Culture and Customs of Zimbabwe: [Hardcover]

Oyekan Owomoyela (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313315833 | ISBN-13: 978-0313315831 | Publication Date: June 30, 2002

Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, won its independence from Great Britain in 1980 yet continues to feel the impact of Western lifestyles and prejudices. This rich, accessible overview freshly examines Zimbabwe, evoking the contemporary ways of life in a largely homogenous and agricultural country.

Students and general readers will discover an engaging narrative that ranges from an explanation of the beer culture to a powerful discussion of marriage, family, and gender roles from the Zimbabwean perspective. Owomoyela also authoritatively conveys the coexistence of traditional and Western forces today in such areas as religion and music. A chronology and glossary accompany the text.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?[u]seful to students who want to put the works of Zimbabwean writers like Shimmer Chinodya, Tsitsi Dangaremba, and Chenjerai Hove into the proper social and cultural contexts. Owomoyela does an excellent job of showing how Zimbabwean writers use their characters to explore the frictions that arise when "tradition" simply cannot go on any longer. He is particularly adept at choosing examples that capture the tensions that stretch between genders and across generations.?-International Journal of African Historical Studies

Book Description

Zimbabwe is freshly examined in this accessible overview, which evokes the contemporary ways of life in a largely homogenous and agricultural country.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood (June 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313315833
• ISBN-13: 978-0313315831
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,708,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars worth reading, but real limitations, August 7, 2009

By 

Paul S "Paul" (Portland OR area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Culture and Customs of Zimbabwe: (Hardcover)

I'm always astounded at the prices for books in this series, they seems excessive and inexplicable.

The issues I had with this particular book were as follows:

1) There is repetitious text - identical info repeated

2) The section on gender seems to want to argue from the start that women are equal. They cite the Mugabe divorce law as evidence - clearly they haven't read the law. It has severe limitations, ie allowing traditional custom to override this statute in regards to women's rights to inherit property on divorce. And having just spent 10 days in rural Eastern Zimbabwe, it's clear that rural women don't have equal rights. The urban situation is much more equal.

3) The book doesn't provide any info on cultural or behavorial taboos or positive behaviors to recognize/emulate, ieg clapping in a certain manner (different for men and women) to show respect. One is left with no info on appropriate or inappropriate behaviors.

4) In discussing music in Zimbabwe, the book makes no mention of the HIV/AIDS awareness songs one hears so prevalently in schools and military marches.

5) Finally, the book relies heavily on literature to draw societal conclusions, rather than direct observation.

So it's worth reading, but a very incomplete and insufficiently researched text and way overpriced.

Paul