‘Ngetani’ a song about mubobobo
HOW best can one describe mubobobo to those of alien cultures? Will they believe it exists and what will they think of us when they find out we are so advanced to have ‘‘Bluetooth’’ sex yet we lag behind on almost every other technology?
Dear reader, if mubobobo is a new word to you it refers to intercourse without contact between those engaged in the act. Does this even make sense? Forget about the sense just know that it is possible for one to have sex with the other without any visible physical interaction. Of course there usually is no consent as there is some use of muti. Xiddo decided to sing about mubobobo on his song entitled ‘‘Ngetani’’. Born Forward Maposa, the Chipinge raised and Gweru based artist can easily be the best Zim Dancehall find in 2018, if Ngetani (mubobobo) is anything to go by. The lyrics of the song go:
Satani ndibvisei ngetani (Satan unchain me)
Officer makuzondikonewa ([Police] Officer be vigilant )
Musandinyepera handina mubo (Do not frame me I do not practise mubobo)
Ndaitozvitambirawo zvangu muchongoyo (I was dancing to Muchongoyo)
Handina kuromba ini Handina mutombo (I do not have any charms or magic)
Apa mazondinyanyira (The persecution is too big a burden)
Ndiri mwana mudiki ndozviwanepi ? (I still young to practice voodoo sex)
A little bit of context here will help to explain the lyrics, particularly the part which says “Ndaitozvitambirawo muchongoyo”. I understand that when one is practising mubobobo they make coitus movements. I am not sure however, if the movements are pronounced or not. But word on the streets says there is definitely some swaying movement on the part of the woman and at times tapping of the feet by the man. There is danger that If I go on explaining more about mubobobo I will end up doing either one of the following two things. I will lie or I will prune the song of its contextual relevance. At a deeper meaning the song tells of a disgruntled soul facing persecution. Imagine there are a lot of crimes that one could be apprehended for but Xiddo chose to sing about the deplorable mubobobo. I have a feeling thieves might have more respect among our communities compared to the mubobobo guys.
Xiddo manages, through his vocal prowess and attention to art, to portray a tormented soul. ‘‘Ngetani’’ is one song which when it hits you once it hits you forever. It is one song which is true to African music, we dance to our sorrows. While Xiddo insists that the song was inspired by an incident he witnessed in Chipinge, I think he is being economical with the truth.
The young crooner released an equally endearing earworm entitled ‘‘Handipere panonaka’’ around the same time with ‘‘Ngetani’’ (Mubobo). On ‘‘Handipere Panononaka’’ he sings about how some friends and even lovers are quick to move on when they realize that you can no longer meet their material needs.
Xiddo claims that Handipere Panonaka is in reference to his own first hand experiences.
One wonders if he is indeed telling the truth about Mubobo. What we know however, is Mubobobo is now a radio staple on Midlands 98.4 FM and that the rest of Zimbabwe is missing out.