Online Reporter
Gabriel Manyeruke
MUSIC has long soothed the human spirit — entertaining, comforting and inspiring listeners through moments of joy, grief and despair.
In Zimbabwe, it has also become a lifeline for many young people, offering fame and financial freedom.
Yet, as the industry flourishes, a troubling trend emerges: the rise of lyrics that glorify drug use, vulgarity and sexual obscenity, particularly in genres like Zimdancehall and hip-hop.
While creativity deserves celebration, some artistes have traded dignity for digital clout. Their songs — often trending on platforms like TikTok and Instagram — are laced with language unfit for family settings.
Parents cannot play such music in front of children and learners feel embarrassed listening in the presence of elders.
This is not merely a matter of taste; it signals the erosion of societal values.
Digital platforms, moral dilemmas
Social media has liberalised music distribution, but it has also dismantled traditional gatekeeping.
Uncensored content now reaches young minds with alarming ease.
Schoolchildren, immersed in these platforms, are exposed to messages that normalise indecency and rebellion.
Technology, once hailed as a tool for progress, now threatens to undermine moral education. Musicians are more than entertainers — they are role models.
Their lyrics shape attitudes, behaviours and aspirations. When they choose to sing about drugs and promiscuity, they inadvertently mentor a generation into chaos.
But when they uphold values, they become torchbearers of hope and discipline.
Music should not be confined to beerhalls and nightclubs. It should echo in classrooms, homes and public spaces — without shame.
We salute the artistes who remain steadfast, those who sing with substance, inspire with integrity and uplift with every verse. Their work reminds us that music can be both popular and principled.
As educators, parents and citizens, we must guide learners to discern what they consume. Let us teach them that not all trending content is worth following.
Let us challenge artistes to rise above gimmicks and embrace their role as cultural custodians, for in every lyric lies the power to build — or break — a generation.
Gabriel Manyeruke is an author and educator at Wise Owl High School in Marondera. Contact details: 0774122288/[email protected]
