Jerusalema’ reignites flailing spirits

So far, 2020 has been a horrible year. The despair caused by the novel coronavirus is not much different from that of wartimes. The pandemic struck at a point when the South African economy was in its lowest gear and decelerating, it could not have been worse.

Seven months since the first case of Covid19 was reported in SA, the socio-economic damage being left behind is there for all to see.

The government has so far done a tremendous job in managing the virus and balancing between its stakeholders.

After five months of lockdown, SA eventually arrived at a steady decline in both active and new cases, which warranted the country to move to lockdown level 1.

The uncertainty, fear and confinement have been terribly bad for mental health.

With the country clouded by despondency, an unlikely hero has emerged and provided a sense of pride in the heart of every South African.

A few years ago, not many would have noticed Master KG, but today he is known globally. His Jerusalema song with Nomcebo Zikode has won hearts around the world.

The arts industry has always been a crucial part of society, not only as a provider of entertainment but as a consoler and tool for expression. Jerusalema is beyond art.

At the heart of SA, there has always been Mandoza s Nkalakatha . What a song and

’ what an artist, may his soul rest in peace.

Nkalakatha brought people together across racial and tribal barriers. Jerusalema has done the same and gone on to be a worldwide hit

— it has even been remade into Latino version.

The South African music industry has always had its space in the global fraternity.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo have a Grammy to their name, the Soweto Gospel Choir is a global trailblazer, Hugh Masekela s jazz is appreciated

’ worldwide.

However, recently the industry had seemed to be slowly losing ears in the world and retreating to the domestic market.

Jerusalema has parachuted the South African music industry back to the world stage and reassured the global audience that South African talent may be ignored but cannot be written off.

September is a month to celebrate the beauty of the diversity in SA. It is a month to parade cultural harmony and exhibit the uniqueness of various traditions in the country. It is a month of festivities as people gather around the country to celebrate everything indigenous.

With social gatherings permitted with restricted numbers and compromised by the rule of social distancing, this meant the public could not celebrate as usual.

However, the month was signed off in style with the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge, as pronounced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, bringing together South Africans across all walks of life and reaffirming the ability of music in facilitating cohesion.

The Jerusalema success story is an inspiration.

The success of the song also highlights a resurgence of Limpopo in the entertainment industry, having been dominated by Durban and Johannesburg.

The emergence of Kind Monada, Makhadzi, ShoMadjozi, and of course Master KG, has brought back pride in Limpopo.

As we take up the Jerusalema challenge, let the song harmonise our cultural, ethnic and tribal differences, let it provoke a great sense of patriotism in our hearts.

Let it inject much-needed energy to pull SA from the deteriorating socio-economic position it is in now. After all, there are many more issues that bring us together than those that separate us.