BLAME JESUS FOR NOT COMING “SOON”: INTO NAMADINGO’S MUSINGS IN “TUMANI’: QUESTIONS, MYTHS, AND FRUSTRATIONS OF CHRISTIANS

 Reviewer: Esteemed Ziliro Mchulu

 What is contained in music reflects what is happening in the society. Musicians presents popular ideas over issues and at times they try to promote their views on issues. However, to draw a line between the artist and their works has proven to be a daunting task since many preach what they believe to be right. Patience Namadingo has released a song titled “Tumani” (Send) which is a direct dictum on what is happening today in the Christian church and the country. The artist is reflecting on the status of the church while questioning God on why he is not acting when things are going wrong. The review responds to some questions raised in the song.

 The song presents the persona reflecting on what is happening in Malawi. It opens with a general reflection, that there are more people doing bad things than those doing good “Zikuoneka ngati anthu oipa, achuluka kuposa abwino”. This might be made from the current trends of rape, defilement, mob justice, corruption and many depravities happening in this country. A country termed as “God fearing” is full of rapist and corrupt officers who behave like corruption is one of the 10 commandments in the bible. These are some of the evil people that the artist might be talking about.

 The persona moves on to reveal another musing on the richness of today's ‘men of God’ (called prophets in the review). The persona observes that many prophets are rich these days.   “Zikumaonekaso ngati azitumiki anu ambili nkhani ya chuma yawayanja”. The reflection on the richness is made to sound as if it is wrong to be rich when you are a prophet. The persona presents the general view of many Christians who associate poverty and being holy. These are people who have problems with a man of God having money. It is not wrong to have money when you are a prophet. After all people freely give them money to use. Imagine how much offerings these prophets with massive followers get every service. Why should they be poor amidst plenty of offerings? They self-employed themselves to make money through the word of God hence we should not be surprised when they become rich, its business.

 The controversial musing in the song is the idea suggesting that prophets have stooped preaching about the second coming of Jesus. “Zikumazaonekaso ngati uthenga oti muzabwelaso pano anauimisa” . The persona made this observation based on what prophets are doing preaching more of individual success than salvation. However, prophets should be understood for preaching this. The prophets are subscribing to the Social Exchange Theory which argues that people will create and maintain relationships if they believe that rewards they derive from such relationship will exceed costs. The prophets are looking at the benefits of talking about salvation against personal success. Fortunately, people are interested in personal success (Miracles, “I receive”). Ironically native churches continue to preach about salvation hence they are losing members to Pentecostals and prophets.  

"On the other hand, it should be accepted that talking about the coming of Jesus is now a cliché. People are no longer interested in hearing this because it seems the “soon” used in his coming is not soon. There is no way you can expect people to expect someone for 2000+ years with a vibe like he took a flight from Lilongwe to Blantyre 9 o’clock yesterday.  Prophets have observed that talking about the coming back of Jesus as in soon is no longer making sense hence they have decided not to talk about it. How will they justify “soon” 2000 years after? Anthu amafika potopa."

 The artist then takes a guitar to add to the pianos jingles in such a way that the chorus becomes so charismatic. It links all the streaks in the first verse by asking God to bring angels to find the persona in Gethsemane. Gesemani is in Jerusalem where Jesus is said to have prayed on the night of his arrest before his Crucifixion. By asking God to bring the angels in Gesemani the persona is recognising the place as being important in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The chorus brings out random assertions reflecting on the church.

The persona claims that people are thieving and committing adultery in the church. He claims people are practising trade, not of souls but of merchandise in the church. The persona seem to be against the commercialisation of the church space as it happening today in both native and prophet churches. The climax of the musings is when the persona questions God as to why is he not acting. “Mesa mmati simusintha? Nanga lero bwanji? Tumani angelo anu azawakwapule”

 According to the persona’s observation, things are going wrong in the church and something has to be done and the one in charge is God but he is not doing the needed. The persona is asking God to act on this nuisance as he did when he was on earth as presented in Mathews 21:12 where Jesus turned violent and chased traders from the church. The persona is asking God to send angels to slap these prophets commercialising the church.

The song presents a voice of a frustrated Christian who is not happy with what other Christians are doing in the church. The persona is again frustrated with God who is not acting on the untidiness in the church. By begging God to send his angels to deal with the mess in the church, the persona is recognising the power of God in dealing with issues in the church. The persona does not want to take the place of God in sanitizing the church. He or she has given God the respect and space that he deserves to have. This song is a continuation of Namadingo’s protest against prophets commercialising the church. He denounced the same in “Dziko Lilipamoto”. Ironically the song is made to make money and the song is categorised as Gospel.  “Luke 6:20-21.

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