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. There is a sense of great pride and legacy amongst these communities and a desire to establish a connection to the outside Jewish world. Music is an important vessel in which they choose to perform their identity. I ask: how do these Jewish communities use music in the post-Mugabe era to express religious devotion, interact with neighboring ethnic groups, and establish different identities in Zimbabwe’s complex political landscape. 4 Dedication To my wife, Rebeccah Leah Singer 5 Acknowledgments The preparation, research, writing, and presentation of this project could not have been possible without the guidance and support of many people. Foremost, I thank my incredible family for all their support and encouragement. One could not ask for a more loving, helpful support system, and I realize how lucky I am. A special thank you is deserved for Rebeccah Singer, for the unquantifiable amount of time, love, and support given to me throughout this process, especially while I was away in Zimbabwe. We have an expression we use when we want to express gratitude: “I am eating my gratitouille.” Thanks to you, I am eternally full. I owe the greatest eternal appreciation and love to Dr. Garrett Field, for his continued guidance, mentorship, and advice. Over these past four years, you have been an incredible inspiration. This project would not exist without the enthusiastic cooperation and support of my Zimbabwean friends and teachers. While so many people in Zim assisted me with this project, these individuals were essential to this project: Modreck Maeresera, Dr. Rabson Wuriga, George Zvakavapano, Margaret Makuwaza, Brenda Maeresera, Hamlet Zhou, and Hosea Risinamhodzi. I owe an incredible amount of gratitude to my teachers and mentors who have helped mold both this project and my identity as a musician and scholar. Dr. Rich MacDonald, Dr. Paul Vance, Dr. Larry Price and Dr. Richard Hammergren at Winona State University helped me to think musically and outside the box and gave me the tools 6 to succeed in graduate school and the professional world. To Dr. Janet Sturman at the University of Arizona, thank you for taking a chance on me and providing a lifetime of mentorship and advice in just two short years. To my committee, Dr. Andrea Frohne, Dr. Richard Wetzel, and Rabbi Jeffrey A. Summit, thank you for your time, energy, and thoughtful insights into this project. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and study from each of you in many ways over the years. I would also like to thank the generous donors who supported my travels to Zimbabwe and my research. Without their support this project would not have been possible. Thank you to Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and the Ohio University Student Enhancement Award. 7 Table of Contents Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... 5 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 10 Jewish Life South of the Sahara .................................................................................. 11 Arriving in Zimbabwe ................................................................................................. 17 Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 20 A Brief Historical Outline ........................................................................................... 30 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 32 A Note On Kulanu and Other Jewish Organizations .................................................. 36 Chapter Outline ........................................................................................................... 42 A Note On Transcriptions ........................................................................................... 44 Chapter 2. The Lemba Jews .............................................................................................. 46 Biblical Origins and Diasporic Movements ................................................................ 46 Proof Phenomena and Oral Narratives ....................................................................... 48 The Theory of Dispersion ........................................................................................... 54 Profile of a Lemba Jewish Musician ........................................................................... 57 Musical Contributions to Social Identity .................................................................... 61 Musical Performance Practices ................................................................................... 80 Practices and Customs ................................................................................................ 84 Musical Analysis ......................................................................................................... 89 Chapter 3. Rusape Jews .................................................................................................. 104 Diaspora and History ................................................................................................ 105 Musical Contributions to Social Identity .................................................................. 112 Customs and Practices .............................................................................................. 115 Profile of a Rusape Jewish Musician ........................................................................ 119 Musical Performance Practices ................................................................................. 122 Musical Analysis ....................................................................................................... 128 Select Photographs from Fieldwork ................................................................................ 144 8 Chapter 4. Relationships and Neighbors ......................................................................... 153 Chapter 5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 166 References ....................................................................................................................... 169 9 List of Figures Figure 1. Koren Sacks Siddur and original Rusape Jewish Prayerbook ............................13 Figure 2. Map displaying Zimbabwe and its neighboring countries .................................15 Figure 3. Map displaying cities of Harare, Rusape, and Masvingo ...................................16 Figure 4. Map displaying Israel, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. .................................51 Figure 5. Hamlet Zhou in the Central Business District, Harare .......................................59 Figure 6. George Zvakavapano preparing for Shabbat services. .......................................63 Figure 7. Maeresera family on Shabbat afternoon. ............................................................67 Figure 8. Dr. Rabson Wuriga Outside Mapakomere .........................................................71 Figure 9. Backyard area of the Harare Lemba Synagogue. ...............................................81