The Sunday Mail
Aunty Dot
Top South African artiste, Dorothy Masuka, also known as Auntie Dot, has urged young and old musicians of all colour and creed to come together and voice their disgust at the xenophobic violence in South Africa, just as they did against apartheid
Auntie Dot, one of the many voices that sang against apartheid in South Africa, expressed shock that some affected countries were retaliating against South Africans living in their countries, saying they were making the problem bigger unnecessarily.
“Most South African musicians are now afraid to go and perform in other African countries because of the threats they have been receiving on social media. People who are perpetrating these attacks are barbarians who do not have brains.
“These people should be taught what it means to be African, living in Africa. People should be allowed to travel freely all over the world without fear of being attacked. During the time of apartheid many artistes wrote and recorded anti-apartheid songs and I was one of those artistes.
“We sang anti-apartheid songs during that era, even today during this phase of xenophobia, the songs must not stop and as artistes we should say no to these barbaric actions,” said Auntie Dot from her base in South Africa.
She added: “I have always sung songs that denounce colonial rule and segregation of any kind, songs like ‘Masango’. I was here on the ground and I saw it all. I have always believed that my music is for everyone but during apartheid I used to get threats from some of the radical white people, but I never stopped singing.
“I remember that during apartheid even young artistes like Yvonne Chaka Chaka started singing political songs without knowing the impact they were making, but we knew. So I urge every musician out there, young and old, not to stop singing because of some threats.”
