Review by: Ndumiso Ncube
In response to the ever-increasing incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) taking place across the country, artist Lloyisa released the song Madoda Sabelani in June 2020. Lloyiso explained that the song was written in memory of his friend Uyinene Mrwetyana who was brutally murdered in 2019.
In the song, Lloyiso pleads with men to treat women better and to stop GBV. ”The women are crying” is a powerful expression, reflective of the pain that has been felt across the nation by victims. South Africans have been shocked by the number of women who have been killed by loved ones in recent times. As a result, many women now are afraid to be around men, or to go out in public by themselves.
The scale of the problem, as well as the limitations of a capitalist state, has left the country’s government without a viable solution and unable to offer reliable leadership. Loyiso calls on men directly to recognise the problem of women abuse and asks men to respond. But in the absence of concrete changes to society and the capitalist system, the rights of all will remain in jeopardy.
It is crucial to take responsibility for the society in which we live and to not wait for the political elites to make decisions and reforms aimed at promoting safety and equality – keeping us divided through different means is the way they keep their class status. The working class must take up the fight against oppression and tackle the root cause of the various forms of abuse, dehumanization, oppression and violence that society suffers.
At the time of writing Madoda Sabelani had more than 1 million views on YouTube. The popularity of the song is due to how well the lyrics reflect the frustration and grief of many. More and more people are starting to accept that there is a crisis of gender-based violence in South Africa. To overcome this scourge as well as all forms of abuse, dehumanization, and violence that society suffers, the working class must forge a united struggle against capitalism and the class society which relies on and entrenches this oppression.
