The many themes of Nhemamusasa

The book looks at the traditional song Nhemamusasa, a mbira song commonly sung in Zimbabwe. It has been performed by many groups in the country of origin and many parts of the world. Fortunate Hove explores the traditional elements of the song that makes it authentically Zimbabwean and how it ties in with patterns of speech used in Shona folklore. The song brings together ancient practices of conflict resolution as well as defining gender roles in a Shona society. The period of the song coincided with a time of unrest in the country during the period of Mfecane when many Nguni regiments from Zululand broke away from Shaka, moving northwards into neighboring countries where they carried out Zulu military-style raids and abductions. The critique is a convergence of history, feminism, expressions of conflict resolution, and marriage in Shona culture.