DOCSLIB.ORG

Traditional Custodianship of Rock Art Sites in Southern Africa: a Case Study from Central Mozambique

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Traditional Custodianship of Rock Art Sites in Southern Africa: a Case Study from Central Mozambique TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANSHIP OF ROCK ART SITES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: A CASE STUDY FROM CENTRAL MOZAMBIQUE By Albino Pereira de Jesus Jopela Student No: 0718659T A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Masters of Arts (Rock Art Studies) September, 2010 i Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. v Declaration ................................................................................................................................................... vi Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... viii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ ix 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Statement of research problem ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Research aim and objectives ............................................................................................................. 3 1.3. Rationale ............................................................................................................................................ 4 1.4. Outline of chapters ............................................................................................................................ 5 2. APPROACHES TO HERITAGE MANAGEMENT: TERMINOLOGY, THEORY AND PRACTICE .......................... 6 3. SETTING THE SCENE: THE VCL AND ROCK ART MANAGEMENT IN MOZAMBIQUE ................................ 23 3.1. The VCL ............................................................................................................................................ 23 3.2. The Archaeological background of the area .................................................................................... 30 3.3. A Brief History of Rock Art Management in Mozambique .............................................................. 35 4. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES AND DATA ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 40 4.1. Methods ........................................................................................................................................... 40 4.1.1. Desktop survey ......................................................................................................................... 40 4.1.2. Case study ................................................................................................................................ 41 4.1.3. Interviews ................................................................................................................................. 42 4.1.4. Fieldwork .................................................................................................................................. 45 4.2. Data Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 47 4.2.1. Sacred places in the VCL ........................................................................................................... 47 4.2.2. Local practices related to rock art sites ................................................................................... 53 4.2.3. Rules and institutions concerning the use of, and access to rock art sites .............................. 54 4.3. Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 62 5. TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANSHIP AT THE VCL ........................................................................................... 64 5.1. The Shona worldview ...................................................................................................................... 64 ii 5.1.1. Implications for the management of heritage places .............................................................. 68 5.2. Uses of rock art sites in the VCL. ..................................................................................................... 70 5.2.1. The role of rain-control in managing natural and cultural resources ...................................... 76 5.3. The role of the traditional authority in heritage management ....................................................... 79 5.3.1 Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 87 5.3.2. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 98 6. TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANSHIP SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA ......................................................... 100 6.1. Case studies ................................................................................................................................... 101 6.1.1. Matobo Hills World Heritage Site .......................................................................................... 101 6.1.2. Chongoni Rock Art Area ......................................................................................................... 108 6.2. Lessons learnt from the case studies ............................................................................................ 112 7. THE WAY FORWARD: AN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HERITAGE IN MOZAMBIQUE ... 121 7.1. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 126 8. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 129 9. APPENDIX 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 143 iii List of Figures Figure 1: The Vumba Moutain Range ......................................................................................................... 23 Figure 2: Map showing the location of the VCL .......................................................................................... 25 Figure 3: Chinhamapere Hill ........................................................................................................................ 25 Figure 4: Chinhamapere I rock art panel showing human, animals and anthropomorphs figures ............ 26 Figure 5: Scenes of human groups at Chinhamapere I rock art panel ........................................................ 27 Figure 6: The Location of Moucondihwa rock shelter on the Guidingue Hill ............................................. 28 Figure 7: Bantu-speaker rock art tradition at Moucondihwa shelter ......................................................... 29 Figure 8: Local community knowledge of sacred places in the VCL ........................................................... 48 Figure 9: Type of sacred sites in the VLC .................................................................................................... 49 Figure 10: The reasons given for why places are considered sacred .......................................................... 50 Figure 11: Question asked to investigate the relationship between rock art sites and sacred places....... 52 Figure 12: Activities at rock art sites ........................................................................................................... 53 Figure 13: Prevalence of rules governing access and use of sacred places ................................................ 55 Figure 14: Responsibility over the protection of sacred places .................................................................. 57 Figure 15: Compliance with the rules regarding access to sacred places ................................................... 58 Figure 16: Non-compliance with the rules regarding to sacred places ...................................................... 60 Figure 17: Reason for respecting and protecting sacred places ................................................................. 61 Figure 18: The continuous effects of deforestation at Chinhamapere Hill in 2002 .................................... 69 Figure 19: Rain-control ceremony at the foothill of Chinhamapere ........................................................... 74 Figure 20: Mbeya Gondo approaching the ancestors at Chinhamapere I rock art site .............................. 75 Figure 21: Political structure of traditional authority in Manica District .................................................... 87 Figure 22: Mambo Chirara (in brown uniform) during the rain-control ritual in the Guidengue area ...... 95 Figure 23: Map showing the VCL in relation to other case studies in Southern Africa ..........................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Culture and Customs of Zimbabwe 6596D FM UG 9/20/02 5:33 PM Page Ii
    6596D FM UG 9/20/02 5:33 PM Page i Culture and Customs of Zimbabwe 6596D FM UG 9/20/02 5:33 PM Page ii Recent Titles in Culture and Customs of Africa Culture and Customs of Nigeria Toyin Falola Culture and Customs of Somalia Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi Culture and Customs of the Congo Tshilemalema Mukenge Culture and Customs of Ghana Steven J. Salm and Toyin Falola Culture and Customs of Egypt Molefi Kete Asante 6596D FM UG 9/20/02 5:33 PM Page iii Culture and Customs of Zimbabwe Oyekan Owomoyela Culture and Customs of Africa Toyin Falola, Series Editor GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London 6596D FM UG 9/20/02 5:33 PM Page iv Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Owomoyela, Oyekan. Culture and customs of Zimbabwe / Oyekan Owomoyela. p. cm.—(Culture and customs of Africa, ISSN 1530–8367) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–31583–3 (alk. paper) 1. Zimbabwe—Social life and customs. 2. Zimbabwe—Civilization. I. Title. II. Series. DT2908.O86 2002 968.91—dc21 2001055647 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2002 by Oyekan Owomoyela All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001055647 ISBN: 0–313–31583–3 ISSN: 1530–8367 First published in 2002 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
    [Show full text]
  • Rhodesiana Volume 29
    1948 The Standard Bank Limited, Victoria Falls 1973 THOMAS MEIKLE, 1864-1939 The founder of the Meikle Organisation sailed from Scotland with his parents in 1869. The family settled in Natal where Thomas and his brothers John and Stewart gained their first farming ex­ perience. In 1892 the three brothers set off for Rhodesia with eight ox- wagons. Three months later they had completed the 700 mile trek to Fort Victoria. Here they opened a store made of whiskey cases and roofed over with the tarpaulins that had covered their wagons. Progress was at first slow, nevertheless, branches were opened in Salisbury in 1893, Bulawayo and Gwelo in 1894, and in Umtali in 1897. From these small beginnings a vast network of stores, hotels, farms, mines and auxilliary undertakings was built up. These ventures culminated in the formation of the Thomas Meikle Trust and Investment Company in 1933. The success of these many enterprises was mainly due to Thomas Meikle's foresight and his business acumen, coupled with his ability to judge character and gather around him a loyal and efficient staff. His great pioneering spirit lives on: today the Meikle Organisation is still playing an important part in the development of Rhodesia. THOMAS MEIKLE TRUST AND INVESTMENT CO. (PVT.) LIMITED. Travel Centre Stanley Avenue P.O. Box 3578 Salisbury i ii iii iv V vi RHODESIANA Publication No. 29 — December, 1973 THE RHODESIANA SOCIETY Salisbury Rhodesia vii Edited by W. V. BRELSFORD Assisted by E. E. BURKE Copyright is reserved by the Society Authors are responsible for their own opinions and for the accuracy of statements they make.
    [Show full text]
  • In Search of the Understanding of the Old Testament in Africa: the Case of the Lemba
    IN SEARCH OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF THE LEMBA by MAGDEL LE ROUX submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY in the subject BIBLICAL STUDIES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF E H SCHEFFLER NOVEMBER 1999 Contemporary (1964) Ethiopian painting on cloth depicting how the Queen ofSheba journeyed to King Solomon by boat accompanied by her retinue (Photo: Kessler 1982) - 'WE CAME BY BOAT TO AFRICA .. .' CA LEMBA TRADITION) 'Solomon sent his ships to get gold from Ophir ... Some ofthe Jews who went on those boats stayed in Africa. That is the origin ofthe Lemba' (cfpp 155,156) CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUMMARY MAPS CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ~ 1.1 HISTORY OF THE PROJECT . 1 1.2 METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................ 3 I~ 1.2.1 Qualitative research methods . 3 1.2.l.l The phenomenological perspective . 4 1.2.1.2 Participant observation . 5 1.2.1.3 Jn-depth interviewing . 6 1.2.1.4 The interview guide . 6 1.2.2 Processing and interpretation . 7 1.2.3 Conclusion ~··~ . 8 1.3 THE PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS .................... 8 1.3.1 The purpose of the thesis . 8 1.3.2 Limitations and delimitations of this project: the structure of the thesis . 11 CHAPTER TWO VARIOUS RECEPTIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN AFRICA: SOME OBSERVATIONS 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................ 14 2.2 OSTENSIBLE REASONS FOR 'RELIGIOUS SHIFTS' WORLD-WIDE . 17 2.3 'JUDAISING' MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA . 19 2.3.1 Groups upon whom the idea of Jewishness was imposed ................
    [Show full text]
  • Teaching Chishona in Zimbabwe: a Curriculum Analysis Approach
    Teaching Chishona in Zimbabwe: A Curriculum Analysis Approach by Tafara Mufanechiya [email protected] Teacher Development Department, Great Zimbabwe University & Albert Mufanechiya [email protected] Curriculum Studies Department, Great Zimbabwe University Abstract ChiShona is spoken by many in Zimbabwe, thus the purpose of this paper is to outline the history of the language Chishona and the justification for teaching it as a part of the Zimbabwean school curriculum via a focus on language standardisation and harmonisation, and the challenges in the teaching ChiShona. Historical Background of ChiShona There are several dimensions as to where the word ‘ChiShona’ came from. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica (1980: 163) the Shona “are a group of culturally similar Bantu- speaking tribes of Negroid-Armenoid origin, numbering someone million in the 1960s”. Mutswairo (1996) says that the so called ‘Shona’ are ‘Mbire’ and not Shona. The ancestors of the Mbire were part of the general Negroid population that was later called Bantu by a number of European linguists who had undertaken studies in African languages. Beach, in Mutswairo (1996) states that some place this migration between 300 and 200 B.C. and that by between 500 and 300 B.C. the Black people had filled the entire sub- region as far south as the Eastern Cape. Mutswairo (1996: 8) says, “This migration forms part of the general pattern that includes the ancestors of the Mbire from Guruuswa; now referred to as the Shona”. 35 The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.8, no.8, November 2015 When Europeans came into this region in 1890, they identified two districts, namely Mashonaland and Matebeleland.
    [Show full text]
  • Rebirth of Bukalanga: a Manifesto for the Liberation of a Great People with a Proud History Part I
    THE REBIRTH OF BUKALANGA A Manifesto for the Liberation of a Great People with a Proud History Part I NDZIMU-UNAMI EMMANUEL 2 The Rebirth of Bukalanga: A Manifesto for the Liberation of a Great People with a Proud History Part I ISBN: 978 0 7974 4968 8 ©Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel, 2012 Facebook: Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Email: [email protected] Twitter: NdzimuEmmanuel Website: http://www.ndzimuunami.blogspot.com Published by Maphungubgwe News Corporation Language Editing and Proof-reading Pathisa Nyathi Bheki J. Ncube Cover Design Greg Sibanda, Tadbagn Designs All rights reserved. Not more than one chapter of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior permission in writing of the author or publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. 3 About the author Born on 29 March 1982 in Bulawayo and raised by his grandparents in the District of Bulilima-Mangwe, Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo completed his primary and secondary education at Tokwana Primary and Secondary Schools. He later completed a Diploma in Personnel Management graduating with Distinction with the Institute of People Management (IPMZ). Moyo later entered the Theological College of Zimbabwe (TCZ) in Bulawayo where he majored in reading Theology and Philosophy, dropping out of the College after one-and-a-half- years. Between the time of his finishing of the GCE Ordinary Level in 1999 and publishing this book in 2012, Moyo worked for the Zimbabwe postal service, Zimbabwe Posts, and the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim) in his home town of Plumtree.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapungubwe and the Origins of the Zimbabwe Culture Author(S): Thomas N
    South African Archaeological Society Mapungubwe and the Origins of the Zimbabwe Culture Author(s): Thomas N. Huffman Source: Goodwin Series, Vol. 8, African Naissance: The Limpopo Valley 1000 Years Ago (Dec., 2000), pp. 14-29 Published by: South African Archaeological Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3858043 Accessed: 29-08-2017 14:34 UTC JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms South African Archaeological Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Goodwin Series This content downloaded from 196.42.88.36 on Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:34:12 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 14 South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8: 14-29, 2000 MAPUNGUBWE AND THE ORIGINS OF THE ZIMBABWE CULTURE* THOMAS N. HUFFMAN Department of Archaeology University ofthe Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 E-mail: 107arcl(dlcosmos. wits. ac.za ABSTRACT Advances in the calibration of radiocarbon dates (Vogel et al 1993) in particular have resolved critical chronological Class distinction and sacred leadership characterised issues. The the Zimbabwe culture sequence can now be divided Zimbabwe culture, the most complex society in precolonial into three periods, each named after important capitals: southern Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • A Systematics for Interpreting Past Structures with Possible Cosmic References in Sub-Saharan Africa
    A SYSTEMATICS FOR INTERPRETING PAST STRUCTURES WITH POSSIBLE COSMIC REFERENCES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Richard Peter Wade MASTERS THESIS MSc:: Applliied Sciiences Uniiversiity of Pretoriia © University of Pretoria 2 MASTER OF SCIENCE THESIS Submiitted as part of the requiirements for the degree of Masters of Sciience in Applliied Sciiences.. Facullty of Engiineeriing,, Buiillt Enviironment and Informatiion Technollogy – In the Department Archiitecture at Uniiversiity of Pretoriia Supervisors – Prof Gwen Theron (Superviisor) Prof Roger Fiisher (Co-Superviisor) Prof Karll Bakker (Head of Department) External – Prof Clliive Rugglles (UK) Prof Chriis van Vuuren (SA) Richard Peter Wade Uniiversiity of Pretoriia January 2009 3 Acknowledgements I am grateful to all my acquain tances, and family for their kind assistance throughout the many yea rs of researching the impossible. Many years were spen t in rural and urban settings with meager resources to achieve a better understanding of how the universe works. Perhaps this contribution can be applied to a better purpose for a beneficial future by resurrec ting tested lifestyles and emulating the past successes. To the follow ing, a special heartfelt thank you for so much: - Professors Gwen Theron, Roger Fisher, Ora Joubert, Chris van Vuuren, Hann es Eloff, Stanley Liftschitz, Aeneas Chigwedere, Felix Chami, Hannes Rautenbach, Karel Bakker, Victor Ralushai, Dave Laney, Alex Duffey, Andre De Villiers, M. E. R. Mathivha, Jean-Pierre Delaporte, Mathole Motshekga, Bradley Schaefer, Anthony Aveni, E C
    [Show full text]
  • BY C2009 Joy L Wrolson Submitted to the Graduate Degree Program In
    RE-INVENTING MEMORY AND REFORMING PERFORMANCES: A GENEALOGY OF PANIC THEATRE IN ZIMBABWE BY C2009 Joy L Wrolson Submitted to the graduate degree program in Theatre and Film and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson* ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ Date Defended________________________________ The Dissertation Committee for Joy L Wrolson certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: RE-INVENTING MEMORY AND REFORMING PERFORMANCES: A GENEALOGY OF PANIC THEATRE IN ZIMBABWE Committee: ________________________________ Chairperson* _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Date approved:_______________________ ii Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. vi Glossary .................................................................................................................................. vii Acronyms ................................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1:
    [Show full text]
  • The Categorical Status and Functions of Auxiliaries in Shona
    THE CATEGORICAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONS OF AUXILIARIES IN SHONA By Nhira Edgar Mberi A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBAMBWE IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, JUNE, 2002 SUPERVISORS: PROFESSOR ROLF THEIL ENDRESEN PROFESSOR HERBERT CHIMHUNDU Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 7 Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 9 Figures and Tables ......................................................................................................... 11 Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ 13 Pfupiso yezviri muchinyorwa chino ............................................................................... 15 CHAPTER ONE 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 19 1.1 Th e aim of the present study ..................................................................................... 19 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................ 20 1.3 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 21 1.4 Shona as a Bantu language......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Bhuba: a Paternally Inherited Jewish Priesthood in Southern Africa?
    ISSN 1018-9556=Ekklesiastikos Pharos 92 (2010) N.S. 21 THE BHUBA: A PATERNALLY INHERITED JEWISH PRIESTHOOD IN SOUTHERN AFRICA? Magdel le Roux University of South Africa Abstract The recently much publicised genetic results of the Lemba placed the Lemba of Southern Africa in the spotlight (Thomas et al 1998; 2000; Soodyall 2010). From DNA samples, taken specifically from the Bhuba, the priestly family of the Lemba, a very close relation has emerged between them (the Bhuba) and those of the Cohanim (priesthood) in Israel and all over the world. Much has been written about the Lemba, but very little about their priestly family, the Bhuba, who show 53% presence of the CMH (Cohen Modal Haplotype). Are there any remnants of the ancient priesthood still to be found among the Bhuba? Scanty information is available about the Bhuba and we therefore need to rely heavily on oral traditions of the Bhuba collected during a recent field study mainly in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces (specifically in the Phusela and Sekwamokgope areas). To my knowledge the oral traditions of specifically the Bhuba have never been recorded in these areas before. Utilising written sources, oral traditions, archaeology, genetics, linguistics, ethnography, musicology, art, botany and other techniques brings respect and maturity to the field of African historiography, which has been at the cutting edge of methodological innovation (Lord 1991). But to use such a diverse methodology has also brought controversy, particularly regarding oral traditions, not to mention genetic results. 286 1. Introduction The recently much publicised genetic results of the Lemba put the Lemba1 of Southern Africa in the spotlight (Thomas et al 1998; 2000; Sooyall 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • The Miracle of Lundi Mission in Zimbabwe
    1 Photo by Jonathan Houser TRIBUTE TO HAPPYSON WILLIAM MATSILELE CHAUKE 1952 - 2009 Tillman Houser It is not often that men meet great men that influence their lives. Happyson Chauke was one of those in my life. Born and reared in a humble home near Lundi Mission in Zimbabwe, he never flaunted his royal ancestry. My wife and I spent thirty-five years as missionaries in Zimbabwe with our first assignment at Lundi Mission. Our two sons played with Happyson while learning his language. Happyson attended the local primary school and secondary school managed by the missionaries. Later on he returned to teach in 1976 at Lundi Mission. Missionaries were evacuated from the mission because of the danger in the area of the guerilla-type warfare when the Africans struggled to gain their independence. In the 1990s, while staying with Happyson’s family at their home in Harare, he told me that he had documented the events that had occurred at Lundi Mission in the four years until independence in 1980. I asked him to send me the account as well as other papers he had written. I immediately saw their high quality and sensed the importance of preserving them. Certainly they should be published for readers worldwide. That is the reason I have compiled the documents into the following book format. Which leads me to the observation I have often made of the distinctive qualities I have seen in those of royal blood. There was displayed a characteristic fineness in the life of Happyson. I saw pride accompanied by a natural humility in his relationships toward others.
    [Show full text]
  • Belonging: the Music and Lives of Black Zimbabwean Jews
    Belonging: The Music and Lives of Black Zimbabwean Jews A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Fine Arts of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Lior D. Shragg May 2020 © 2020 Lior D. Shragg. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled Belonging: The Music and Lives of Black Zimbabwean Jews by LIOR D. SHRAGG has been approved for Interdisciplinary Arts and the College of Fine Arts by Garrett M. Field Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts Matthew R. Shaftel Dean, College of Fine Arts 3 Abstract SHRAGG, LIOR D., Ph.D., May 2020, Interdisciplinary Arts Belonging: The Music and Lives of Black Zimbabwean Jews Director of Dissertation: Garrett M. Field This dissertation examines the role music plays in performances of religious devotion and the construction of social identity of Lemba and Rusape Jewish communities in Zimbabwe. A study of the musical practices of Lemba Jews reveals a combination of local music styles with Hebrew text to create a new genre of Jewish liturgical music. In contrast, composers of the Rusape Jewish community create new music for worship in the vernacular dialect while similarly incorporating local music practices. This document offers ethnographic reflections and data on the ongoing efforts of both Lemba and Rusape Jewish communities as they continue their efforts to develop new Jewish music as observed during fieldwork conducted in the cities of Harare, Mapakomere, Masvingo and Rusape in 2019. Black Zimbabwean Jewish identity is a component of a complex constellation of characteristics for both Lemba and Rusape Jews and this research explores how members of these communities use this new music to instigate a rejuvenated sense of identity and build bridges to other Jews internationally.
    [Show full text]