The death of Ras Sheehama, one of Namibia’s most prominent musicians, robbed the creative industry and Namibia in general of a treasure.
But Sheehama’s death came not as a shock to many but as a disappointment.
The general feeling of disappointment. It is no longer shocking for people to take their own lives. It came as a disappointment in what Sheehama himself, decades ago, sang about, calling it the “system of push and pull”.
The system of push and pull is a system whereby, while the state seems to be working properly, a lot of people are falling through the cracks created by the situation of high socio-economic inequality and improper income distribution.
While information of Sheehama’s act of taking own life was yet to come through, the general feeling expressed by people is that he fell victim to the system which does not care to take care of its own people.
People are giving up.
The system calls it “mental health”. But it is mental health complications caused by the system of push and pull, where those who are at the centre of it get more than they need while the rest go without.
The system is especially deadly and kills those who are talented and those who are intelligent but they struggle to make ends meet.
Namibia’s wealth continues to be enjoyed by those who can loot and corruptly take, while those who want to make an honest living are suffering.
In the photo: Jah will receive his soul. The late Ras Sheehama.
