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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
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).
References
African Popular Music. Available on Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org › wiki › African_popular_music.
Anderson, B. (2000). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso.
Bennett, T. (1994). Popular culture and the turn to Gramsci. In J. Storey (Ed.), Cultural theory and popular culture (p. 226). Wheatsheaf Harvester.
Carl, F. (2004). Talking Mbira: Spirits of liberation by Stella Chiweshe, Hijaz Mustapha. The World of Music, 46(2). Japanese Musical Traditions: VWB—Verlag für Wissenschaft und Bildung.
Chikowero, M. (2015). African music, power, and being in colonial Zimbabwe. Indiana University Press, Series: African Expressive Cultures.
Civallero, E. (2015). Yawan yuraqan: Andeam music instruments in black and white. Edgar Civallero.
Ekwueme, E.N. (1974). Concepts of African musical theory. Journal of Black Studies, 5(1), pp. 35–64 (30). Sage Publications, Inc.
Eyre, B. (2015). Thomas Mapfumo and the popularization of Shona Mbira. African Music, 10(1). International Library of African Music.
Handel, S. (1984). Using polyrhythms to study rhythm, music perceptions.
Hatugari, L. (1999, April 2). Snags with classifying chimurenga music. The Sunday Mail. p. 4. Harare.
Lo, M. (2019). Writing and righting the African renaissance. Research Africa Reviews, 3(2). Duke University.
Mapaya, M. G. (2014). The study of indigenous African music and lessons from ordinary language philosophy. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences.
Mugaraushe, W. (2020). Nuances of political satire, advocacy for peace and development in selected Oliver Mtukudzi songs. Midlands State University.
Mugovhani, N. G. (2015). Emerging trends from indigenous music and dance practices: A glimpse into contemporary Malende and Tshigombela. Department of Performing Arts Tshwane University of Technology.
Nicol, D. (1979). Alioune DIOP and the African renaissance. African Affairs, 78(310). Oxford Journals.
N'ketia, J.H. (1976). The place of traditional music and dance in contemporary African society. The World of Music, 18(4). Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG.
Pfukwa, C. (2008). Black September et al: Chimurenga songs as historical narratives in the Zimbabwean liberation war. MUZIKI: Journal of Music Research in Africa, 5(1), 30–61.
Pongweni, A. J. C. (1982). Songs that won the liberation war. College Press.
Ravenganai, S. 2016. Chimurenga liberation songs and dances as sites of struggle to counter Rhodesian discourse: A post-colonial perspective. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298790019
Robotham, D. K and Kubik, G. 2016. African music. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/art/African-music
Sibani, C. M. (2018). Impact of Western culture on traditional African society: Problems and prospects. International Journal of Religion and Human Relations, 10(1).
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020). Fela Kuti. Encyclopædia britannica. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fela-Kuti
Unaegbu, J. (2014). Fusion of African & Western cultures: Lessons from pioneering contributions of Igbo music educators. Western African Journal of Music Arts, 2(2).
Vambe, M. T. (2000). The Post-Independence Development of Film in Zimbabwe. Retrieved from https://www.postcolonialweb.org › media › mabwaezara3 on 15/04/21. 28 Aug, 2003
Vambe, M. T. (2002). Popular songs and social realities in post-Independence Zimbabwe. South and Southern African Literature, 23, 79–90.
Vambe, M. T. (2004). Versions and sub-versions: Trends in chimurenga musical discourses of the post-Independence Zimbabwe. African Study Monographs, 25(4), 167–193.
Internet Sources
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Chimurenga_music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Chiweshe.
www.pindula.co.zw › Oliver_Mtukudzi.
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Hugh_Masekela.
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Fela_Kuti.
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Miriam_Makeba.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
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
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97884-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-97883-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-97884-6
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)