The indispensability of one's culture: Lessons from Oliver Mtukudzi's songs

Abstract

This chapter explores Oliver 'Tuku' Mtukudzi's reconstruction philosophy which is clearly conveyed in most of his songs. A reflective listening to his songs awakens the listener to the fact that the encounter between the African and Western cultures undermined the cultural identity and integrity of the African people, and Mtukudzi encourages people to retrace their footsteps back to their cultural identity. This chapter seeks to explore the cultural challenges and impositions that Zimbabweans have experienced due to the arrival of Western colonizers in 1890, and the cultural influences caused by Zimbabweans' subsequent migration to the Western countries. It also encourages the acquisition of intercultural competencies by Africans as one of the crucial solutions for redressing Africa's tattered, adulterated, dehumanized, and demonized cultural identities. Finally, the chapter acknowledges that Oliver Mtukudzi's reconstruction ideology can help to shed light on Africans' struggle to retrace their footsteps back to cultural home (Dande). For the purpose of illustration, the chapter analyzes seven purposively selected songs by Oliver Mtukudzi: Tsika Dzedu, 1999, Ndagarwa Nhaka, 2000, Sandi Bonde, 2000, Chengetai, 2001, Dzoka Uyamwe, 1998, Nyanga yeNzou , 2009, and Ndima Ndasakura, 1999. These songs have been chosen because they unambiguously reflect Mtukudzi's commitment to the agenda of cultural indispensability and reconstruction.