Anna Chitando

Songs of pain and hope: HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwean Music

ABSTRACT Music accompanies the African from the cradle to the grave. Music is played on both happy and sad occasions. This article examines the theme of HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwean music. In the first section, it describes how traditional music responded to threats to health and well-being. Music empowered communities to face war, pestilence, disease and death. In contemporary times, music seeks to equip society to face the AIDS pandemic. The article reflects the changing attitudes – from the initial denial and stigmatisation, to the current calls for respect for people living with HIV. The article highlights new themes relating to the epidemic that could be addressed in Zimbabwean music.

SHIMMER CHINODYA AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF POSTCOLONIAL ZIMBABWEAN IDENTITIES

Postcolonial African identities are as complex as they are contested. On their part, creative writers have offered some of the most powerful descriptions of the quest for postcolonial African identities. They have painted some of the most lasting images of the struggles faced by Africans in response to colonialism and its attendant issues such as Christianity, and the demonising of African cultural belief systems. In this article, I examine Shimmer Chinodya’s portrayal of the challenges of postcolonial Zimbabwean identities. Whereas some writers have made politics and economics the key dimensions to the construction of postcolonial Zimbabwean identities, Chinodya has largely confined himself to the cultural dimension. Where other authors focus on the nation, he concentrates on the family. I, therefore, argue that the decision to concentrate on the family has enabled Chinodya to describe the complexities of postcolonial Zimbabwean identities in more vivid ways. I conclude that Chinodya’s attempt at resolving the puzzle is problematic, although he outlines the challenges in an informative way.

The Girl Child's Resilience and Agency in NoViolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names

Summary Zimbabwean childrens literature has witnessed considerable expansion since the attainment of independence in 1980. It has addressed numerous themes, although it has tended to avoid overtly political issues. This article examines new developments in this literary genre. It focuses on one creative work that employs the perspectives of girl children to describe challenging experiences. The article analyses NoViolet Bulawayos We Need New Names (2013) to understand the resilience of the girl child in Zimbabwe. It examines this literary work as part of Zimbabwean childrens literature. It contends that the author provides an effective account of how Zimbabwean children demonstrate resilience and deploy agency to negotiate a very difficult context. However, the article also argues that Bulawayos approach to the theme has some weaknesses.

Saying the Unsaid: Probing Homosexuality in The Hairdresser of Harare

ABSTRACT Homosexuality in Zimbabwe often evokes strong reactions. Due to a tradition of silence, the topic largely continues to be taboo. However, it has been used by some politicians and church leaders to strengthen arguments and to denounce opponents. It is against this background that The Hairdresser of Harare (Huchu, 2010) ought to be understood. The novel gives helpful clues into discourses on homosexuality in contemporary Zimbabwe. This article analyzes the author’s approach to the subject and critiques it. It maintains that the author’s view on homosexuality has been limited by attaching the theme to postcolonial politics and violence. However, the article appreciates his courage in exploring the theme.

Children's welfare in Zimbabwean music: Insights from selected artists

Abstract While there has been a growing interest in protecting the rights of children globally, it is worth noting that there has been limited exploration of how Zimbabwean music addresses children. Scholarly studies on music in Zimbabwe have generally been characterised by the same weakness that runs through the study of literature: neglecting childrens issues. For instance, as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has killed many parents and guardians, many children have been affected. The girl-child in particular has been vulnerable to violence and sexual abuse. Through an analysis of selected song texts, this article sought to appreciate the selected musicians’ concern about the welfare of children, especially when one considers that music has been approached as dwelling exclusively on adult issues and themes. The study examined how two Zimbabwean artists, Oliver Mtukudzi and Sebastian Magacha, address the theme of children in their music. The study explored the extent to which these two musicians succeed in highlighting the challenges that children face. The article first described the context in which children in Zimbabwe find themselves. It moved on to discuss the major themes that have come to the fore in music that addresses children.