Abstract
Indigenous and modern Zimbabwean music has been shaped by different music genres that are performed throughout the world. Indigenous African music is very important in the different countries where it is performed, correspondingly, in Zimbabwe. Chimurenga music is a reputable Zimbabwe indigenous popular music genre that has been popularised by Thomas Mapfumo. However, this music genre has been performed for a long time dating back to the liberation struggle period of Zimbabwe. The concepts of Zimbabwean political and cultural nationalism have promoted Thomas Mapfumo to brand his music genre Chimurenga music, and through this genre, he is able to superbly narrate the livelihoods of the Zimbabwean people whose lives are hinged and connected to music. Thomas Mapfumo is a well-known music icon in Zimbabwe who believes in the emancipation of the Zimbabwean people from poor governance and human rights abuse and speaks against corruption. Through his Chimurenga music, he portrays an Afrocentrism concept and he works as a human rights defender and a true nationalist who believes in using music to make positive changes amongst the Zimbabwean people.
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Notes
- 1.
Zimbabwean Liberation fighters who fought during the liberation war in Zimbabwe from 1973 to 1980.
- 2.
A Zimbabwean musician and composer who propelled Zimbabwe towards independence in the 1970s through his cultivation of Chimurenga music—a local genre of politically charged popular music.
- 3.
Chimurenga music is a Zimbabwean popular music genre popularised by Thomas Mapfumo. Chimurenga is a Shona language word for liberation, which entered common usage during the Rhodesian Bush War (en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Chimurenga_music).
- 4.
A Zimbabwean musician. She is internationally known for her singing and playing of the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Chiweshe).
- 5.
Oliver Mtukudzi, also known as “Tuku” (short for Mtukudzi), was a singer-songwriter, actor, writer, film director and entrepreneur (www.pindula.co.zw › Oliver_Mtukudzi).
- 6.
A Bantu language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It is one of the most widely spoken Bantu languages.
(en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Shona_language).
- 7.
A person who is rich, successful and advances financially through music performances and productions.
- 8.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938–2 August 1997) was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, political activist and Pan-Africanist (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fela-Kuti).
- 9.
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939–23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who has been described as “the father of South African jazz” (en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Hugh_Masekela).
- 10.
Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932–9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador and civil rights activist.
- 11.
In Zimbabwe, Ubuntu/Unhu is a term meaning humanity (en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Miriam_Makeba).
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Mauwa, C. (2022). Indigenous and Modern Zimbabwean Music: Reflections from Thomas Mapfumo’s Chimurenga Music Genre. In: Salawu, A., Fadipe, I.A. (eds) Indigenous African Popular Music, Volume 1. Pop Music, Culture and Identity. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97884-6_2
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