Selmor Mtukudzi’s Kugara naMainini: A heart-breaking tale of abuse, resilience

11 Oct 2024 - 15:56

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Zimbabwean singer Selmor Mtukudzi’s latest release, ‘Kugara naMainini’ (living with my step mother), is a heart-wrenching and powerful song that delves into the painful experiences of abuse children endure at the hands of stepmothers.

Selmor Mtukudzi.

The song is a deeply emotional narrative that brings to light how such abuse takes place. With raw “honesty”, Selmor chronicles how some children are treated differently from their step-siblings, highlighting things like being forced to do the dishes while the other children are spared from chores and being left behind to care for the house while their stepmother takes her own children on holiday.

The song tells a harrowing reality of a child being made to eat with dogs while other children dined separately to being wrongly accused of stealing and being treated as an outsider within her own family – a metaphor for the alienation and cruelty,

The song, recorded at Manatsa Music Studio, is accompanied by a music video featuring the comedienne Mbuya vaPiyasoni (Kudzai Chengedza), who brilliantly portrays the harsh and unkind ‘stepmother’, enhancing the song’s message. Through her performance, the audience gets a visual sense of the cruelty visited on such children – especially the moments where they are made to sleep with the household helper, crammed into one space, while their step-siblings enjoy the comfort of their own rooms. These scenes starkly contrast with moments of privilege, emphasising the glaring disparities in treatment.

The slow, haunting melody that runs through ‘Kugara naMainini’ perfectly complements the sadness of the lyrics. The sombre tempo mirrors the weight of the emotional burden these children carry from their past, with each note reinforcing the message of pain and betrayal.

The minimalist arrangement leaves space for Selmor’s voice and story to take centre stage, allowing the listener to feel the depth of her sorrow.

In the music video, Selmor breaks down in tears. Her vulnerability and openness add layers of authenticity that are hard to ignore. To many, it’s more than just a song – it is a personal testimony, a courageous act of healing and release.

The lessons from ‘Kugara naMainini’ resonate deeply within our society. The song is a mirror to many untold stories of children who suffer silently under the abuse of caregivers, often being ostracised, manipulated, or mistreated. Selmor’s voice in the song echoes the cries of many who feel invisible and unheard, urging society to pay attention, to offer compassion, and to foster environments of love rather than cruelty.

‘Kugara naMainini’ is more than just music – it’s an anthem for the oppressed, a call for justice, and a reminder that the scars of abuse may fade, but they never truly disappear. ‘Kugara naMainini’ challenges us all to do better for the children in our care.