JAH LOVE: The troubled soul which left bearing emotional scars
The Observer
Mar 18, 2021 11:27
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The general consensus among many Zimbabweans is that Soul Jah Love’s music should be sold in pharmacies, because it heals.
The incredibly-talented lyricist had words for nearly every life situation and every topic but sadly, not even the inspiration derived by many from his well-crafted music, could not give him hope when he needed it the most.
Chibaba, as he was affectionately known in the music circles, succumbed to diabetes-related complications on February 16 at the age of 31, arguably one of the darkest days in the history of Zim Dancehall.
In celebration of his glittering career, Zimbabweans played many of his hit songs since his breakthrough in 2013, but it was the single ‘Ndichafa Rinhiko’ which made the hearts of many bleed.
The song, which he died before listening to as it was released days after his death by award-winning stable Sunshine Studios, is a simple summary of a young man who had given up on life, owing to an interplay of several reasons.
On it, he talks of how people who once idolized him now ridiculing him, those who once looked up to him and scrambled to associate with him, now jibbing at him.
He talks of overburdening those close to him, hence death being the only ‘way out.’
The pain in the line ‘mwana handina’ is so real that one can touch it. Similarly, the idea of having to live with the idea that he woman he loved the most and tried in vain to have a child with for years, was now a mother, must have been depressing for the Ndini Uya Uya hitmaker.
Sauro died bearing emotional scars which few can understand or relate to.
He battled diabetes for years and the hilarious freestyles he produced on countless occasions made it hard for some to believe him when he insisted, he was too weak to perform.
In fact, a video recorded in South Africa, which circulated days after his untimely death, showed fans assaulting him for failing to perform at a show in Johannesburg, citing illness.
The people who knew Soul Jah Love testified, even before his death, of how much he loved music. He free-styled for free at any given chance, making it ridiculous therefore, to think he would deliberately avoid singing at a show he was booked for.
‘Ndichafa Rinhiko’ was a simple case of a troubled young man who felt rejected and abandoned in his final days on earth- a planet no one wants to leave untimely.
Jah Love was so troubled emotionally that he couldn't wait for his own death and made the entire nation know, in a three-minute masterpiece, perhaps to master peace.
The so-called experts were, after his death, lightning-quick to label him a ‘drug addict who was a bad example’ for ghetto youths.
Such silly and very regrettable comments are as dumbfounded as one claiming that the late Argentine maestro Diego Maradona was not a football legend because he abused drugs.
Those are some of the judgmental assertions Soul Jah Love cohabited with, which explains why he felt like he was a burden to those around him- theories he repeatedly-mentioned in the heart-breaking song.
Rest-easy Sauro, people like you don’t die, they simply rest.
