C-RU: Curing a troubled nation through music

Shingirai Madondo | Wednesday July 9, 2014 18:04

 

Lekula said some youth wind up taking their own lives prematurely because counselling seems to be lacking despite the challenges they face. 

“We are living in a wounded nation,” said Lekula, who is popularly known as C-RU in the hip-hop industry.  According to Lekula, there is need for youth in influential positions to advice others. Born at Jubilee Hospital in Francistown in 1984 into a middle-income family, Lekula is fast becoming a force to reckon with in the music scene thanks to his songs that relate to the reality in Botswana.

Through his distinct sound and inspiring lyrics sang in vernacular, Lekula is documenting the pain of his peers who are finding it difficult to make ends meet in life thanks to limited employment opportunities in Botswana. “Nothing comes on a silver platter,” said Lekula, hence his latest single titled Better Knock Hard, which was released a couple of months ago. Lekula said he grew up in an average family, but he could see that his parents where struggling to fully provide for him and his young brother. 

He said he had to work extra hard to ensure that he gets to the top.  Lekula said the youth listen to music a lot.  He said as musicians, they should provide some solutions to the problems being faced by the youth.

Lekula said he has taken a decision to offer advice to the youth through his music. 

To him, it is a matter of offering encouragement and healing a troubled nation through the messages in his music. “So every song I compose has something to do with that man in the street. 

He must be able to use it in his life,” Lekula said.  Lekula said his desire is for the youth of this country to think positively about their future after getting something from his music.