Societies have been moulded into their necessary, particular nature via the effect of many factors. Music has, and continues to have, a significant influence on societal change, especially in terms of its emotive and identity-generating qualities. In Zimbabwe, there are three types of music that have shaped and changed the country’s culture: pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial.
Prior to the 1890s colonisation of Zimbabwe, pre-colonial music was primarily influenced by instruments. Some of the instruments were mbira, ngoma drums, and hosho. In those days, traditional ceremonies and welfares greatly relied on this music. The music inspired tribes to fight against their enemies by inspiring optimism and strong emotions.
Colonial music originated during the British colonisation of the nation, which lasted from 1890 until 1980. While it does feature Mbrira, Goma, and Hosh, its primary focus was on protest songs during the independence movement. As their only means of retaliation, it provided people the voice to oppose injustice. Thomas Mapfumo, the prominent vocalist of Chimurenga music at the time, delivered songs that inspired Zimbabweans to rebel against colonialism. His music helped in turning most of the country’s people into machines for change.
Post-Colonial Music
Post-colonial music emerged after 1980, interspersed with widespread independence celebrations. This gave rise to what is known as popular music. Manual (1998) went on to say that new musical styles, instruments, live performance contexts, and an entirely new realm of music with a larger audience have all resulted from the socio-economic and technological development that has accompanied modernity. Sungura, jit, Zimbabwean dancehall, Zimbabwean hip-hop, and many other genres are included in this music. We are living in a time where music is evidently having an impact on society in many different ways. Let’s examine how music and musicians have shaped and continue to shape Zimbabwean society.
In post-colonial Zimbabwe, the genres that people listened to the most in the 1980s were sungura and jit. Massive celebrations of independence at the time had a big impact on society, and more music was created to celebrate the win against the British. Performers such as Mapfumo introduced the much-needed shift in welfare music, often known as Chimurenga music. This music is defined as the kind that inspires the majority to rebel against their oppressors and leaders.
Mapfumo was instrumental in transforming Zimbabwean music and providing the populace with a voice to resist their oppressors. His songs won their people’s freedom in Mozambique and Zambia, two more adjacent nations where his music also had an impact, leading to his arrest and confinement multiple times.
The Thomas Mapfumo Touch
With the help of Mapfumo, Zimbabwe achieved independence in 1980 by educating and energising its people to resist imperialism via songs like Muka-Muka and Tumira vana kuhondo. These kinds of music offered Zimbabweans a purpose for change in the direction of freedom and hope.
Professor Mickias Musiyiwa of the University of Zimbabwe emphasised the role that Chimurenga music played in bringing about the change that resulted in Zimbabwe’s independence. He sees it as a platform that Zimbabweans consistently use to air their grievances against their government and against Western imperialism. Hence, via their music, Thomas Mapfumo and the late Cde Chinx, the Chimurenga singers of Zimbabwe, significantly altered the country’s social structure and gave its people a spirit of defiance.
Due to its extreme volatility, music can vary often throughout the year. These changes can also be causally linked to shifts in emotions, as emotions can influence changes in music or the other way around. Music can be used to build or to destroy, depending on the circumstances at hand. Most music celebrated the country’s newfound freedom in the years immediately following its independence in 1980. However, within the first five years of Zimbabwean rule, the tone of most music shifted, and Chimurenga song in particular began to inspire greater hope and solidarity among the populace. “Mabasa,” a song by Mapfumo, discusses the necessity of unity in order to establish the new country.
Chimurenga Music
Music at this time changed the mind-set of the society from warriors to diligent workers in order to construct the new country. The late 1980s saw yet another shift in the musical landscape, with most performers commenting more and more about the unfair distribution of wealth. The 1988 song “Corruption” by Mapfumo discusses the uneven distribution of the country’s resources. People started to assert, according to Musiyiwa, that they did not fight to keep persecution going. Some communities in this era were encouraged to despise their local government for injustices, and some of them even staged protests in response to these injustices.
Local government was smart to recognise the influence of music on people and they held galas to counter the bad influences from other musicians towards people. Former Information and Publicity minister told Herald on 21 November 2017 after the former president Robert Mugabe resigned that the purpose of galas was to educate, inform and unite people against bad musical influences.
The nature and flavour of Chimurenga music are still evolving; however, given some recent songs, such as Jah Prayzah’s “Kutonga Kwaro,” which contains some Chimurenga musical characteristics, there may be a diluted aspect to the genre. Despite the fact that the song was published prior to the demonstrations that forced the late former president Robert Mugabe to resign, it was the most talked-about song both during and after the protests and greatly contributed to inspiring people to believe in the arrival of a long-long hero. In summary, the song changed the way that society perceived the necessity of change in order to create a better Zimbabwe.
Bob Marley’s Influence
When Bob Marley visited Zimbabwe in 1980 to commemorate the country’s independence, he sang “Zimbabwe,” a song off his album “Survival,” at Rufaro Stadium in Mbare. The majority of Zimbabweans are given hope by the song, which talks about liberating Zimbabwe. Marley repeated his claim that music was the most powerful weapon because the downtrodden cannot buy firearms. His music also inspired struggles for liberation and transformed many people from sceptics to believers.
Marley introduced Rastafarianism following his outstanding performance and his overwhelming dedication to his people. Whereas some members of the society had followed traditional tribes, Rastafarianism took their place. Some of the numerous facets of Rastafarianism that are intricately woven across the nation were altered when Marley brought his culture to the people of Zimbabwe.
It’s also significant to note that Marley’s performance sparks the growth of Dancehall music, which originated in Jamaica and is now popular in Zimbabwe. Zimdancehall brought more young people to the music scene known as “ghetto youths,” which transformed Zimbabwean society. This society has a distinct identity, dialect, way of dressing, and way of being. The list of notable Zimdancehall performers who have influenced society is enormous and includes the late Soul Jah Love, Winky D, Seh Calaz, Freeman, Shinso Man, Snipper, Lipsy, and many more.
Zim-Dancehall Effect
Many ghetto kids view Winky D as the father of Zimdancehall. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Zimdancehall, having played a significant role in the development of the genre’s music and the instillation of a ghetto youth culture in the nation. He serves as a role model and source of inspiration for numerous musicians across all genres. In an interview with Trevor Ncube for the Conversation with Trevor Programme, Zimbabwean Afrofusion singer Gemma Griffits expressed her admiration and respect for Winky D.
The well-known musician claims that Winky’s perfectionism serves as an inspiration to her. In the early 2000s, Zim dancehall witnessed a lot of young people adopt a look known as “colour blocking,” which involved matching shoes with t-shirts or jeans—not just any old jeans, but “skinny” jeans—paired with flat-base hats. Wearing this ensemble was fashionable at the time, and Zimdancehall introduced this important fashion to Zimbabwe’s youngsters in the ghetto. But fashion also evolves with time, and colour blocking is no longer popular.
Through their popular diss and brawl songs, Soul Jah Love and Calaz were largely responsible for the transformation of society into a ghetto culture. Those were the days, and their music turned the country into a Zimdancehall-loving one; between 2015 and 2020, Zimdancehall received greater attention. Soul Jah Love’s self-expression songs, which reveal more about him in real life, have been a major source of influence for young people living in the ghetto. This influenced how the country accepted its way of life.
Souljah Love’s Contribution
Through the music of the late Soul Jah Love, society started to recognise the value of self-expression and consciousness. The majority of his songs were based on real-life experiences. This was further reinforced by Gemma Grifftts, who stated on Conversation with Trevor in April 2024 that her song “ndichatarisa” is based on a genuine story about herself when she was having personal problems.
Jah Love also introduced language to the community, particularly among young people living in the ghetto, through chants such as “Yocho,” which means “hi,” “hawite,” “chibaba,” which means “great man,” and several more. The shouts that Jah Love’s music created have become the unofficial language of the young people living in the slum. The same is true with Seh Calaz’s chants, such as “bandit clan,” which have come to represent a certain segment of his fan base. Based on his music, “mabandit” refers to a group of people from the ghetto who are well-groomed.
Hip Hop Effect
Zim-hip hop, which had a significant impact on society, started in the late 1990s when Shingirayi Sabata debuted the song “mau mau” in 1997. His first two albums, Mfecane and Coup D’Etat, were published in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Dance moves, attitude, and fashion all accompanied hip-hop music. American musicians had a big impact on the emergence of this music in Zimbabwe, and they also introduced culture to the country.
Thankfully, local musicians assisted in adapting the song to Zimbabwean culture, although the majority of the elements were imported from America. The 90s saw a shift in dance styles from traditional “jukunya” to break dancing, with kids learning how to move to hip-hop music. More motions to Zimbabwean hip-hop culture were made possible by B-boy dancing groups fighting and spinning on their heads in the streets of Harare.
For a young Zimbabwean, nothing was more appealing than brand-new Puma or Nike sneakers. Hip-hop music gave several products in the nation new names since the term “takkies,” as it was called when the nation was still Rhodesia, was modified and people started referring to them as sneakers after that.
Zimbabweans first became familiar with pushback hairstyles, and they have continued to develop from there. You can disclose how Zimbabwean society was moulded by the fashion and mindset of hip-hop. Hip-hop musicians in Zimbabwe, such as Holy-ten, Voltz JT, Kikky, and many more, are pushing the genre forward and even pushing the music to new heights.
Gospel Music Birthed
It is well known that the bulk of worshippers in Zimbabwe are Christians. The influence of music on forming Christian culture cannot be understated. As most of us know, during Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial era, when our elders presided over traditional events, the country was not Christian. Father Gonzalo Da Silveria was one of the missionaries that helped spread Christianity throughout the imperial era.
In Zimbabwe, gospel singers like Janet Manyowa, Shingisai Suluma, Takesure Zamar, Dorcas Moyo, and countless more have made a significant contribution to raising awareness of the religion. Through their music, these musicians have significantly influenced the transformation of many Zimbabweans to Christianity, and gospel music continues to be one of, if not the most, popular genres in the nation. Additionally, it’s estimated that 90% of Zimbabweans identify as Christians.
Conclusion
A great deal of the nation’s musicians have had a significant impact on the country’s culture through their work. Bob Marley, in particular, maintained that music acted as a weapon against Western imperialism and contributed to the independence of several African nations. There are powerful signals in music that elicit various behaviours that might affect one’s attitude and personality.
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About The Author
Aspiring financial coach Frank Mhlanga is a passionate writer of essays in the art and entertainment, as well as the finance and investing sectors. He also wants to pursue an agricultural company. Currently, he holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and Banking.