In October 1982, American musician Marvin Gaye released what would be one of his most memorable and successful songs. It is titled Sexual Healing.

Though the song had sexually-charged lyrics and created controversy around the world in different cultural settings, to this day, it remains a famous hit.

Closer home, when Zambian musician Danny released a song titled Yakumbuyo, eyebrows were also raised. People were divided with one section praising the song for calling out homosexuals while the other section accused the artist of being explicit and promoting hate. Nevertheless, the song remains one of Danny’s most popular songs even here in Malawi.

Last week Friday, music lovers were in for another debate when Dan Lu released Take my body in which he talks about sexual desires and fantasies. Though he released a club and radio version, the debate about the moral aspect of the song is clear.

His song courted controversy: Dan Lu

Writing on his Facebook page, renowned lawyer Ralph Kasambara pointed out that the song would court controversy because of its lyrics.

“The lyrics of the song are more or less like those of Boys II Men’s I will make love to you, but I know it might easily offend some people,” he wrote.

After Kasambara’s post, more people joined in the debate and soon social media was awash with different thoughts on the production.

In an interview on Monday, University of Malawi (Unima)’s associate professor of drama Zindaba Chisiza said clashes between artistic expressions and moral and cultural expectations will always be there.

“Artists release productions based on what they feel is ok, but that might not be the case with part of their audience. Even in the West, such debates are never ending,” he said.

Chisiza said artists at times do release a production aimed at challenging the social norms.

“For example, the song by Dan Lu where he is talking about sexual feelings in vernacular, this is probably him trying to expose our hypocrisy as a society,” he said.

The academic said when it comes to moral issues, a society can never have a consensus as people will always have different takes.

On his part, Unima communications and cultural studies lecturer Dr Anthony Gunde said the issue of artistic expression versus societal morals can be unfair towards artists as at times they are judged differently.

He said: “I feel Dan Lu’s song should be allowed to be. There is a club version and a radio version. A club is not a church.  What is happening is cultural hegemony in which we bury a local artist’s production and dance to something similar from the West. However, when it comes to broadcasting the same on local radios and television, artists must adhere to the laws as stipulated in the Malawian Constitution.”

Music fan and former MBC DJ Eric Matewere said artists have always used their art to express human emotions and desires.

“Some songs have explicit lyrics and themes that can be considered offensive to some listeners. However, the popularity of such songs cannot be denied and they continue to feature in clubs and other platforms such as radio and television,” he said.

Matewere listed songs such as I wanna love you by Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, The Take by Tory Lanez and Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing as sexually explicit songs that have defied condemnation and remained popular.

Commenting on Dan Lu’s song, arts analyst and journalist Maurice Nkawihe said Malawians should treat it the same way they treat other sensitive material when consuming them.

“I feel all what we need is to exercise our responsibility on how we are going to listen to this song. Just like how we exercise caution on pornographic material and other profane content. We should deal with this song in the same manner,” he said.

Nkawihe said the world is a global village and Malawi cannot afford to be restricting artists under the guise of social and cultural values.

“We can’t be exercising these values while behind the scenes we are busy consuming foreign content that is full of profanity and is explicit,” he said.

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