@KidTini Addresses Teenage Pregnancy, Illegal Abortions & Depression On #Cinga

Epidemic: “A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.”

We live in an era of mass consumption of the external world, where we take in anything and everything that is presented to us, and in turn give too much of ourselves in the name of “appearance” and are left with nothing. We are connected to everything, and yet disconnected to ourselves and those around us. There is just too much to deal with, but what happens when it all gets too much for one person, and kicking the bucket is the only way out they see fit? South Africa has been hit by a different form of hurricane, we found ourselves pacing back and forth with the questions; How? and Why? 

In the past year, HHP, Khensani Maseko, and a number of Wits students, just to name a few, passed on as result of depression. In the wake of this, masses came out and shared their stories under the hashtag #DepressionIsReal, which led us to opening ourselves to the conversation so we can at least try to prevent more cases of it. But the question is; What causes this depression?

Using music as a tool, 21 year old rapper Kid Tini, real name Phiwe Tini, released a thought provoking music video to his song “Cinga” which means “think,” with the main theme being depression, the video touched and opened the door to the conversation above, especially among the youth. The music video sees a young man who ends his life by hanging himself after he impregnates his girlfriend and is unable to deal with the emotional stress and responsibility of having to be a father at a young age, this happens after he had come to the realization that his girlfriend was also killed after taking the illegal abortion route, having drowned in regret, with the fear of judgement, and bringing shame to her family. Kid Tini addresses teenage pregnancy and illegal abortions being some of the catalysts of depression and suicide, he expresses how the idea behind his “Cinga” video was to create an “awareness to the consequences of depression,” and hopes that with this video he will take away the stigma of this very depression. He further attributed this video and topic to timing, and the fact that artists are not speaking about the real issues affecting society. Kid Tini’s message to those who are going through depression is: "talk to somebody, surround yourself by people who love you and care for you, be logical, don’t isolate yourself, depression and teenage pregnancy is not a new thing, speak to those who have been through it, and get help."

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): 011 234 4837

Watch "Cinga" below: