One of Africa’s most infamous leaders, President Robert Mugabe, has made possibly one of the most notorious statements about Jamaicans.
Whilst speaking at the country’s Research and Intellectual Expo 2012, Mugabe made the derogatory statements, labelling Jamaican men as “drunks and weed smokers, who are ruled by women.”
“In Jamaica, they have freedom to smoke mbanje, varume vanogara vakadhakwa (men are always drunk) and universities are full of women. The men want to sing and do not go to colleges vamwe vanobva vamonwa musoro (some are dreadlocked). Let us not go there.”
President Mugabe is also claiming that Jamaican culture is somehow influencing the people of Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe have a strong liking for reggae culture, but such an ill-mannered statement from a head of state will now surely deter Jamaican entertainers from performing Mugabe’s country.
A number of reggae artists have since spoken out against Mugabe’s notorious outburst, including Sizzla Kalonji, who previously performed at a Birthday concert in 2010 for Mugabe.
This is what Sizzla had to say, “Black people are beautiful and courageous, strong, educated and we should keep our heads up and keep sailing high and be determined towards our goals as Zimbabweans and Jamaicans. I personally took no offence to the statement….We love the president and he should assist us as black people to overcome the phangs of hell daunted unto us by the slave masters. He should also take the time and look into our educational system and living conditions, and see how best he can help us towards the redemption and repatriation of our people to Africa.”
What do you think of Mugabe’s contentious comments?
