Anti - Stigma Campaign

The Power Of Music In Anti Stigma Campaign

Music has always been a source of communication and is one of the most powerful ways to influence, enhance, educate or destroy one's mind; especially young minds! No matter what nationality, handing down history or sending information through music breaks all color barriers. Be it the drums (signals), chants, field songs, gospel, blues, jazz, country, rock & roll, rhythm & blues, classical, pop, hip hop or rap, MUSIC is a universal language that everyone seems to love and understand. With the use of radio, television, records, tapes and live shows, people of all nationalities enjoy some form of music. You can't go anywhere in the world without hearing music. There's not a culture on the face of earth without it. Music is universal. Where did it come from? Well, we could debate that for years. The main objective is not to abuse it. Use it to the fullest extent, honestly and creatively.

St John Hus Center is one of the Jali Watoto partners implementing the program in Kyela District in Mbeya region. The organization understands that children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and also those whose parents died, experience stigma. So apart from providing essential services to the Most Vulnerable Children, this organization has also embarked in the campaign against stigma experienced by children and other disadvantaged groups in the community. And all this is done through music.

In delivering anti stigma messages, St John Hus is using its choir group to deliver anti stigma messages through songs. They work very closely with community and religious leaders, teachers, health leaders and influential people who are making sure they invite the choir in every forum that is taking part in their community including community meetings.

Explaining on why they have decided to use music in anti stigma campaigns, Mr Liston Masangano, the choir master says that Kyela District is a land of the Nyakyusa tribe, and these people traditionally love music.

“They have been using music to communicate their feelings in both happy and sad moments; even historically when religious missionaries came they learned that it is through music they can easily communicate their messages,” he explains. “Women, men and even children have been singing while doing their activities like when going to fetch water, when playing, and even when cultivating the land.” So with this perception, St John Hus felt that music has a very great role to play in the campaign against stigma.

Mr. Masangano always finds a quiet place when he prepares the song verses. As community member, he has a lot of experience not only of having witnessed stigma and discrimination experienced by others, but he himself has also experienced it – he is handicapped. As a pupil at school, he was also isolated because of his condition. “Some children were told by their parents not to play with me. Even my parents were afraid to let me go out because other community members looked at them with pity and even fear, considering them cursed. I felt so bad, so this experience helped me to write songs which are real, reflecting the situation on the ground,” he says with deep emotion.

Mrs. Atu from Kajunjumele loves music. She is one of the many people from her area who are also touched by the message that comes with it. “We are so lucky that St John Hus Choir have been visiting our wards several times, and I can confess that it has helped change the mindset of people. I am one of them, as it ha helped me change from the way I used to treat the children of my late brother. Sometimes stigma can happen without us realizing what it is or we can stigmatise people without thinking!” she explains.

Mr Adam who is the ward executive officer of Kajunjumele, points out that the work of St John Hus Choir is great, as he is now receiving feedback from his village executive officers that a number of cases regarding stigma practice are now coming to their offices; something which was not there earlier.

Anti stigma messages communicated to them through music have made a great change to the lives of people in Kajunjumele ward. An average of five cases is being reported each month from each village as of January to April 2009. However, this number went down to one to two cases in the month of May to October 2009, and therefore indicates that community members are empowered to speak out and report to the village leaders on any behavior which is stigma oriented.

“I can see the feelings of the audience when the choir performs on stage. The anti stigma messages we are singing have very powerful melodies which sometimes make other people cry. It seems like they regret whatever they have done to others or what others do to them,” says Leah Kabango, a singer from St John Hus choir.

Neema Komba, a teacher from Kajunjumele primary school also informed us that the calling children who are Orphans for example or affected by HIV /AIDS, has reduced and children in such circumstances, are no longer isolated . Everyone is working and playing together.

Maria Nyota (not her real name to protect her identity) is a HIV affected child who experienced stigma at school. She reached a point where she wished she had powers of changing the day from 24 hours to four hours, so that she didn’t have to go to school.

“I wasn’t happy whenever it was time to go to school. I was always thinking about what will happen as I couldn’t play with my fellow children, and nobody wanted to lend me anything,” says the orphan who lives with her grandmother.

But now things have changed. “I don’t feel isolated any more. In fact, every person now wants to make sure that I am happy,” she says, smiling. “All this is because here in our village right now there is a choir that comes to educate against stigma towards children. I think this is the reason people have changed, and even teachers are involved in fighting against stigma,” she says. Nowadays during the morning assembly, all of them sing a verse that says Sisi watoto wote tuna haki sawa, tusibaguane (All of us have equal rights, let’s not discriminate each other)

“The general feeling shown by the District council is that the campaign against stigma should start from the individual level, and then with other stakeholders. The district authority appreciates the work done by St John Hus and emphasizes that everyone has to play his role in this campaign, as the aim is to create a stigma free community,” says Ramadhani Yahya, the district social welfare officer.

We Should Not Stigmatise

All children are equal, those with parents as well as orphans
It is our responsibility to protect and respect their rights
Mistreating someone else’s child is very bad
Remember that even yours could be treated the same way

It is our responsibility as a community to protect them and to educate these children
We should not stigmatise them, they are our children

Relatives, community members and all leaders, this is our responsibility
All of these children are our children
Let’s protect and love them

It is our responsibility as a community to protect them and to educate these children
We should not stigmatise them, they are our children

Even the street children didn’t want to be that way
Whenever you pass by them, help them
If they are educated they could be our future leaders

All children are our own children eeee
We shouldn’t stigmatise them eeee
We shouldn’t insult them eeee
We shouldn’t look down on them uu
When they ask for help we should assist them eeee