Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm
The article explores the subject of Zimbabwean dancehall (Zimdancehall) music, a contemporary genre whose local popularity is on the rise, particularly among urban youths. Zimdancehall is infamous for its sometimes ‘dirty’ lyrics and the stereotyped ‘ghetto’/dancehall culture of drug and alcohol abu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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2021
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1080/18125980.2016.1182383 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4577 |
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| author | Ureke, Oswelled Washaya, Yollanda |
| author_facet | Ureke, Oswelled Washaya, Yollanda |
| author_sort | Ureke, Oswelled |
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| description | The article explores the subject of Zimbabwean dancehall (Zimdancehall) music, a contemporary genre whose local popularity is on the rise, particularly among urban youths. Zimdancehall is infamous for its sometimes ‘dirty’ lyrics and the stereotyped ‘ghetto’/dancehall culture of drug and alcohol abuse, sex and rebelliousness that pervade its creation and consumption. This article critically analyses selected songs by two of the most popular and established Zimdancehall musicians, Winky D and Sniper Storm. Their music shows that beyond the party themes and colloquial language employed in Zimdancehall, the genre embodies deep commentary and consciousness on topical issues affecting society. It is also shown in this article that Zimdancehall, as a form of popular culture, has positioned itself as an alternative medium through which youths, as a subaltern group, speak back to power, pointing out their daily tribulations, while at the same time deconstructing the hegemony of the elites who wield political and economic authority. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4577 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-45772022-06-27T13:49:06Z Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm Ureke, Oswelled Washaya, Yollanda Zimdancehall Winky D Sniper storm Zimbabwean music The article explores the subject of Zimbabwean dancehall (Zimdancehall) music, a contemporary genre whose local popularity is on the rise, particularly among urban youths. Zimdancehall is infamous for its sometimes ‘dirty’ lyrics and the stereotyped ‘ghetto’/dancehall culture of drug and alcohol abuse, sex and rebelliousness that pervade its creation and consumption. This article critically analyses selected songs by two of the most popular and established Zimdancehall musicians, Winky D and Sniper Storm. Their music shows that beyond the party themes and colloquial language employed in Zimdancehall, the genre embodies deep commentary and consciousness on topical issues affecting society. It is also shown in this article that Zimdancehall, as a form of popular culture, has positioned itself as an alternative medium through which youths, as a subaltern group, speak back to power, pointing out their daily tribulations, while at the same time deconstructing the hegemony of the elites who wield political and economic authority. 2021-11-24T09:17:14Z 2021-11-24T09:17:14Z 2016 Article 1812-5980 1753-593X https://doi.org/10.1080/18125980.2016.1182383 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4577 en Muziki;Vol. 16; No. 1: p. 68-88 open Routledge |
| spellingShingle | Zimdancehall Winky D Sniper storm Zimbabwean music Ureke, Oswelled Washaya, Yollanda Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title | Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title_full | Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title_fullStr | Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title_short | Social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of Zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of Winky D and Sniper Storm |
| title_sort | social commentary, subaltern voices and the alternative medium of zimdancehall music: unpacking the music of winky d and sniper storm |
| topic | Zimdancehall Winky D Sniper storm Zimbabwean music |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1080/18125980.2016.1182383 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4577 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT urekeoswelled socialcommentarysubalternvoicesandthealternativemediumofzimdancehallmusicunpackingthemusicofwinkydandsniperstorm AT washayayollanda socialcommentarysubalternvoicesandthealternativemediumofzimdancehallmusicunpackingthemusicofwinkydandsniperstorm |