The social history of Bulawayo through the eyes of Lovemore Majaivana.

Abstract

The study analyses the social history of Bulawayo through the eyes of Majaivana in six selected songs of the album, ‘The Best of Majaivana’. The study examines the life style of Bulawayo people especially from Matabeleland and parts of Midlands as depicted in the selected songs. The researcher used textual analysis. Popular culture theory is used in this research. The study analysed the representation of the social history of Bulawayo in the album the ‘Best of Majaivana’ and looked at how the identity of Ndebeles is reflected in the songs. There are different scholars who researched on the social history of towns and cities; however they did not focus on the social history of Bulawayo as depicted in Lovemore Tshuma’s songs. In conclusion, Majaivana’s selected songs capture the lifestyle, challenges and expectations of Bulawayo people. Majaivana, as a musician is a historian as he captures history of Bulawayo in song. All issues that concern people from Bulawayo are tackled in Majaivana’s songs. His songs are a social commentary a celebration of positive experiences as well as critiques of negative experiences.