Just like we have been inundated with political messages during this election month, this year has also been filled with messages on the wrongs of drug abuse.
Since February this year, we have seen messages on posters, billboards and newspaper headlines such as “Top Harare School Expels Eight Girls For Drug Abuse” and “Cannabis, Cocaine, Chrystal Meth High Prevalence Among Learners In Schools and In Townships”, etc.
This comes as the country has been experiencing disturbing reports of young people, including school children, engaging in alcohol, drug and substance abuse.
In a survey carried out last year, it was revealed that Zimbabwean children, as young as 11, were taking drugs, with mental institutions recording a surge in dope consumption.
At private schools, learners who are mostly from rich families, reportedly use high-end drugs such as cocaine and nicotine.
However, in high density suburbs, the taking of mbanje, mutoriro and musombodhiya is widespread and many schoolchildren have found their way into consuming these substances.
There is a network of drug spots around the city of Harare where other drugs such as cannabis, as well as prescription drugs that are commonly misused such as codeine, the cough syrup Broncleer, which contains codeine, and pills that are usually prescribed to combat mental illness are sold.
The above messages are a clear testimony from society to what is taking place among the youth in Zimbabwe today.
- In The Groove: King Isaac’s message to Zim youth
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There are several reasons why this societal decay is taking place in this country. First of all, there is a high unemployment rate in Zimbabwe. I know of several university graduates who are still trying to find employment since leaving university ten or so years ago.
Many of them, now in their thirties, have resorted to selling air-time in the streets, while others are fruit and vegetable vendors.
A handful of youths are musicians, but the rest of them are just lying idle in the streets. It is the latter group that has pushed themselves and other youths into drug abuse.
They listen to Jamaican musicians and Rastafarian beliefs that “Ganja makes one wiser” and the only reason governments try to stop the youth from taking drugs is that establishments do not like wise people around them, because they might cause a revolution.
That is a fallacy! And deluded youths fall for that.
I agree with government ministries that condemn the use of drugs especially among school children. Many young people aged between 15 and 25 are now dependent on drug use as their daily routine. This is more common among urban youth.
Mufakose-born-Isaac Gabriel Kalumbu, aka King Isaac, that Zimbabwean 2010 Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter, musician and professor at Michigan State University in the United States of America, who has been to Jamaica on several occasions and did some collaborations with famous Jamaican artistes such as Gregory Isaacs, Leroy Sibbles, Frankie Paul, Chaka Demus, U-Roy and Sugar Minott, has now joined in the bandwagon of people who condemn the use of drugs among the youth in Zimbabwe.
I first met Isaac Kalumbu in 1986 when he came to Harare from Gweru to join the Ethnomusicology programme at the Zimbabwe College of Music together with Clayton Ndlovu and the late Dumi Ngulube.
This was before he went to Indiana University to undertake a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology. He is currently based at Michigan State University from where he travels every now and again to Jamaica following his favourite music genre, reggae.
This is where he has interacted with Jamaican musicians mentioned above.
King Isaac released his latest single, Usatore Mutoriro last week on July 21, 2023. The song admonishes youths against the use of the drug crystal meth, popularly known as Mutoriro.
With this new craze of idle Zimbabwean youths taking Mutoriro all over the country, I suggest that the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as well as The ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education recommend the sale of King Isaac’s single in all their schools.
It is a very simple song to follow and the tune will attract all sensible school-going children to sing along. It begins with:
UsatoreMutoriro
Siyana nawo
UsatoreMusombodhiya
UsaiteNharo
Ibvawatousiya
Vamwevaakurasapfungwa. etc
Asked what inspired him to write the song, King Isaac explains: “We are facing a serious crisis among our people, especially among the youths with the use of drugs.”
“I’ve seen the pain, havoc, paralysis and hopelessness this is bringing to youths and their families.
“It is devastating, and we all should do something and say something to our youths.
“Those already in it, those thinking of it, and those not yet involved, all need to hear a chorus from the rest of society that says: No! Do not touch this. It's dangerous. It’s the end of your normal life and your future.
“As it is, it has killed some youths, and some innocent people through violence. It’s a very serious problem.”
The drug epidemic in Zimbabwe now sits high among the many tribulations ailing the community.
Recent reports showed that 60% of people admitted into psychiatric institutions suffered due to drug and substance abuse-related problems, with 85% of them aged between 16 and 25 years old.
These figures are not only disconcerting for the present, but also paint a bleak future for the nation.
You have heard the words Mutoriro and Musombodhiya. These words are used interchangeably as street language especially by ghetto youths to refer to illicit alcohol brews often made up of diluted ethanol or methanol and sometimes crystal methamphetamine.
In short, these alcohol brews are illegal and if one takes them, they are accused of illegal substance abuse.
You have also heard of the word mbanje which is now centuries old. It is also classified among illegal substances.
Musombodhiya and Mutoriro are the latest names given to illicit substances which many school children who have no hope for the future, are now taking in order to get themselves high.
Musombodhiya (Musombodia) is street language used to refer to the illicit alcohol brew composed of diluted ethanol or methanol or crystal methamphetamine.
They are listed in the Dangerous Drugs Act in Zimbabwe.
Anyone found dealing in the drug or even just possessing it is liable for prosecution, yet its use has become rampant among some artistes, school children and ghetto youths.
Musombodhiya is consumed in very small quantities as it gives the consumer hours of drunkenness and often a time they “stick” (where the consumer will not be able to move their body parts and resemble a zombie) as the alcohol stiffens their body for hours on end.
You often hear the word: “Akasticker” referring to one who has consumed the illicit drink.
Usatore Mutoriro is King Isaac’s second project this year, following in the footsteps of his sixth studio album Love Talk released in February, and features hit songs such as The Score (alongside Chaka Demus) and Uye Uye.
The song Usatore Mutoriro has authentic Jamaican reggae rhythm behind it. King Isaac has had the advantage of mingling with true Jamaican rhythm session musicians and has made this sound truly Jamaican except for the vocals which are sung in Shona.
The most essential rhythms found in Reggae are: Rock Steady, One Drop, Ska, Rockers and Steppers. All these musical elements which make up reggae music are found in King Isaac’s single. Even those people who are not into reggae will find this sound electrifying.
Reggae rhythms can be relatively simple, but to work, they have to be played with precision and be as tight as possible. While they’re essentially made up of recognisable patterns, the challenge lies in all the small details and variations that ultimately define the groove.
As with other playing styles, you can identify and subdivide reggae into a number of subgenres and styles and find an unending and continually evolving vocabulary of rhythms and variations to adapt, develop and play with.
King Isaac, I must say, has mastered all these techniques. It gives me great pleasure to listen to this kind of ‘riddim’ coming from a Zimbabwean, born in Mufakose thousands of kilometres away from Kingston Jamaica.
If you do not believe me, I urge you to go on You Tube where you will watch a vivid King Isaac’s official video which depicts school girls from a named Harare secondary school taking drugs together with some drunkard youths. Or simply buy the single and video.
Well-known top Zimbabwean artistes such as Winky D, Jah Prayzah, Alick Macheso, Nutty O and Charles Charamba have shied away from drug use because they are aware that these illegal substances can be addictive and destroy their careers.
Even Oliver Mtukudzi did not take drugs while he was still alive.
So Usatore Mutoriro is good advice from Professor King Isaac. Bless up! Every time! Nuff respect!
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