Music
TV
CREATIVITY : A REMEDY FOR THE WORLD
By Sizwe Mthethwa
Arts have always played a role in society and artists generally represent what they see and feel in their respective environments. Painters and sketch artists draw pictures of their surroundings and every creative, no matter what industry they are in, is a product of their surroundings.
The adage, better people create a better world rings true in this context because art can bring one to emotional or mental equilibrium. A stable mind and heart surely yield fine fruits of labour. If this does not stress the importance of keeping the world inspired then I do not know what does.
Rap music per se, was more political in the 80s because that is what was dominant in society. In fact, it was not only just Rap music that was addressing political and social issues, but almost every genre had its ‘activists’. It was not only political matters but issues like teenage pregnancy in 2pac’s ‘Brenda’s got a baby’ and world peace in Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the world’. Art always has a way of addressing what we are facing as humans.
If we take a look at contemporary music, you will notice the focus has shifted to mostly mental health related issues and having fun (groove culture) because those are the prominent traits of society, which these artists are a direct product of.
In America, during the civil rights movement, music played a critical role in inspiring, mobilising and giving a voice to the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Music gives people new courage and a sense of unity…”
According to Wikipedia, The civil rights movement was a political movement and campaign in the 50s to 60s in America to abolish institutional and racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement throughout America.
It is also a well-known fact that music has somewhat united some of the oldest gangs of Los Angeles; namely Bloods and Crips, which are known for being fierce rivals. The emergence of musicians from all over Los Angeles has eased tensions in some areas and we are now even witnessing artists from Crip and Blood neighbourhoods collaborating on not only just music but community and peace related projects. The point being, art is the initial driver of this initiative.
Some might argue the negative effects of art and creativity like the common stereotypes being high exposure to drugs, violence, sex and alcohol among other things. It is true that art in the wrong hands can inspire a plethora of negative events. For example, the emergence of record labels like ‘Death Row Records’ in the 90s saw a lot of youths getting caught up in the allure of a criminal lifestyle and all it comes with. As much as these were authentic stories being told by the artists, the media became a tool used to glorify the violence and negativity it came with, hence there was a ‘boost’ in the crime rate.
This leads me to a pivotal point in this conversation, responsibility. Any seasoned artist will tell you about accountability and how much it matters what kind of an impact one’s art has on society. So with that said, it is wise for people to guard their ears and be inspired by positive things that will help move the world and their lives forward.
As prior mentioned, music and art is key as it helps people find common ground and addresses the issues everyone can relate to. With this in mind, Eswatini creatives have a lot of work to do in uniting the nation and making sure that they translate a true picture of our society to the world stage. As we know, arts have the power to alter public opinions through visual imagery and complex emotions.
When we look at the pictures that were captured during ‘slavery’ in the United States or apartheid in South Africa; those captured images tell a story and they take us to a place and time in history through photography or visuals. That is how we are able to relate with those times even though we might not have lived in them. That is the power of art, how we are able to relate to Bob Marley and the music that he made during his time because he addressed serious issues of injustice while opening his audience’s minds and eyes to the social ills that were happening around the world.
The arts fraternity can contribute positively to our society in helping to build a better tomorrow. We are more than voices on radio, frequencies on the internet and brushstrokes on a canvas, we are creatives and we have the power to change the world through the talents God gave us. In 2025 and beyond, we hope the arts and entertainment sector grow to unlimited heights and creatives take their place in society. Art is responsible for a lot of joy and happiness and it is known to convey the pain pretty well too, so artists please heal the world. Let us all sing a song of remedy.
By Sizwe Mthethwa
Arts have always played a role in society and artists generally represent what they see and feel in their respective environments. Painters and sketch artists draw pictures of their surroundings and every creative, no matter what industry they are in, is a product of their surroundings.
The adage, better people create a better world rings true in this context because art can bring one to emotional or mental equilibrium. A stable mind and heart surely yield fine fruits of labour. If this does not stress the importance of keeping the world inspired then I do not know what does.
Rap music per se, was more political in the 80s because that is what was dominant in society. In fact, it was not only just Rap music that was addressing political and social issues, but almost every genre had its ‘activists’. It was not only political matters but issues like teenage pregnancy in 2pac’s ‘Brenda’s got a baby’ and world peace in Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the world’. Art always has a way of addressing what we are facing as humans.
If we take a look at contemporary music, you will notice the focus has shifted to mostly mental health related issues and having fun (groove culture) because those are the prominent traits of society, which these artists are a direct product of.
In America, during the civil rights movement, music played a critical role in inspiring, mobilising and giving a voice to the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Music gives people new courage and a sense of unity…”
According to Wikipedia, The civil rights movement was a political movement and campaign in the 50s to 60s in America to abolish institutional and racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement throughout America.
It is also a well-known fact that music has somewhat united some of the oldest gangs of Los Angeles; namely Bloods and Crips, which are known for being fierce rivals. The emergence of musicians from all over Los Angeles has eased tensions in some areas and we are now even witnessing artists from Crip and Blood neighbourhoods collaborating on not only just music but community and peace related projects. The point being, art is the initial driver of this initiative.
Some might argue the negative effects of art and creativity like the common stereotypes being high exposure to drugs, violence, sex and alcohol among other things. It is true that art in the wrong hands can inspire a plethora of negative events. For example, the emergence of record labels like ‘Death Row Records’ in the 90s saw a lot of youths getting caught up in the allure of a criminal lifestyle and all it comes with. As much as these were authentic stories being told by the artists, the media became a tool used to glorify the violence and negativity it came with, hence there was a ‘boost’ in the crime rate.
This leads me to a pivotal point in this conversation, responsibility. Any seasoned artist will tell you about accountability and how much it matters what kind of an impact one’s art has on society. So with that said, it is wise for people to guard their ears and be inspired by positive things that will help move the world and their lives forward.
As prior mentioned, music and art is key as it helps people find common ground and addresses the issues everyone can relate to. With this in mind, Eswatini creatives have a lot of work to do in uniting the nation and making sure that they translate a true picture of our society to the world stage. As we know, arts have the power to alter public opinions through visual imagery and complex emotions.
When we look at the pictures that were captured during ‘slavery’ in the United States or apartheid in South Africa; those captured images tell a story and they take us to a place and time in history through photography or visuals. That is how we are able to relate with those times even though we might not have lived in them. That is the power of art, how we are able to relate to Bob Marley and the music that he made during his time because he addressed serious issues of injustice while opening his audience’s minds and eyes to the social ills that were happening around the world.
The arts fraternity can contribute positively to our society in helping to build a better tomorrow. We are more than voices on radio, frequencies on the internet and brushstrokes on a canvas, we are creatives and we have the power to change the world through the talents God gave us. In 2025 and beyond, we hope the arts and entertainment sector grow to unlimited heights and creatives take their place in society. Art is responsible for a lot of joy and happiness and it is known to convey the pain pretty well too, so artists please heal the world. Let us all sing a song of remedy.
CREATIVITY : A REMEDY FOR THE WORLD
By Sizwe Mthethwa
Arts have always played a role in society and artists generally represent what they see and feel in their respective environments. Painters and sketch artists draw pictures of their surroundings and every creative, no matter what industry they are in, is a product of their surroundings.
The adage, better people create a better world rings true in this context because art can bring one to emotional or mental equilibrium. A stable mind and heart surely yield fine fruits of labour. If this does not stress the importance of keeping the world inspired then I do not know what does.
Rap music per se, was more political in the 80s because that is what was dominant in society. In fact, it was not only just Rap music that was addressing political and social issues, but almost every genre had its ‘activists’. It was not only political matters but issues like teenage pregnancy in 2pac’s ‘Brenda’s got a baby’ and world peace in Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the world’. Art always has a way of addressing what we are facing as humans.
If we take a look at contemporary music, you will notice the focus has shifted to mostly mental health related issues and having fun (groove culture) because those are the prominent traits of society, which these artists are a direct product of.
In America, during the civil rights movement, music played a critical role in inspiring, mobilising and giving a voice to the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Music gives people new courage and a sense of unity…”
According to Wikipedia, The civil rights movement was a political movement and campaign in the 50s to 60s in America to abolish institutional and racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement throughout America.
It is also a well-known fact that music has somewhat united some of the oldest gangs of Los Angeles; namely Bloods and Crips, which are known for being fierce rivals. The emergence of musicians from all over Los Angeles has eased tensions in some areas and we are now even witnessing artists from Crip and Blood neighbourhoods collaborating on not only just music but community and peace related projects. The point being, art is the initial driver of this initiative.
Some might argue the negative effects of art and creativity like the common stereotypes being high exposure to drugs, violence, sex and alcohol among other things. It is true that art in the wrong hands can inspire a plethora of negative events. For example, the emergence of record labels like ‘Death Row Records’ in the 90s saw a lot of youths getting caught up in the allure of a criminal lifestyle and all it comes with. As much as these were authentic stories being told by the artists, the media became a tool used to glorify the violence and negativity it came with, hence there was a ‘boost’ in the crime rate.
This leads me to a pivotal point in this conversation, responsibility. Any seasoned artist will tell you about accountability and how much it matters what kind of an impact one’s art has on society. So with that said, it is wise for people to guard their ears and be inspired by positive things that will help move the world and their lives forward.
As prior mentioned, music and art is key as it helps people find common ground and addresses the issues everyone can relate to. With this in mind, Eswatini creatives have a lot of work to do in uniting the nation and making sure that they translate a true picture of our society to the world stage. As we know, arts have the power to alter public opinions through visual imagery and complex emotions.
When we look at the pictures that were captured during ‘slavery’ in the United States or apartheid in South Africa; those captured images tell a story and they take us to a place and time in history through photography or visuals. That is how we are able to relate with those times even though we might not have lived in them. That is the power of art, how we are able to relate to Bob Marley and the music that he made during his time because he addressed serious issues of injustice while opening his audience’s minds and eyes to the social ills that were happening around the world.
The arts fraternity can contribute positively to our society in helping to build a better tomorrow. We are more than voices on radio, frequencies on the internet and brushstrokes on a canvas, we are creatives and we have the power to change the world through the talents God gave us. In 2025 and beyond, we hope the arts and entertainment sector grow to unlimited heights and creatives take their place in society. Art is responsible for a lot of joy and happiness and it is known to convey the pain pretty well too, so artists please heal the world. Let us all sing a song of remedy.
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