Online Reporter
THE SUPERSTAR WHO HAS BECOME A SOURCE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES
A ZIMBABWEAN scholar Vimbai Chamisa used Sungura maestro Alick Macheso’s music for her Doctor of Philosophy Degree thesis with the University of South Africa.
A video shared on several social media platforms in June last year showed Chamisa being conferred with a PHD at a UNISA graduation ceremony.
The title of her PHD thesis was – Sungura and Social Identity Narratives in Post-Colonial Zimbabwe: An Analysis of the Popularity of Alick Macheso’s Music.
“She investigates the musical and socio-political circumstances giving rise to the popularity of Alick Macheso and the Sungura genre.
“She applies theories of cultural capital and social identity to analyse a number of his musical texts and their reception history in contemporary post-colonial Zimbabwe.
“Drawing from interviews with Macheso and members of his audience, she develops a holistic overview of this iconic musician’s contribution to musical life as a highly visible representative of the Sungura genre,” a citation read out by one of the university’s academics says.
Macheso’s handlers say the sungura ace’s music is making a great impact as tertiary students are now using it in their research.
“It’s an honour when researchers notice the impact of our music and it gives us the zeal to go the extra mile.
“Many researchers have been contacting us carrying out their studies and we can’t deny them since we are now a big institution for the people,” said Macheso’s publicist, Tich Makahamadze.
At the Midlands University of Science and Technology, Richard Muranda came up with “An Analysis Of Alick Macheso’s Music In Promoting Mediation And Conflict Resolution.’
“Music has long been a powerful medium for social commentary, advocacy, and conflict resolution. In Zimbabwe, Alick Macheso’s music has emerged as a critical platform for addressing issues of peace, harmony, and interpersonal conflict.
“Through a qualitative approach, the paper explores how Macheso’s three purposively selected songs, Tererai, Kutadzirana, and Chikuru kurarama are useful as tools for communication, offering messages that encourage mediation, self-reflection, reconciliation and positive societal values.
“Drawing on critical discourse analysis and thematic interpretation, the study highlights how Macheso’s select lyrical content integrates traditional values, cultural metaphors, and everyday experiences to convey messages that resonate with his audience.
“Through using a contextualised appeal to his lyrics within Zimbabwe’s socio-political landscape, the paper examines the broader implications of his chosen songs to promote peace and resolve conflicts in communities.
“Findings suggest that Macheso’s music plays a significant role in fostering dialogue, challenging harmful behaviours, value to life, and inspiring collective response toward peaceful co-existence.
Another study focused on sungura, “the popular music style that has emerged and gained massive popularity after independence in Zimbabwe.
“Against the backdrop of Social identity theory, its aim is to interrogate the evident interest in Sungura music for both its performers and audiences in order to ascertain how it is an expression of the lives and identities that have emerged through certain socio-political and economic circumstances in Zimbabwe.
“To achieve this, the study focuses on the historical background of Alick Macheso’s music examining how his life history has influenced the nature of his sungura.
“I later turn to selected songs by the musician to understand how the songs enable the expression of collective identities in post-colonial Zimbabwe.
“I suggest that Macheso’s life history has influenced his music, shaping and defining it with a unique social meaning.
“This history articulates discourses of Social identity as it parallels the nature of the production of power within everyday human interactions typical in post-colonial Zimbabwe.” Chesology is a term coined by Alick Macheso’s devoted fans to mean “the academic and artistic study of Alick Macheso.”
It celebrates his musical brilliance − especially his rare ability to mimic other instruments using only the bass and lead guitars.
From imitating the vuvuzela in Tafadzwa, the violin in Murume, and the African drum in Kusekana Kwana Kamba, to capturing the melodic resonance of the marimba in Vane Zvavanoda, Macheso transforms his guitar into a full orchestra.
Chesology is not just fandom − it’s a deep appreciation of his innovation, cultural storytelling, and unmatched artistry. − Agencies
