Bahlabelelelani : why do they sing? : gender and power in contemporary women's songs.
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Date
2008
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Abstract
Certain cultural practices present unspoken questions to women. While women may
not be free to state these concerns upfront I argue that they have always had some
means of expressing themselves in creative ways about issues that affect them. One
issue that is investigated in this dissertation is the question of why women sing. This
study, therefore, examines one of the channels, which are songs, that women and
rural women in particular employ to deal with their day to day living. To this end I
have selected cultural songs as one of the ways of demonstrating how women
negotiate their spaces in the culture. The study is based on a community of women
from Zwelibomvu near Pinetown, South Africa but goes beyond this as I believe that
women in general speak for the majority of other women especially with regard to
issues around gender and power inequalities. Songs have been selected as a genre and
as a special form of expression that women in particular find easier to use to raise
issues that affect them in their daily lives. The three hour DVD rendition that forms
part of this study captures a synoptic view of the amount of raw data found in this
study. Through the medium of song, and strengthened by the stories that they share,
Zwelibomvu rural women are able to get a sense of relief and consolation from the
burdens that they have and which they would like to share.
Presented as a two part field work process, the first process involves the collection of
songs in ceremonies and occasions and observing an d being part of the occasions and
ceremonies where the songs that are sung by women are performed. This process
culminates in the production of the three hour DVD rendition that forms part of this
study and which captures a synoptic view of the amount of r aw data found in this
dissertation. The second part mainly involves interviews of categories of respondents
in similar settings/districts observed where ceremonies were attended and attempts to
provide some insight into why women sing and the question of gender and power in
contemporary women’s songs. Finally, the last chapters involve an analysis of songs
with regard to themes that emanate from these songs as well as a review on their oral
composition.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.
Keywords
Music--Social aspects--South Africa., Songs, Zulu--History and criticism., Oral tradition--South Africa., Women, Black--South Africa., Theses--Gender studies.