The role of music as an aid to the struggle in South African politics

The role of music as an aid to the struggle in South African politics
Phakamani Pungu-Pungu (Nelson Mandela University)

In this article, I provide a literature study of the ideals that underpinned the values surrounding the struggle era in South African politics and highlights the role that music played as an aid to the struggle. In the review of the literature, I also present relevant views and points of discourse on the topic that will help us better understand the themes that have dominated in the struggle in general strikes, women’s march of 1956, the youth strike of 1976 and the dawn of democracy. I will also analyse how the music and themes found in struggle music of 1950s to the 1990s has informed the music in the Zuma presidency versus the music of the Ramaphosa era. In this comparative analysis I will emphasise the values which are shared, and which highlighted the possibilities of better the living conditions of South Africans. Music in the struggle of South Africa has presented itself as an aid towards different platforms of politics and this challenges us as future members of a community to better understand our role on how we can shape the country with the music that we sing or compose in a way that strives towards unity than division. It is thus this essay outlines the dynamics that have taken place in the struggle so that we look at music not only as a medium of entertainment, but rather an aid that has a leading potential to unite the country and eliminate any form of injustice and promote value for dignity and celebrate shared humanity across races. By using this pattern, I stand to display that music can heal any form of injustice or human ill-treatment, advance the living conditions of South Africans and moreover give direction to future political developments that can exhibit motions that sought to celebrate shared humanity among South Africans.