Magister Artium - MA (History)

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Browsing by Author "Charivanda, Lazarus Charles"

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    Zimbabwean Reggae and Dancehall: A History of Generations (1981 to recent times)
    (University of the Western Cape, 2019) Charivanda, Lazarus Charles; Israel, Paolo
    The Zimdancehall phenomenon is a growing subculture in Zimbabwe�s entertainment industry and as such it is attracting scholarly attention, hence the literature around it is burgeoning. The aim of this research is to trace the beginnings of incorporating Caribbean inflections, particularly Jamaican, into local music. Its objective is to investigate how reggae has been received and used in a local context ever since Bob Marley performed on the eve of independence, until the present Zimdancehall generation. As a keen music follower, my motivation to study Zimbabwean dancehall music is another township story located in one of the many of Zimbabwe�s township spaces which I grew up in. Growing up in the dusty townships of Mkoba in Gweru, rap, hip hop and reggae were the music we grew up listening to, both at school and at home. I also frequently listened to dancehall music, which could be downloaded from the internet and shared through CDs and radio cassettes. Locally, urban grooves was the music of the time, until 2008 when I first heard the music of Winky D. He provided a different music approach focused on the downtown and Ghetto/shanty townships. Winky D�s music was strictly dancehall oriented and it immediately had an impact on the youth including myself. Going on to study history for post graduate studies, particularly the field of Popular Culture and Performance, my interest in Zimdancehall was further aroused and I considered it as an area worthy of study. During the course of this research my interest to carry on was reinforced by discovering that there is a small burgeoning academic literature that has been written about Zimdancehall. Most of the literature is found in newspaper and magazines and entertainment columns, a number of which have been written by Fred Zindi.1 Fundamentally, Zimdancehall is characterized by its orality in the form of hard hitting-lyrics sung in urban lingo. It also provides a social commentary on issues such as poverty, unemployment, hustling or finding ways of getting by, the consumption of drugs as well as criticizing the maladministration of local government.