Singer in hot water over ‘xenophobic’ lyrics
Maskandi singer Zanefa Ngidi has been reported to the Human Rights Commission for his latest single titled Abahambe Osbari, indirectly translated to foreigners must go.
According to the Daily Sun, Ngidi claimed he was expressing the views of people. He further told the paper that people should listen to the song attentively before criticising or taking action. He further accuses the government of doing everything to stop xenophobia but nothing about foreign nationals who copy artists’ music and sell it for lower prices.
In the song the Maskandi singer asks foreign nationals to leave the country. This has been received by some as hate speech, which led to the community allegedly reporting it to the Human Rights Commission.
The paper also reports that the song has worries foreign nationals in Xenophobia. Their fear stems from the xenophobic attacks that started KwaZulu-Natal early this year which saw the loss of lives and many getting arrested.
The attacks were attributed to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s speech in which he called for the deportation of foreign nationals living in the country, saying it was unacceptable locals were being made to compete with people from other countries for the few economic opportunities available.
Following the king’s speech, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched an investigation against Zwelithini.
