Book Review of "Zimbabwe: Challenging the Stereotypes"

This is a book review of a book authored by Robert Mshengu Kavanagh is 2014. Zimbabwe: Challenging the Stereotypes., Themba Books, Johannesburg, South Africa, Pp 427. ISBN 978-1-5001-8624-1

Linguistic and Extra-Linguistic features of SABC indigenous language adverts: A Critical Discourse Approach

Discourse encompasses not only written and spoken language but visual images as well. If discourse combines visuals and images, it is important that analysis of such texts account for the special characteristics of visual semiotics; the relationship between language and images. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this paper, unravels power relations in the electronic advertising texts such as those aired on television. The targeted television advertising discourse is characterised by sound, colour, picture, camera angle and other motion picture attributes. The paper argues that texts in general and texts as adverts are hegemonic in nature. The reproduction of a popular culture perpetuated by adverts has been noted to support the perspective that advertising drives the global media and has profound influence on the content of the media messages received and subsequently on the cultures of the recipients. The paper makes use of the McDonalds TV Seat Advert shown on SABC1.

Umdala wethu legacy: The contested memories and the fatherhead role of Joshua Nkomo in Zimbabwe

his paper revisits the under-currencies of the normative and empirical motivations of the official iconic ornamentation of Joshua Nkomo’s legacy during the Mugabe era. The urgency of this analysis is justified by how the ruling and Zimbabwe’s former Head of State, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, strategically exploited the memorialization of Joshua Nkomo for political expedience. This was orchestrated through the state’s Umdala wethu ‘cultural nationalism’ since 1999 as well as the infrastructural immortalisation of Umdala wethu in 2013. The state’s monopoly over Nkomo’s legacy competed with the anti-establishment and ethnicity inclined appropriation of Joshua Nkomo’s legacy in the Matebeleland regions. One refers to this alternative and public consented appropriation of Joshua Nkomo’s legacy as the traditional affirmative reposition of Father-Zimbabwe’s political fatherhood in Zimbabwe’s body politic. Further, the paper posits that the clashing entitlements to Nkomo’s legacy represents polarity of national memory in Zimbabwe.

Women in newspaper cartoon straps during the ‘Operation Restore Legacy’ in The News Day and The Chronicle

There is an existing trend of negativity in the portrayal of women through cartoons in local newspapers. This has led to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes against women aimed at demeaning and degrading the social status of women. Cartoons as works of art are expected to reflect on issues as they are happening in the societies. The two newspapers under study are The Chronicle and The News Day which are government owned and private owned respectively. The paper analyses these two newspapers in the manner in which represent women in cartoons and further interrogates circumstances surrounding such portrayal. The period under study is between November 2017 and April 2018. This is the period when Zimbabwe underwent leadership change, after thirty-seven years under one leader. Guided by the Africana womanist perspective the article concludes that women and men are given the same opportunities but if not disciplined women sometimes abuse their position.

Reflecting on death through song among the Shona people of Zimbabwe

Singing is undertaken by individuals and the community in dealing with real life experiences including death. Death is a reality which humans and animals are not immune to. It defines the end of life and brings pain to humanity. However, humans have mechanisms to deal with pain caused by death, and singing is one of them. The article examines how song is used to tackle the inevitable incidence of death. In this study, traditional and contemporary popular songs were purposively sampled to analyse and reflect on the nature of music used to cope with death. The study engaged 20 people, among them musicians and the elderly. Basing on Kubler-Ross’ (1969) five stage DABDA model of dealing with grief, the paper contends that Shona people celebrate life and death through song. Through singing, the Shona express ways of dealing with death. Some Shona beliefs in life after death inform the paper with ways of dealing with pain and how subsequently the Shona people come to accept the reality of death. The bereaved also exhibit some spirited embodiment, and reverence of the departed regardless of their earthly conduct. The study concludes that through song, the Shona people draw solace, hope, and peace of mind with regard to life after death. The frame of mind that accepts the imminence of death is embraced by many as they prepare for death through preparatory moves in taking funeral and general insurance policies. The engagement into singing tends to weaken the sting of death.

Editorial: Special Issue on Womanism & Culture

Articles in this Issue celebratewomanhood, aspects that characterize it and directs our attention to gendered discourses that seek to unearth the idea that women have always fought for their rights and actively participated in various ways in the sustainable development of African societies. Articles approach the concept of ‘Womanhood’ or ‘Womanism’ in its localized and broadest sense drawing on key cultural issues on which power struggles or otherwise emanate from. They point out areas of success showing what African societies can achieve through womanhood or other cultural dynamics. As womanhood seeks to maintain an inclusive culture in African societies, some aspects of sustainable development are addressed. Drawing much from the Zimbabwean realities and the region, these articles reveal, in a subtle way, efforts by women actively participating in discourses of nationhood as well as recommending in considerable ways how on one hand women make significant contributionsin national culture; on the other hand,aspects of healing and reconciliation are also subtlety addressed. The articles augment voices on gender discourses, culture and nation building, however, in a very unique way.

Book Review of A Pocket Guide to Academic referencing. Africa Institute for Culture

this is a book review of book authored by Umali Saidi in 2018. A Pocket Guide to Academic referencing. Africa Institute for Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Tolerance Studies. Pp 76. ISBN 978-0-7974-9403-9.

Locating the nihilistic culture within Zimdancehall in contemporary Zimbabwe

A fusion of the Caribbean, African American and Zimbabwean music genres into the infamous glocalized Zimdancehall music has dulled the significance of other traditionalist Zimbabwean music genres. Dancehall culture has caused much controversy in Zimbabwean society, being blamed for the country’s increase in crime, violence and believed to encourage misogynistic attitudes among Zimbabwean youths through its negative themes. Using appraisal and dramatism theories the article shows the existential crisis the youth in Zimbabwe face due to economic as well as other social forces and thus align themselves to rather destructive misogynistic behaviours which somehow characterises contemporary Zimbabwe. Established in the article is the extent to which language used in Zimdancehall music is socially charged as well as globalized thus influencing youth feelings, emotions and behaviors. The article analyses lyrics of selected songs as well as makes references to selected musical videos from Zimdancehall artistes such as Soul Jah Love, Winky D, Lady Bee and Killer T as prominent artists revealing what has come to be considered contemporary ‘ghetto culture’ within popular culture in Zimbabwe. It is further argued that Zimdancehall has come to shape, inform behaviors, perceptions and aspirations of the Zimbabwean youth largely due to its nature of production as well as dissemination.

Women and National Reconciliation: Resolving the legacies of violence in post-colonial Zimbabwe

Women and their experiences are essential to the spirituality and ministry of reconciliation. The seemingly endless domination of women by men has forced them to think about alternatives and create communities of reconciliation outside of the usual paths of power and domination. Women exude the power to go beyond the hurts, the violence, rape and humiliation to build a nation and transform societies against a country’sendemic culture of violence. The article exploresthe culture of violence in post-independent Zimbabwe and the role that women can play in creating communities of reconciliation.It is argued that in most crisis or conflict situations, women remain behind to pick up the pieces in the wake of the tornado of violence. Women can thus help communities move forward from the trap of trauma and experience the resurrection. As mothers,women offer a way of reincorporating wrongdoers and deviants back into their communities through nation building processes. This article maps a way forward for national healing and reconciliation and argues that women when empowered will play an integral part in championing the cause of good citizenry, unity and justice.

The perceptions and attitudes of adolescent street girls on the use of traditional medicine and commercial sex work in Harare Central Business District

The paper argues that there is a close relationship between use of traditional medicine and commercial sex work among adolescent street girls in Harare Central Business District. As a result of using the traditional medicine one could argue that this demonstrates agency of these young adults. The agency is demonstrated when these adolescent girls use the medicine to facilitate commercial sex work. On the other hand one could argue that, use of traditional medicine in commercial sex work illustrates huge rights violations prevalent on the streets of Harare Central Business District. The behaviours associated with commercial sex work and use of traditional medicine could be viewed as contravening some provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) (1989), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC) (1999). Included are violations of some of the national child rights laws and policies such as the Children’s Act (5.06), Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (9.23) and the National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVCs) (2011-2015). This study is part of the researcher’s doctoral study which used street ethnography and qualitative research methodology.