Soul Jah Love, a lyricist par excellence

ALYRICIST par excellence, a word smith. His mic might have been turned off, but his music will forever live. Sadly, Soul Jah Love (31) did not live his life to the fullest.

Born Soul Musaka, the popular Zimdancehall chanter is suspected to have succumbed to diabetes on Tuesday evening at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Waterfalls, Harare.

Family spokesperson Solomon Musaka told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that following the government and World Health Organisation’s guidelines on COVID-19 protocols, Soul Jah Love’s body had been taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for COVID-19 testing.

“We are now waiting for the COVID-19 results following some tests that were done. We have been told that the results would be available after about 12 hours. In the event that the results come back negative, the doctor said a post-mortem would be done since from his notes, it was not showing that he (Soul Jah Love) succumbed to diabetes complications,” he said.

“In the event that the results come back positive, then the postmortem will not be possible as per COVID-19 protocols. In terms of burial, we are focusing on Friday or Saturday. There are two options, Warren Hills or Glen Forest. While his parents were buried at Warren Hills, some are suggesting we bury him at Glen Forest, but we are yet to agree.”

Exactly a year after he was in another health scare, Soul Jah Love’s death has left Zimbabwe shaken.

A giant, whose music appealed to many people across the social strata, Soul Jah Love told the story of his life, but perhaps never got the attention he was seeking through his music and interviews.

Accused of drug abuse and being reckless with his life, Chibaba, as he was popularly known, was ridiculed by some and as a popular musician, he was subjected to what was often a too moralistic criticism.

His story was like that of many hopeless, idle young men and women, boys and girls who hang out on the streets and find themselves getting addicted to and abusing all sorts of substances because they do not have anywhere to turn to in a country where government has neglected social services, and left unemployment to shoot through the roof.

So, in his life, and in his death, Soul Jah Love’s story was that of other artistes like the late South Africa’s music icon Brenda Fassie, who battled depression, rejection, and had society impose higher expectations on them.

That Soul Jah Love — a diabetes patient — was a troubled man, both in his personal and professional life, was equally known to the public as the fact that he was a talented trendsetter musician gifted with a beautiful voice and rich, deep lyrics.

This was a man who was paraded at pulpits — not once — as having received “healing” from some church leaders.

This was a man whose marital problems with fellow musiciancum-wife Bounty Lisa — born Lynette Lisa Musenyi — resulted in her ditching him, among other things, for failing to conceive a child in their marriage.

In all this, it was perhaps his upbringing and the entrenched Mbare roots that made him an authority to many young people, who in many ways could have related to the rich lyrics of his tracks.

Who would forget Ndini Uya Uya, Gum Kum, Go Back To Sender, Dai Hupenyu Hwaitengwa, and many other hits?

In its diversity, Soul Jah Love’s music was anchored on the daily struggles and victories of the ordinary ghetto youth.

Through singing about broken dreams, family problems, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, religion and evil spirits and winning in difficult situations, Soul Jah Love told not only his story, but also that of many ordinary Zimbabweans, young and old.

He might not have needed the “healing” publicity stunts that some church leaders pulled at his expense.

What he needed more than anything was not just medication for his diabetes, but psychological rehabilitation.

In one of the songs, Mwari Vanondida, released in 2020, Chibaba sings passionately about how friends and family had abandoned him.

In April 2019, Soul Jah Love produced a track, Ndoramba Ndichinamata, which talks about betrayal, prayer and evil spirits.

The song was one of the boldest statements the artiste made in expressing what he was going through.

In the song, he vows to continue praying to God in the face of betrayal and rejection by family and friends.

Soul Jah Love’s story exposes the collapse of our social services, where the remaining mental health institutions are in a sorry state.

In addition, it pointed to a society that stigmatises mental health issues like depression, anxiety and personality disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorders.

The situation is made worse by the non-existence of affordable and open mental health systems.

For instance, consulting a private counsellor can cost well over US$100 a session and this is unaffordable to many in need of such services.

Soul Jah Love might not have been alone, there might be many other people who are having to watch themselves deteriorate, but have no door to knock on.

Mourners are gathered at number 15 Mauya Drive in Msasa Park, Harare.

Among the mourners who were at his funeral wake at 15 Mauya Drive in Msasa Park, Harare, was owner and founder of Gaza Conquering Empire, David “Gaza Commander” Kandawasvika who is credited for the rise of Soul Jah Love, Tocky Vibes, Cello Culture, Freeman and Guspy Warrior.

Sleep well Chibaba, Ngwendeza.