KARIMBA: THE SHIFTING BOUNDARIES OF A SACRED TRADITION

In Zimbabwe, urban musicians and educators often perceive karimba as a category of relatively small mbira that are used for secular entertainment. This notion is strongly influenced by the prominence of the Kwanongoma mbira, or nyunga nyunga mbira, a 15-key karimba that was first popularized by the Kwanongoma College of Music in the 1960s. Despite a wealth of research, very little has been written about karimba traditions around the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border that are associated with traditional religious practices. In this article, the author focuses on a type of karimba with more than 20 keys that shares much of the same repertoire with matepe/madhebhe/hera music in Rushinga, Mutoko, and Mudzi Districts in Zimbabwe and nearby regions in Central Mozambique. The author explores the connections between innovations of the Kwanongoma mbira and karimba traditions in the Northeast with examples from the International Library of African Music archival collections and her own ethnographic research. This article provides a foundation upon which others may further conduct research on karimba music and suggests possible directions for incorporating these findings into educational contexts

JAZZ IN SERVICE OF THE STRUGGLE: THE NEW BRIGHTON STORY

This article contributes to the substantial body of publications on South African jazz with information on jazz performance and performers in New Brighton, a township adjacent to Port Elizabeth noted for its vibrant jazz scene and outstanding jazz musicians. The article covers several decades from the heyday of swing bands in the 1940s–50s through the 1960s–70s when New Brighton’s premier jazz combo, the Soul Jazzmen, were at the height of their artistry. The role of swing bands in New Brighton and surrounding communities as the training ground for members of the Soul Jazzmen and other local musicians of note is discussed, as well as how the Soul Jazzmen in turn were tutors for musicians of the next generation who became widely recognized artists, composers and arrangers. This is followed by a focus on the Soul Jazzmen and compositions by its members that protested against the apartheid regime in the 1960s–70s. The article is informed by historic photographs, newspaper clippings and information from oral history interviews that richly document how jazz was performed in service of the anti-apartheid struggle in New Brighton

Gerontology in and out of Africa

Some of the most exciting new gerontology globally is coming out of Africa. African gerontology has reached a stage in its development to earn it a respected and unique place in the global ageing arena. It is apt that it should be a part of the African renaissance, and is attracting a surge of interest and curlosity from gerontologists in numerous countries

Gender, ageing and empowerment: issues in contemporary African gerontology

“Empowerment” is a key concept in many contemporary endeavours, including social research and social action, its meaning may vary according to disciplinary perspectives, political objectives and other factors. But surely it includes elements of having choices and making decisions, being to some extent in control of one's life and the social and economic environment in which one lives that life

Family help for the elderly in Africa: a comparative assessment

Many people argue that 'modernization' will deprive the African elderly of their former roles and support. This paper focusses on the positive side. It argues that help has always been limited by resources and that 'development' will limit resources even further. Many elderly Africans receive support from children and grandchildren- as do large numbers of elderly people in industrialized countries; a few elderly Africans are entirely dependent on this help. Most get less help than they need, and some are abandoned, for various reasons. But this has always been the case. Although there were many problems, the majority of children in the studies reported here gave financial, material or physical help to their parents, depending on their circumstances. While governments develop welfare programmes, it is useful to measure the variability of help received, of various types, by men and women, urban and rural residents, in different regions and countries. Such information can help governments and NGOs to target those who are most in need

The experience of elderliness of residents of Boikucho Old-Age Centre

This paper examines the perceptions and experience of elderliness of residents of the Boikucho Old-Age Centre outside Bloemfontein in the Free State. The data collected from selected residents show that their perceptions and experience of elderliness are mainly negative. This negativity is directly related to their self-conceptualization, which is influenced by factors such as their immediate circumstances and the social environment. The negativity must be understood within a broad traditional socio-cultural context

SAJG comes of age

To find out how SAJG performed over the first three years, a survey was carried out among the Editorial Advisory Panel members at the end of 1994. Half the members who commented on the journal's performance live in countries outside South Africa.Not surprisingly, the non-South African panel members rated the scientific nature and content of the published articles as "variable" to "good and improving." Local panel members felt that the articles were of "an adequate" or "a very high" scientific standard! In general, the respondents felt that the journal had served its goals; however, several members called for more practice-oriented articles. where "it is assumed that informal observation rather than quantitative evaluation is the approach.