Dawuna Bad Karma (2021)
Rooted in various religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, the idea of karma has been adopted by and adapted to modern spiritual and secular contexts. However, these contemporary interpretations sometimes diverge from the concept's original meaning.
Take a pop-cultural example: John Lennon’s 1970 hit “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” popularized the idea of “instant karma,” suggesting immediate reward or comeuppance. Lennon was likely aiming for humor, but still, the notion doesn’t align with the traditional understanding of karma as a process that unfolds over time.
A more accurate interpretation appears in Ian Mugerwa’s 2021 song “Bad Karma”, released under his Dawuna moniker. In this alt-R’n’B piece, the New York singer and producer hauntingly sings: "What you're doing to me / Then gets done unto him / And in turn onto you / That hand is turned unto you."
This cyclical view of actions and their consequences is much closer to the traditional concept of karma, in which virtuous actions, such as kindness or honesty, are believed to lead to positive outcomes, while harmful actions are thought to result in negative repercussions.
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