Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
ACROSS Southern Africa’s entertainment landscape, music has always mirrored society’s triumphs and traumas.
From packed stadium shows to intimate church halls, artistes have long carried the burden of reflecting real life.
Few challenges have cut as deeply through the creative industry as drug and substance abuse, a crisis that has derailed promising careers, silenced once-bright voices and left lasting scars on families and fans alike.
Local gospel musician Rebecca Manford closed out December 2025 with a powerful statement, releasing a song that has spilled into the New Year as a sobering reminder of the drug and substance abuse menace threatening communities across the region.
Dropped during the festive season, a period often marked by excess and vulnerability, the track resonated into the New Year, reinforcing its message as both a warning and a call to action and reflection.
Through the release, Manford announced not just new music, but a renewed commitment to using her voice to support the fight against drugs, positioning her art as a timely intervention aimed at saving lives and protecting the future of young people.
Against this backdrop, she has emerged as one of the strongest artistic voices backing Government efforts to curb drug and substance abuse, using her music not only as a form of worship but as a powerful social intervention aimed at saving lives and restoring broken futures.
Manford believes artistes have a responsibility to speak where silence has failed.
Many local musicians have struggled with addiction, while others have seen their careers interrupted by substance-related controversies.
Regionally, South African hip-hop, dancehall and amapiano circles have also confronted the dark side of drug culture, sparking conversations about mental health, pressure and survival.
Manford says music remains one of the most effective ways to reach hearts that policy statements and warnings often cannot.
“Drug abuse has become one of the biggest threats to our communities and nation,” Manford said.
“Every day we see young people with so much potential throwing their lives away. Families are being broken and futures are being stolen. I felt a deep responsibility to use my voice and my platform to support the fight against drugs.”
Her stance aligns with ongoing Government campaigns aimed at combating drug and substance abuse, particularly among youths.
Manford says her music is designed to complement these efforts by carrying the message directly to the people, delivered through sound, emotion and lived experience — the language entertainment audiences respond to most.
“Music has the power to heal, to warn, to uplift and to open eyes,” she said.
“Sometimes conversations fail, but a song can reach the heart instantly. If my music can inspire even one person to walk away from drugs, seek help or save someone else, then it has done its job.”
The entertainment industry itself has not been spared.
Locally, stories abound of talented performers whose rise was cut short by addiction.
Across Africa, artistes have increasingly opened up about the pressures that come with fame, money and public expectation, acknowledging how drugs often enter creative spaces disguised as escape or inspiration.
Some musicians have sought rehabilitation and recovery, while others have used their experiences to warn the next generation through music and public advocacy.
Manford’s musical journey is deeply rooted in faith and community.
She grew up singing at school and in church, performing in youth bands where her voice and passion for music began to take shape.
Over time, music became her chosen medium of expression — a way to serve her religious beliefs while addressing real issues affecting society.
“Music is the art through which I express myself, my faith and my values,” she said. “It allows me to communicate ideas, challenge mindsets and speak on issues that matter in our communities.”
Though widely known for her gospel sound, Manford’s music extends beyond praise and worship. Her songs often carry messages that encourage moral responsibility, personal growth and community upliftment — a blend that has earned her respect beyond church platforms and into broader entertainment conversations.
Her latest project, ‘Say No’, directly confronts the growing scourge of drug abuse, drawing inspiration from everyday realities she witnesses — realities mirrored across the region’s creative industries.
“Almost everyone knows someone who had a promising life and lost it because of drugs,” she said. “That reality is what inspired this project. Drug abuse is destroying families and robbing young people of their future — the very future that should be full of dreams, creativity and purpose.”
Internationally, musicians have also turned personal struggle into powerful anti-drug messaging.
American rapper Macklemore’s Otherside chronicles the dangers of addiction with brutal honesty, while British singer Ed Sheeran has spoken through both interviews and lyrics about resisting substance dependency amid fame.
Reggae legend Bob Marley repeatedly warned against self-destruction, urging spiritual awareness and self-control in music that still resonates decades later.
These global examples show how music can confront addiction without glamorising it — a space Manford’s project confidently occupies.
She describes her work as both a warning and a message of hope.
“The song is my way of saying we can choose better, we can protect our future and we can save lives,” she said. “It is a call to action, not just for the victims of drugs, but for parents, communities and leaders.”
Beyond music, Manford is also a high achiever in the corporate world — a chartered accountant, the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company in the tobacco sector, an international public speaker and a multi-award-winning business leader.
She says discipline, purpose and hard work allow her to balance a demanding career with her passion for music.
“I put my all into everything I do,” she said. “I believe strongly in productivity and putting in the work. Being busy does not overwhelm me — it energises me.”
As she prepares to release more music, including a forthcoming album, Manford remains clear about her mission.
“I do not release music just to stay relevant,” she said. “I release it when it is meaningful and ready. But people should expect more — we have been working hard, and there is so much more to come.”
With her latest project, she is not just making music; she is lending her voice to a national and regional cause, proving that when entertainment is guided by purpose, it can become a powerful force in shaping healthier and more hopeful communities.
