Music industry gets with the HIV/AIDS programme

Kenya's musicians are stepping up to the mike and using their talent and creative imagination to spread vital HIV/AIDS information among young people. "It's good to sing about beautiful women and guys, but it is important to pass on a positive message - to let people know how to protect themselves from HIV," said Lovy Longomba, one half of the musical duo, The Longombas. Lovy, 22, and his twin brother, Christian, are at the forefront of the music industry's fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2005 they wrote the club anthem 'Vuta Pumz' ('Take a Breath' in Swahili), a Kora-award-winning song warning of the dangers of HIV, but also encouraging HIV-positive people to stay upbeat and carry on with their lives. "Many people who do songs about AIDS are always warning of death, but I know someone personally who has had HIV for the past 15 years and he eats well, he exercises, and he lives," Lovy said. "Part of the message of the song is that HIV is not a death sentence." Young people are also told to avoid situations that could put them in danger of contracting the virus. "Just because you don't have malaria doesn't mean you should go and sleep where there are mosquitoes - if you don't have HIV you shouldn't go looking for it," he said. The Longombas try to use their music to talk about real issues that affect their peers. "You're dancing, but we're also talking to you," Lovy pointed out. Other Kenyan artists have thrown their weight behind the fight against HIV/AIDS: Population Services International (PSI), a nongovernmental organisation, has used musicians, sports stars and media personalities to back a national condom campaign.

VUTA PUMZ They might be rich, shapely or beautiful, But that doesn't mean they are healthy on the inside They could be leaving us, They could be writing their death certificates tomorrow And if you do have it, it's not the end of your life It's an illness just like malaria Take your pills, work out and eat well You'll live well, you'll extend your life But for you, the careless one who wants to have sex with anyone And doesn't know how to protect your life Be more careful or you'll die and we will bury you at Langata [cemetery] Take a breath, take a breath Credit: The Longombas [ Listen]

"We selected male personalities who are positive role models to the youth - our latest campaign is comprised entirely of musicians," said Sheila Maviala, PSI brand manager for Trust condoms. "We've managed to minimise the stigma and embarrassment associated with condom purchase and use." The PSI campaign uses billboards and radio and television adverts to encourage people to be prepared and have safer sex. 'Staying Alive', a campaign run by the music television channel, MTV, has also featured Kenyan personalities, such as 'Nameless', a popular musician, and 'Big Ted', a media personality, in their HIV/AIDS awareness film, 'Transit'. "A study done by Family Health International in 2002 found that young people who watch Staying Alive are more likely to feel comfortable talking about sex, and have more knowledge about prevention, testing and other HIV issues," said Cathy Phiri, MTV's public affairs officer. Lovy and Christian believe that more open, honest discussions between parents and children would go a long way to creating awareness about how to avoid contracting HIV, and feel that musicians need to be careful about what they communicate to their audiences. "People need to watch the messages they put out through their music," Lovy said. "They should try to be educative in a fun way."