Kaayanda musical arts for the installation of Shangwe chiefs : an epistemological, gendered, symbolic, interpretive, community-state model of sustaining tangible and intangible heritage in Zimbabwe

Abstract

UNESCO Convention of 2003, calls for the preservation of heritage and empowerment of rural communities. The thesis investigates the installation of Shangwe chiefs in the districts of Gokwe North and South in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. Chinyamusasure/kayanda musical arts for the installation of chiefs faces possibilities of extinction if solutions of sustainability are not sought to address this dilemma. Besides, the installation ceremonies mirror the participation of the State that conflicts with the indigenous ways of conducting such rituals. The thesis aims to demonstrate how the Community and State participations in the installation ceremony would sustain tangible and intangible musical heritage inherent in the rituals for the benefit of future generations. The qualitative approach was adopted to gather data through participation-observation and tape recording of interviews. This study establishes that: a) The colonial model which was adopted by the post - independent Zimbabwean government violated the indigenous model of installing chiefs that had a succession plan which advocated peace and sanity among the indigenes; b) Chieftainship was a male position because of cultural beliefs; c) Fighting for chieftainship is a common phenomenon although it is not a cultural norm of the Shangwe. The physical and nonphysical fighting for chieftainship depicted in some of the installation songs is a way of trying to correct and restore the legacy being enjoyed by non deserving households that benefited through manipulation of the indigenous model of installing chiefs by the colonial regime that was once in charge of the state; d) The Shangwe indigenous installation model cherished the ethos of peace, stability, and familyhood regardless of the nonphysical fighting that typified some of the installation songs; e) Chiefs experience challenges in promoting the preservation of their musical heritage for the benefit of future generations; f) The musical arts for the installation of chiefs face challenges of extinction if solutions of sustainability are not sought; g) There were no community libraries for archiving, promotion, and preservation of musical arts heritage for the benefit of future generations. It is recommended that the State should embark on programmes for documenting a succession plan for each ethnic group to avoid cases where the indigenes fight for chieftainship each time the need for selection and installation of a chief arises. Furthermore, it is suggested that the State should spearhead programmes on reversing chieftainships that were manipulated by colonial masters in order for deserving indigenes to inherit their rightful legacies. The Zimbabwean government and its institutions of higher learning should spearhead the establishment of community libraries in designated areas set aside by chiefs that would be manned by trained local people.