A cognitive theory of the emotions would suggest that no matter what nationality one belongs to, they will experience emotional development which can be pursued through music.
One does not necessarily need to understand the lyrics of a particular song in order to appreciate good music, otherwise the likes of Kanda Bongo Man, Awilo, Zahara and P Square would not make any strides in this country.
Music contributes to peace development and to the economic development of nations.
For instance, music keeps our minds away from conflict, thus bringing about peace as it teaches us to tolerate one another.
John Lennon is well known for his 1975 composition “All We Are Saying: Please Give Peace A Chance” which was a big hit when thousands of demonstrators went marching against the Vietnam War.
In terms of economic development, think of the tourism industry. In the early 1980s thousands of people from all over the world used to come to Zimbabwe during Independence celebrations to witness various Zimbabwean music groups performing at Rufaro Stadium.
Today, that trend is still being experienced by the pulling power of organisations such as the Harare International Festival of the Arts.
These people spend large sums of money in visiting tourist resorts, staying in expensive hotels, eating and consuming beverages and paying to attend concerts.
Even backpackers who came to Zimbabwe with one T-shirt and only one hundred dollar bill and were reluctant to change neither contributed to the economy in small ways as they had to eat.
With unemployment figures surging at 80 percent in Zimbabwe, music has managed to find jobs for many young persons who would otherwise be robbers, drunkards or drug addicts on the streets.
Think of what the likes of Roki would be doing if they were not exposed to music?
There are thousands of youths who are dependent on music for their livelihood today. Some play musical instruments while others are working either as doormen or bouncers at venues, and yet more are occupied with peripheral industries such as poster printing, radio DJs, music promoters, band managers, recording companies’ executives, music producers, PA system manufacturers, nightclub owners, broadcasters, etc.
All these occupations depend on music.
Sometimes in life people grieve. People feel all kinds of emotions. Music is almost an emotion in itself. In my eyes music can be an escape for a minute or two. It can be for however long you desire.
Music has been called a way of life for certain human beings. Somehow, it has made such a large influence on the world. I can think of many instances where music has impacted someone’s life in some significant way.
Musicians have the advantage of touching people with their lyrics or music; a gift some people will never be able to give, but most people have the chance to listen to the feeling and conviction put into a musician’s work.
Some of us have musical talent and others don’t, but those who do can share their emotions through an expression, so to speak. Music is often called the voice of the voiceless.
Think of the political sentiments being expressed by the likes of Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi or Leonard Zhakata through their lyrics. People go on to buy their records because they feel a connection between what they are thinking and what these musicians are saying. They identify with the sentiments being expressed, but do not have a platform on which to say it themselves.
The way music affects our everyday lives can be almost incomprehensible at times. One time in particular stood out to me when I thought of examples of what impact music can make on our lives.
The amount of music that came immediately after Zimbabwe got its independence in 1980 is a good example. Songs such as “Baba Mahwina”, “Makorokoto”, “Mbuya Nehanda” and many others inspired multitudes of people politically and showed the power of music in influencing political movements.
In Zimbabwe, music has been critical in communicating political ideologies. This is why several national musical galas are held each year in order to influence the political thinking of the masses.
Socially, industries such as Delta Beverages have benefited as they see the connection between music and selling their products.
The longer patrons are entertained through music, the more they drink.
Not only is music good at inspiring political, and social attitudes but it also has healing powers. The healing power of music has been expressed throughout the centuries, from the strumming of ancient harps and flutes, to the pure voice sung in chants and folk songs.
Even before King David, the kings of old must have employed musicians to soothe and heal them during times of stress and illness. Music has no bounds when it creates the sounds to heal and mellow the soul.
Its legacy survives every generation through history and is expressed through the hearts and deeper feelings in the people from almost every culture, ancient and modern. Sound and music coupled with a pure heart and clear soul activates the principles of healing. And nothing can take its place in the world.
Our world without music of any kind or genre is inconceivable. A planet without music as a healing force would be equally unthinkable. Our Earth has given birth to singers, musicians and composers who have attained mastery in the art of healing music, from the olden days, throughout the centuries, right up to our time.
And what distinguishes “healing music” from other musical forms is spirituality. Imagine the healing effect of a mother singing a lullaby to a sick or tired child or a young boy playing soft guitar music for his ailing father or the Beatles singing:
“All You Need is Love” or Oliver Mtukudzi singing “Rufu NdiMadzongonyedze”. All these songs have a therapeutic effect on the listener.
This is but a mere fragment of the healing music available to people in the world today. And there is so much more . . . virtually anyone reading this may add a list of favourites to the literature which comprises healing music. Yet, what is healing to some is not healing to others.
And what is healing today may not be healing yesterday or tomorrow. It matters not who or what is in vogue. What is important is there exists music which is therapeutic, spiritually uplifting, quieting, relaxing, energising, life-affirming, positive, beautiful, healing, awakening, soul-searching, metaphysical and based upon the affirmation of love as an active principle within every note and phrase as they pass through the hearing and enter the human experience.
That is the power of music.
When we are touched to the depths of our being and enervated as a result; when we reach a musical karthasis, no matter what our taste or style is, as long as it brings to us the rapture of a musical climax, where we are moved to absolute tears. We will be listening to music of a healing nature and we are ennobled, enriched and transformed.
The transformative power of music has been recognised throughout history, in all cultures and all peoples.
Sound released through air into the hearing reaches into our hearts and vitalises our nerves, tension is reduced, and often vanishes.
The music, which does this, regardless of style, may be considered “healing”, healthful, curative, therapeutic, resonating with the spirit, and charged with the ability to be visionary and enlightening.
Nothing can replace it. Music therefore exerts a powerful impact on our lives and is important for a well-rounded education. Learning to play a musical instrument has demonstrable effects on increased intelligence.
With the above arguments, who can doubt that music is a powerful form of expression and a very important part of everyone’s life whether one is black, white, Chinese or Indian? Just like the keys on the piano keyboard, one cannot produce melodic music without playing both black and white keys. Indeed!