Academic changes tune on 'hate song'

MUSIC academic Anne-Marie Gray yesterday told the Johannesburg high court that losing the song Dubul' ibhunu would not be a "significant loss".

Gray, who has written a thesis on the history and significance of liberation songs, said the song had no musical value.

But she admitted that those who sang it had an emotional attachment to it that made it relevant.

Gray said: "I have a problem with calling that a song. It's not a song. It's a chant."

Gray differentiated between a song and a chant, saying the latter was characterised by repetition of a slogan, whereas a song had structure and was composed.

Despite what might be viewed as disparaging comments about liberation songs, Gray admitted that she was "excited" by the songs, especially "the gestures and toyi-toying accompanying the singing".

"When you hear the songs you almost want to get up and do something," Gray testified to loud approval from ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's supporters in the public gallery.

But after the show of enthusiasm for liberation songs, Gray changed her tune when she told Malema and ANC counsel Muzi Sikhakhane that singing Dubul' ibhunu in post- apartheid South Africa made her "uncomfortable" and that it was "unacceptable".

She also took a shot at Malema for changing the lyrics of the song Kill the boer to Kiss the boer, saying: "It doesn't sound genuine enough."

Sikhakhane put it to Gray that liberation songs were still relevant to many people in South Africa, saying while apartheid's legislative laws were abolished, the effects of the system were ever present in these people's lives.

Gray agreed.

Another witness, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, said influential politicians like Malema needed to be careful of the messages they sent out with the songs they sang because "gullible" youths could easily "act out" the messages in the songs.

Bezuidenhout used the example of teenager Morné Harmse, who in 2009 killed a fellow pupil and injured three others after he allegedly listened to heavy metal music of Slipknot, saying music was the "most important tool of influence" and that young people used music to form an identity.

Bezuidenhout said Dubul' ibhunu was "not in line with reconciliation" and that the song's value must be re-evaluated.

Outside court Malema enthralled about 350 onlookers by singing Shoot to kill and Kiss the boer.

He told the crowd that the trial was going well.

He said: "We are going to win because we are children of winners like mama Winnie."

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said: "I am blessed to have all my children and grandchildren here today. We won't allow those who seek to demoralise us to demoralise us."

The trial continues.