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Fred Zindi
I will not mention his name here. He gets very agitated whenever I give him what I consider to be constructive advice which he views as negative criticism. He has a big ego and will only listen to himself.
I have been following his musical career for a few years now. He was once quite popular, at one point making lots of money, quite productive, successful and confident, but was also cocky, arrogant and was downright unlikeable.
He could have easily been at the top of his game by now, but it turned out that even his fans began to dislike him when they noticed this arrogance in him.
A year ago, he was on national radio immediately after drinking too much and totally humiliated himself live in the ears of all listeners.
His interview was quite embarrassing. Even those who did not care about him in the past were asking me, “Hey what’s wrong with that young man?”
Today, he is merely a shadow of his former self as he is down and out in the dumps.
Each time we bump into each other, he pretends as if he has not seen me. I am alright with that although I wish we could talk and hope that he will change his ways.
Perhaps he already has.
It takes humiliation in order for one to learn the virtue of humility. The thing is, no matter how smart, successful, good-looking or special you are, nobody likes a braggart. Nobody likes arrogance.
Nobody likes cockiness.
It is really important to practise humility, to develop into a better citizen and a better person. Humility and vulnerability make us more likeable. Each day I remind myself just how small I am in the amazing, wondrous world around me, and that also helps me to try and stay humble.
Recently, I saw one very popular Zim dancehall artiste being mobbed by hundreds of fans after a concert. They wanted pictures taken with him and he said that he was charging $2 from each one of them if they wanted photos taken with him.
He asked his bouncers to keep the fans at bay and refused to do interviews with journalists. In the end, nobody bothered to talk to him. The fans started talking negatively about him. “Who does he think he is?” some said. Others declared that they would never attend his concerts ever again.
That kind of arrogance is not acceptable in the world of music. I do not know why some young musicians do not learn that fast enough.
If up and coming musicians could learn to be humble from those who have been in the game long enough, they would find themselves more successful in their dealing with the public. The likes of Dr Oliver Mtukudzi — who has been helping the less privileged artistes in society at Pakare Paye Arts Centre, Mechanic Manyeruke, Jah Prayzah, Clive Mono Mukundu and Albert Nyathi who has been developing young artistes through Imbongi Arts- are my examples of humble musicians in Zimbabwe. There are many more.
Prominent people have also expressed their views on the importance of humility, in business and in life. According to Reverend Jesse Jackson, one should never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.
C.S. Lewis says; Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.
Thomas Merton emphasises; “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”.
Alice Walker has often reminded me that ‘thank you’ expresses extreme gratitude, humility and understanding.
As Simone Well put it, “Real genius is nothing else but the supernatural virtue of humility in the domain of thought”.
Other descriptions of humility emanating from my readings on the subject and my experiences in interacting with big musical artistes include:
“Humility is throwing oneself away in complete concentration on something or someone else”.
I experienced this in my young days when I met Bob Marley at Reggae Sunsplash which was held at Chrystal Palace in London in May 1980. After a struggle past Marley’s aides, I went backstage to thank him for having performed in my country, Zimbabwe a few weeks before.
After the introductions, he warmly embraced me and said that I should advance reggae music in Zimbabwe.
He went on to introduce me to several Jamaicans: his graphic artiste, Neville Garrick, Robert Lee of Synergy Productions who was the Sunsplash promoter, King Sounds, Brinsley Forde from Aswad and Mr Palmer, director of Green Sleeves Records who were all surrounding him as he was talking to me.
He declared: “These brethren will give you all the reggae music you want. Keep in touch with them”.
Bob Marley is gone but these folks are still my friends up to this day.
What was amazing to me at the time was the humility with which Bob Marley expressed himself when talking to me, a complete stranger. I was humbled. For years I kept thinking about this occasion.
Other expressions of humility that come to mind are: “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you. One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time.”
“Selflessness is humility. Humility and freedom go hand in hand. Only a humble person can be free.”
So my advice to all musicians is, have more humility. Remember you don’t know the limits of your own abilities. Successful or not, if you keep pushing beyond yourself, you will enrich your own life — and maybe even please a few strangers.
One thing musicians should also remember is that by having a modest or low view of their own importance, the can stay humble. Nuff respect!
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