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[1] The traditional music of the Ndebele is characterised mainly by the widespread use of choral song accompanied by leg rattles (amahlwayi), clappers (izikeyi) and clapping of hands. Compared with choral song, solo singing and purely instrumental music are of minor importance. Like the Shona, the Ndebele also use mouthbows (umqangala) and gourd-bows (icaco), played mostly for self-amusement.
There are many Ndebele songwriters and bands, mainly Zimbabwean artists, who have been heavily influenced by the Ndebele story telling ways.
One of the described Queens of Ndebele music is Nothembi Mkhwebane, who became an international star with her band The Siblings.
Most Ndebele musicians are merited for outstanding accomplishments in the music industry by Bulawayo Arts Awards. [3] [4]
The Gukurahundi was a series of mass killings in Zimbabwe which were committed from 1982 until the Unity Accord in 1987. The name derives from a Shona-language term which loosely translates to "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains".
Zimbabwean music is heavily reliant on the use of instruments such as the mbira, Ngoma drums and hosho. Their music symbolizes much more than a simple rhythm, as the folk and pop style styled music was used as a symbol of hope for Zimbabweans looking to gain independence from Rhodesia. Music has played a significant role in the history of Zimbabwe, from a vital role in the traditional Bira ceremony used to call on ancestral spirits, to protest songs during the struggle for independence. The community in Zimbabwe used music to voice their resistance to their oppression, as one of the only weapons they had available to fight back with. In the eighties, the Music of Zimbabwe was at the center of the African Music scene thanks to genres such as Sungura and Jit. However, several performers were banned by state TV and radio leading to the closing of several music venues.
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council claimed it to be about 1.2 million. Bulawayo covers an area of 546 square kilometres in the western part of the country, along the Matsheumhlope River. Along with the capital Harare, Bulawayo is one of two cities in Zimbabwe that are also provinces.
Matabeleland is a region located in southwestern Zimbabwe that is divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers and are further separated from Midlands by the Shangani River in central Zimbabwe. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people who were called "Amatabele"(people with long spears – Mzilikazi 's group of people who were escaping the Mfecani wars). Other ethnic groups who inhabit parts of Matabeleland include the Tonga, Bakalanga, Venda, Nambya, Khoisan, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, and Tsonga.
The Northern Ndebele people are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. Significant populations of native speakers of the Northern Ndebele language (siNdebele) are found in Zimbabwe and in South Africa.
Barbourfields Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, home to Highlanders FC. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is owned by Bulawayo City Council and is home to Highlanders F.C., one of the biggest soccer teams in Zimbabwe. Soccer fans commonly refer to the stadium as "Emagumeni" meaning "our yard" in iSiNdebele. As of 2017, Barbourfields Stadium may be used as homeground to other football teams in and around Bulawayo including Bantu Rovers FC, How Mine FC and Chicken Inn FC, but mostly, when they play big teams. The stadium consists of four stands including the most famous ones; the Mpilo End, and, of course, the Soweto End. It has a capacity of 25,000 making it the third largest stadium in Zimbabwe after the National Sports Stadium (60,000). and Rufaro Stadium (35000)
Lovemore Tshuma, commonly known as Lovemore Majaivana is a Zimbabwean musician, arguably the most popular Ndebele singer, and by far the most prominent to have come out of Gweru. He earned the stage name 'Majaivana' for his exceptional dancing.
Many languages are spoken, or historically have been spoken, in Zimbabwe. Since the adoption of its 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa. The country's main languages are Shona, spoken by only 42% of the population, and Ndebele, spoken by roughly 39%. English is the country's lingua franca, used in government and business and as the main medium of instruction in schools. English is the first language of most white Zimbabweans, and is the second language of a majority of black Zimbabweans. Historically, a minority of white Zimbabweans spoke Afrikaans, Greek, Italian, Polish, and Portuguese, among other languages, while Gujarati and Hindi could be found amongst the country's Indian population. Deaf Zimbabweans commonly use one of several varieties of Zimbabwean Sign Language, with some using American Sign Language. Zimbabwean language data is based on estimates, as Zimbabwe has never conducted a census that enumerated people by language.
iThemba is a feature-length documentary film shot in Zimbabwe, directed and produced by Elinor Burkett and produced by Errol Webber, who also shot and edited the film. It premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in November 2010.
NoViolet Bulawayo is the pen name of Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, a Zimbabwean author. In 2012, the National Book Foundation named her a "5 under 35" honoree. She was named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2014. Her debut novel, We Need New Names, was shortlisted for the 2013 Booker Prize, and her second novel, Glory, was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, making her "the first Black African woman to appear on the Booker list twice".
Amakhosi Theatre Productions is a Zimbabwean theatre company based at the Amakhosi Township Square Cultural Centre in Makokoba township, Bulawayo. The company was established under its current name in 1981 by Cont Mhlanga, and has since become an influential cultural institution in Zimbabwe, playing a role not only in stimulating the performance arts scene, but also in examining critical issues in politics, health, women's rights and development with urban and rural communities through a method of active audience engagement.
The United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe belongs to the Reformed family of churches and was created by the work of the American Board of Foreign Missions of the United Church of Christ (USA). In 1893 they started work in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. The first mission stations were established in Mount Silinda and Chikore in 1895. The church had satellite congregations in Beacon Hills, Emerald Hill and Mziter. It became independent in 1977, and has experienced significant growth since then. Successful leaders were M. C. Kuchera and Dr F. J. Gomero.
Barbara Makhalisa, also known by her married name as Barbara Nkala, is a teacher, Zimbabwean writer, Ndebele translator, novelist, editor and publisher, one of the earliest female writers published in Zimbabwe. She is the author of several books written in Ndebele, as well as in English, of which some have been used as school textbooks. Barbara is married to Shadreck Nkala. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Skyz Metro FM is a commercial radio station based in the metropolitan province of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Edith Katiji, known professionally as Edith WeUtonga, is a Zimbabwean Afro-jazz and traditional music artist, bass guitarist, songwriter, actress and music teacher. She was born in Kadoma, which lies approximately 166 kilometres (103 mi), by road, southwest of Harare. Being of Malawi origin and growing up in Bulawayo she sings in four different languages mainly Shona, Chichewa, Ndebele and English. Her band is called Utonga which means dawn. She is one of only a few bass guitarists in Zimbabwe who is also a lead vocalist for a band. She also plays the acoustic guitar, mbira and drums.
Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts, a combination of Ndebele and English phrase which means Freedom of the Youth, officially known as IYASA, is a Zimbabwean arts institution which is based in Bulawayo, the second capital city of Zimbabwe.
Vusa Mkhaya, is a Zimbabwean singer and songwriter best known for being a member of the award winning vocal trio, Insingizi.
Sandra Ndebele is a Zimbabwean musician, dancer and actress.
Gundwane "Mkhaliphi" Ndiweni was a military leader and the first Paramount Chief of Matabeleland. He is credited for founding modern day Matabeleand and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. He set up the first of the four capitals, Gibxhegu around modern-day Bulawayo. He was also the maternal uncle of King Mzilikazi - a brother to the kings mother, Cikose Ndiweni. He is best known for leading King Mzilikazi's splinter group to settle in Matabeleland after they left Zululand. For military and security reasons, King Mzilikazi split his migrating kingdom into two. One group was led by himself and the other led by Gundwane Ndiweni. Ndiweni's group traveled through central Botswana arriving in the region now known as Matebeleland, near present-day Bulawayo. He appointed Prince Nkulumane, Mzilikali's son as the Prince, a role he served until Mzilikazi reunited with them. It is unclear what happened to him after 1836. His son Monyebe Ndiweni narrates that he died bravely in battle defending Mzilikazi. However, it is suggested by some historians that he was executed by Mzilikazi in 1836 along with other prominent leaders for treason due to this appointment and other rumored plots against the King. His own son was Monyebe Ndiweni, who was executed by Mzilikazi in 1862 for allegedly practicing witchcraft.