By IANS,
Pretoria : South African musicians have recorded a special song urging their countrymen to come together to alleviate the pain and suffering of the victims of the xenophobic attacks in the country, BuaNews reported Thursday.
The song titled “Not in My Lifetime” will be released in the coming weeks with the message that “our time should not go down in history as another era of tragedy”, says Siyabonga Metana, campaign coordinator.
“It urges the youth to take a stand and ensure that the legacy they leave will be a proud, unified one,” he said.
“Musicians have the power to touch lives and change attitudes. Their music transcends borders and unites desperate people,” Metana said, adding that the ability of music to educate, inform and raise awareness was enormous.
According to him, the music campaign aims at projecting a positive image of Africa and remind Africans and the world that the continent thrives on the values of acceptance and respect.
“It’s a campaign that stands for peace throughout the continent and an end to injustice,” Metana added.
Several artistes and top musicians from a broad spectrum of society recorded the song at Jazzworx Studio last Sunday.
More than 50 people were killed in the anti-foreigner violence that lasted over two weeks in South Africa, mostly in the Johannesburg area.
Ethnic South Africans targeted foreigners living in the country accusing them of fuelling crime and stealing their jobs.
According to the Sunday Times, the violence has displaced over 44,000 people and led to over 600 arrests across the country.
Many terrified migrants have fled to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and other countries of their origin.
Mozambique has declared a national emergency as over 26,000 of its nationals poured back across its border with South Africa.
An estimated 3 million Zimbabweans alone have made their home in South Africa in recent years, putting pressure on resources.