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Offering a unique and original perspective on the rise and fall of indigenous states of southern Zambezia, "The Zimbabwe Culture" analyzes the long contentious history of the remains of the remarkable cyclopean masonry, ranging from mighty capitals of traditional kings to humble farmsteads. Forming a cornerstone of the geographical lore of Africa in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, debate on the origins, development, and collapse of the Zimbabwe culture has never ceased, and with increasing archaeological research over the twentieth century, has become more complex. Thoroughly examining the growth and decline of pre-colonial states on the entire Zimbabwean Plateau and southern Zambezia, Dr. Pikirayi has contributed tremendously towards the archaeological understanding of this extraordinary culture. "The Zimbabwe Culture" is essential reading for all students and avocationalists of African archaeology, history, and culture. ... Read more

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Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, won its independence from Great Britain in 1980 yet continues to feel the impact of Western lifestyles and prejudices. This rich, accessible overview freshly examines Zimbabwe, evoking the contemporary ways of life in a largely homogenous and agricultural country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

worth reading, but real limitations
I'm always astounded at the prices for books in this series, they seems excessive and inexplicable.

The issues I had with this particular book were as follows:

1) There is repetitious text - identical info repeated

2) The section on gender seems to want to argue from the start that women are equal.They cite the Mugabe divorce law as evidence - clearly they haven't read the law. It has severe limitations, ie allowing traditional custom to override this statute in regards to women's rights to inherit property on divorce.And having just spent 10 days in rural Eastern Zimbabwe, it's clear that rural women don't have equal rights. The urban situation is much more equal.

3) The book doesn't provide any info on cultural or behavorial taboos or positive behaviors to recognize/emulate, ieg clapping in a certain manner (different for men and women) to show respect.One is left with no info on appropriate or inappropriate behaviors.

4) In discussing music in Zimbabwe, the book makes no mention of the HIV/AIDS awareness songs one hears so prevalently in schools and military marches.

5) Finally, the book relies heavily on literature to draw societal conclusions, rather than direct observation.

So it's worth reading, but a very incomplete and insufficiently researched text and way overpriced.

Paul ... Read more

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Describes the geography, history, government, economy, and culture of Zimbabwe. ... Read more

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Zimbabwe is a newly independent southern African country having gained political independence from Great Britain almost three decades ago. The country is still going through a process of political, economic and socio-cultural change as it attempts to shed some of its colonial traditions and embrace a new postcolonial African identity. This book captures reflections of students caught up in that process as they struggle with issues central to development. These include how to balance traditional culture with the entrenched European culture in their education system, how to redress the racial imbalances inherited from the colonial past, and the lack of democracy and the role of the schools in the process of social change. The students highlight their hopes and frustrations in trying to preserve their traditional culture and in reconceptualising their own African identity through an education system which has been criticised for creating an Europeanized African elite whose relationship to their indigenous cultural heritage becomes petrified in the very process of that education.The student voices in this collection raise more questions than answers, questions which all newly independent African governments must ultimately address in order to promote sustainable development premised on equality, democracy, and reaffirmation of African cultural heritage. The concerns expressed in this work bridge continents and cultures and speak directly to students in the United States who are struggling to understand their relationship to the global community. We hear voices in this collection that are full of the hope and the promise, which is the future of Zimbabwe and indeed the entire African continent. The principal audience for this book is students, scholars and researchers in the fields of postcolonial and subaltern studies, International affairs, African studies, education and the humanities. The book gives scholars and researchers new raw data to help find answers to questions and issues of African development and education. ... Read more

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This study examines the historical development and social, political and economic significance of gospel music in Zimbabwe. It approaches music with Christian theological ideas and popular appeal as a cultural phenomenon with manifold implications. Applying a history of religions approach to the study of a widespread religious phenomenon, the study seeks to link religious studies with popular culture. This study also seeks to bring to the fore the long-standing issue of the relationship between Christianity and African culture along with the neglected theme of music and the construction of religious and other identities. ... Read more

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General Series In Anthropology, No. 8. ... Read more

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The Matopos Hills of Zimbabwe have been occupied by humanity for some 40,000 years. They are the home for a number of shrines, and have become a scene of symbolic, ideological, political and armed conflict between the Shona, Ndebele and Europeans for more than 100 years. Many questions in Matopos history are crucial to the history of Matabeleland as a whole, and some central to the history of Zimbabwe: the right relationship of men and women to the land; the nature of culture; the dynamics of ethnicity; the roots of dissidence and violence; and the historical bases of underdevelopment.BR> North America: Indiana U Press; Zimbabwe: Baobab ... Read more

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Occupied by humanity for some 40,000 years, the Matopos Hills in Zimbabwehave become the scene of symbolic, ideological and armed conflict over the last hundred years. Voices from the Rocks is about landscape, religion, conservation, political symbolism, and war in the Matopos Hills - not simply the geography of the National Park there, which is seen by most visitors as a "wild place." This book reinstates culture and history into nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A walk through a compelling landscape
Professor Ranger's latest work was one I could not put down. He tells a story which binds you to the place and the people who live there. The individuals and peoples -- of several tribes, African and European -- whichpopulate his book have a vital attachment to their granite hills,and it'sfascinating to see that attachment bring them together and divide them.Ranger shows us how complex the reality of inter-ethnic relations are; wesee different attitudes toward nature and history be shared or not sharedacross ethnic and racial boundaries. Cecil Rhodes lives on through thisbook,and surprisingly,as much more complex than simply a greedyimperialist;after reading this book I can understand better why there's ahuge Zimbabwean defense of keeping his body at World's End in the Matopos. This book is a detailed living escape from political history and athought-provoking study of history and philosophy of nature. ... Read more

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Zimbabwe has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners.This report puts these executives on the fast track.Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources).Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given. ... Read more

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The Urban Roots of Democracy and Political Violence in Zimbabwe details a democratic tradition developed in the 1940s and 1950s, and a movement that would fall victim to an increasingly elitist and divisive political culture by the 1960s. Providing biographical sketches of key personalities within the genealogy of nationalist politics, Timothy Scarnecchia weaves an intricate narrative that traces the trajectories of earlier democratic traditions in Zimbabwe, including women's political movements, township organizations, and trade unions. This work suggests that intense rivalries for control of the nationalist leadership after 1960, the "sell-out" politics of that period, and Cold War funding for rival groups contributed to a unique political impasse, ultimately resulting in the largely autocratic and violent political state today. The author further proposes that this recourse to political violence, "top-down" nationalism, and the abandonment of urban democratic traditions are all hallmarks of a particular type of nationalism equally unsustainable in Zimbabwe then as it is now. ... Read more

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This book traces how black people's culture - ideas, beliefs and struggles - has expressed itself through song theatre, poetry, film, TV, and other oral cultural modes. It assesses to what extent orality has been subverted to serve dominant colonial and conservative culture, and conversely, the role it has played in resisting these interests. Some individual studies are on: oral forms in Ndebele's poetry; orality in Shona religious rituals; theatre in post-independence Zimbabwe; popular songs and social realities in Africa and images of black women in these songs; the development of unwritten ethical and moral values; film making in Zimbabwe; TV representation of blacks in post-independence Zimbabwe; and the role of orature in the nationalist struggle in Zimbabwe. ... Read more

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In the context of AIDS and a declining economy, one strategy for children to ensure their own livelihood is to engage in domestic employment. Here, Michael Bourdillon presents the findings of research based on interviews and discussions with child domestic workers in Zimbabwe. It looks at the circumstances that pushed theminto employment, the hardships and humiliations they face therein, as well as the benefits they derive, including, in some cases, education. Most children wanted improvements in their living and working conditions. They did not want to be stopped from working, perceiving that this would worsen their already harsh lives. While child domestic wok is problematic, and often lays children open to various types of abuse, it can also offer critical support and patronage to very disadvantaged children. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from International Bulletin of Missionary Research, published by Overseas Ministries Study Center on April 1, 2001. The length of the article is 2037 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Transfigured Night: Mission and Culture in Zimbabwe's Vigil Movement.(Review)(Brief Article)
Author: Norman E. Thomas
Publication: International Bulletin of Missionary Research (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2001
Publisher: Overseas Ministries Study Center
Volume: 25Issue: 2Page: 91

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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Volume 4 of four. ... Read more