This study interrogates how Shona novelists conceptualise and depict the African communitarian worldview of unhu (humanity to others). The study relies on content analysis of selected Shona novels, critical reviews from various scholars, journals, newspapers and theses, augmented by interviews and questionnaires. The theoretical framework is guided by Afrocentricity and Africana Womanism which are pivotal to the explication of meaning from selected texts, with the view to examining whether or not the writers‟ portrayal and understanding of unhu helps Africa‟s socio-cultural and political liberation. Given that the African worldview of unhu celebrates virtues central to mutual social responsibility, mutual respect, trust, self-reliance, caring, among other attributes. These tenets help to revitalise and rejuvenate the decaying socio-cultural fabric of Zimbabwe. The study intimates that unhu principles could be fruitfully embraced in charting a dispensation in which all people of Zimbabwe could subordinate their personal interests to the interests, respecting one another, thus forging enduring peace and development while, at the same time, the leadership would be governed by democratic tenets espoused through unhu. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

This thesis examines Shona commodified songs in order to develop a set of criteria for critically determining whether a Zimbabwean popular song has appropriated a Shona traditional song and whether this enables the song to be categorised as “commodified Shona traditional music”. The study identifies and analyses Zimbabwean popular songs by selected musicians. It identifies strategies and patterns adopted by the musicians to reconstruct Shona traditional sources. The study also questions why the musicians draw from the indigenous sources in certain ways and how the commodified songs are meaningful to them and Shona community members in general. The analysis shows that there are certain cultural values associated with each of the distinct Shona musical genres namely mbira, ngoma and jiti. These determine how the songs are adapted. Mbira music is believed to be the product of ancestors and therefore all the popular songs that reproduce mbira traditional sources must retain “standard basic” structural elements. The melorhythmic patterns associated with ngoma traditional sources are usually maintained in popular music. While text constantly changes, traditional themes are usually continued. However, the perception and understanding of cultural values usually differ from one popular musician to another depending on varying personal backgrounds and compositional purposes. Generally, there are four strategies employed in the adaptation of Shona traditional music. These are imitation, sampling, combining two or more distinct indigenous styles and abstract adaptation. The inclusion and exclusion of Shona indigenous elements in popular music performance play an important role in the reconstruction and negotiation of cultural heritage and identity for contemporary musicians and audiences.

Thesis (M.A. Theology (Pastoral Studies)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This study is a biblical evaluation of avenging spirits (ngozi) among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It investigates the Shona understanding of ngozi, the biblical teaching on the spirits that manifest as those of the dead and how the church in Zimbabwe can effectively respond to the ngozi crisis with a pastoral care that is biblically informed and in a practically effective way. The study commences with an evaluation of the biblical teaching on the communication of the living with the dead. This is followed by other related questions to the subject such as the biblical teaching on vengeance for murder and the identity of the spirits that manifest as those of the dead. The Shona traditional understanding of ngozi is examined, giving attention to its types and the way the traditional Shona and the church in Zimbabwe currently address the ngozi crisis. Additionally, the interaction between the belief in ngozi among the Shona and the biblical teaching of spirits that manifest as those of the dead is examined. The outcome of this interaction leads to a proposal on practical guidelines for helping those affected by ngozi crisis and preventing a continuation of the crisis in the present and future Shona generations. / Thesis (M.A. Theology (Pastoral Studies)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This study is a biblical evaluation of avenging spirits (ngozi) among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It investigates the Shona understanding of ngozi, the biblical teaching on the spirits that manifest as those of the dead and how the church in Zimbabwe can effectively respond to the ngozi crisis with a pastoral care that is biblically informed and in a practically effective way. The study commences with an evaluation of the biblical teaching on the communication of the living with the dead. This is followed by other related questions to the subject such as the biblical teaching on vengeance for murder and the identity of the spirits that manifest as those of the dead. The Shona traditional understanding of ngozi is examined, giving attention to its types and the way the traditional Shona and the church in Zimbabwe currently address the ngozi crisis. Additionally, the interaction between the belief in ngozi among the Shona and the biblical teaching of spirits that manifest as those of the dead is examined. The outcome of this interaction leads to a proposal on practical guidelines for helping those affected by ngozi crisis and preventing a continuation of the crisis in the present and future Shona generations. / Thesis (M.A. Theology (Pastoral Studies)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 284-289).

Diss.--Philosophische Fakultät--München--Kudwig-Maximilians-Universität, 1999. / Bibliogr. p. 472-499.

This dissertation investigates the extent and type of influence the Shona folktale has had on the writing of the Shona novel. Of particular interest is how much influence the folktale has had on the early writers of Shona novels as compared to the modern writers. The study investigates folktale influence on the development of plot, setting and characterisation in targeted novels. With regard to the development of plot, the study focuses on folktale influence on the following aspects; the exposition, complication, climax and resolution. Looking at setting, the study investigates folktale influence on setting as place, time or social circumstances in which the stories happen. The study also investigates the type of characters the novelists portray and seek to detect any folktale influence on characterisation. / African Languages and Literature / Thesis (M.A.)

No description available.

This thesis is a critical examination of patterns of research in the academic study of Shona traditional religion, with special reference to methodological considerations. I analyse the methods and approaches used so far by prominent writers in the study of Zimbabwe's Shona traditional religion so that we may be able to develop better ways of researching it. I then discuss ways that ought to inform and direct the research methods that are most likely to yield adequate empirical studies of the Shona people. I analyse works of the "early writers", as well as those of Michael Gelfand, Gordon Chavunduka and Michael Bourdillon. Where relevant, I explore the connection between the researchers' religious, cultural, academic or professional "baggage" and how this relates to their research. Discussing methodological issues such as: the "insider-outsider" question, the "emic-etic" issue, value-judgment as well as the questions of reductionism, "subjectivity" and "objectivity" in scholarship, I examine these writers' attitudes to, and the ways they wrote about Shona traditional religion and cultural practices. I assess their approaches and research methods in relation to those from various disciplines such as history, phenomenology, theology, anthropology and participant observation. I analyse the extent to which these writers, for example, utilised the historical approach or presented insider perspectives in an endeavour to reach an adequate and thorough understanding of Shona religion and culture. In view of the fact that Shona traditional religion is a polyvalent and polymorphic community religion, I argue that no one approach and method can be said to be "the" only method so as to attain a comprehensive understanding of the meanings veiled in Shona religion and culture. Furthermore, given the nature of Shona traditional religion, it is essential for researchers to exploit as much of oral history as possible. Thus, researchers also need to learn the Shona language, live in the community for a long period of time, attend and observe every bit of Shona life so as to see, hear and understand how these phenomena fit together. It is suggested that methodological conversion and agnostic restraint need to be forged into a multi-disciplinary and poly-methodic science of religion in the quest of a research model to be used in order to attain a better understanding of Shona religion, culture and society. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.