Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko showing off his money in a viral video a few days ago reminds us part of the lyrics in Senegalese-American musician Akon’s hip hop song ‘I’m so paid’.
With his mellow voice, Akon — real name liaune Thiam —poses “why you wanna count my money?”. The rap song was a hit over a decade ago, and numerous songs preceding it from as far back as the era of iconic American rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G brandished lots of cash, expensive vehicles and were punctuated by vile language, and a ‘bigger than life’ aura.
The Americanisation of African societies had music as a leading conveyor belt. Many musicians have ridden on the same enticing concepts to fortify and vend their music and reap good money resulting from big popularity.
We have seen the Prezzos of our times and others, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the music industry taking such direction in enriching itself because it is an expression of what the youth view and desire today as entertainment.
Yet, we have also seen politicians employing the same strategies and packaging themselves in the same manner to gain popularity. It is a powerful communication packaging, which has worked, but the values transferred are subject to societal consideration.
Sonko’s video, in which he addresses a person he does not name and whom he alleges said he had failed to take care of his family, happens to be a hodgepodge of several powerful communication theories that delivers the message right to the subliminal mind of the youth.
No wonder it has had a pathological journey through social media platforms, especially on WhatsApp. The accuracy and effectiveness of a communication weapon might be shown by its rate of absorption or adoption by citizen journalism. After all, the masses are always the target. The most tech-savvy and most active in communication in the society today are youths.
Showing off numerous wads of dollars and Kenyan currency notes, though appealing to the eye, does not necessarily serve to inspire the youth to focus on the grind or to work hard at school. It most likely inspires them to take short cuts especially when the source of the money is not revealed.
Listening to dialogue among youth today, you will gather that many do not focus on the process of making it in life but the end justifies the means for most. What then is the motivation for Sonko and ilk to flaunt their money? This is a card Sonko has played in his entire political career.
People with money are admired and respected. One positive aspect of Sonko is his willingness to help the poor, although some people have viewed that as another avenue of pretentiousness, but either way he has come through for the needy and you have to give that to him.
Most wealthy politicians will not create initiatives that will outlive them because their focus is only to remain relevant with the masses for the time they remain in politics.
In the video, Sonko says that he will use the same money he is counting to buy a casket for the person he is telling off. Death is a mystery to all who are alive in the flesh, and it is no surprise that news about tragedies that lead to death gains the most response from people as it invokes fear and imagination that cannot be quenched.
Most news presented by television channels either begins with a tragic story and the idea is to keep viewers glued to that channel. Death is inherent to mankind and the process to death will always amaze mankind. Sonko may have consciously referenced death in a ploy to enhance the efficiency of the video.
Further, in the video Sonko quips that the money he has is not for spending on children but with “my wife” but quickly makes a gradation to “wives”. Having many wives or girlfriends is apparently viewed as ‘gangster’ by people today.
Youths seeing this video, especially those between ages 12 and 24 will take this message in hook, line and sinker. This is a time in life, according to scientists, when the brain is still developing and the absorption of such values is highest.
Our constitution allows polygamy and while we do not wish to present a different message, nobody has a right to encourage the youth towards this direction because what they are motivated towards is promiscuity, fornication and such which really happens to be the subconsciously targeted fragment of the message. Such messages coming from influential people in the society are taken seriously by the youth, many who lack guidance today.
With the pressures of today and hustles in the bustling streets, anything that makes the youth to laugh finds ample abode in the mind. Humour has been employed to deliver messages that are in bad taste and to win political arguments or debates.
It is an art and not something that politicians or celebrities do extemporaneously, it is planned. The surprise element of insults leads to a powerful reception when the results emanate from a prominent person.
Everything has its highs and lows, but the lows have the knack of dropping to new levels. Every youth would like to be successful rightly, it is the message our parents have passed to us.
Like Morgan Freeman says in the 1990 film The Bonfire of Vanities, “decency is not an angle, or a contract, or a hustle, it is what your grandmother taught you”. Although the judge was addressing a different matter altogether, being conscious of our actions and their impact to others and generations to come is part and parcel of decency.
Everyone wants to be able to count their own money and counting someone else’s money, especially remotely or through passive observation, will have an impact which is beyond inspirational, especially for young adults.
It can only succeed in sending needy people on utopian mental journeys of unfulfilled and unrealistic desire and demand from the ordinary life.
There is a motivation to subvert procedure such as in government tendering, and there can be strong justification for criminal activity because the message is that ‘nobody cares where you got your money from as long as you have it now’.
Some youths are addicted to betting, others even into pornographic acting in order to make money fast. Leaders should help stem the slide.
The political and entertainment space in Kenya is dominated by wrong illustrations disguised as the apt, and erroneous role modelling for the fledgling in or society.
There are certainly many admirable qualities in our politicians as many are well-educated, articulate, development oriented and even some embodying positive societal values. The media also steps down the positive aspects of society and the negative mostly takes centre stage because it is what draws the most response from addressees.
