Iqhaza elibanjwa umculo womasikandi ekuphawuleni ngezinselelo zabesifazane The role of Maskandi music in addressing women’s challenges

Abstract

Umculo uyinkundla ebalulekile ekudluliseni imizwa kanye nemibono ngezimo abantu abahlangabezana nazo emphakathini. Le athikili yaleli phepha iphenya kabanzi ngendlela umculo kamasikandi osebenza ngayo ekukhuthazeni ukumelwa kwabesifazane, iphinde iphawule nangezimo ababhekana nazo empilweni yansuku zonke ebantwini abangamaZulu. Ucwaningo luhlose nokuphenya ngendlela umculo womasikandi olekelela ngayo ekuhlonzeni izindlela zokukhuthaza izingxoxo ngezihloko ezithinta ukulingana ngobulili. Kule athikili ulwazi luqoqwe ngokulandela indlela yekhwalithethivu. Kulalelwe amaculo ehlukene omasikandi, imibono nezingxoxo ezethulwa ngabaculi, abalandeli nabasakazi ezinhlelweni zokusakaza, kanye nokusebenzisa imibono eyethulwa emaqoqweni ezinkundla ezahlukene zokuxhumana. Kusetshenziswe injulalwazi yefeminizimu kanye neyokuhlaziya inkulumo ephinyiswayo noma yezimpawu zezandla noma izehlakalo ezigxile ekusebenziseni izimpawu, okungathiwa phecelezi, idiscourse analysis. Le ndlela yokuhlaziya isetshenziswe ukuze kuqondisiswe indlela umculo womasikandi oziveza ngayo izinselelo zabesifazane. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo ihlonze indlela umculo kamasikandi osebenza ngayo ukukhuthaza abesifazane ekubhekaneni nasekunqobeni izinselelo abahlangabezana nazo emiphakathini abaphila kuyona. Ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza nendlela umculo womasikandi ogcizelela ngayo ukukhuthazwa kwezinkulumo eziqinisekisa ukwazisana phakathi kobulili obehlukene kanye nokusungulwa kwendlela ekhuthaza ukuqedwa kwemibono ebukela phansi abesifazane neqhaza labo emphakathini. 

Music expresses emotions and articulates perspectives on societal circumstances. This article examines the role of maskandi music in portraying and addressing the experiences of women in the everyday life of the Zulu people. This is achieved by examining the role of maskandi music in facilitating dialogues on issues pertaining to gender equality, with the intention of identifying methods for promoting such discussions. This qualitative study makes use of data obtained through an analysis of selected maskandi musical compositions, discourse and conversations by musicians, fans and broadcasters on radio and television programmes. Data is also drawn from diverse social media platforms. Feminist and discourse analysis methodologies were employed in the examination of maskandi music to scrutinise the difficulties encountered by women in society. The findings of this article illustrate how maskandi music empowers women to confront and surmount the difficulties prevalent in their diverse social environments. The article further demonstrates the maskandi genre’s deliberate focus on fostering an environment conducive to mutual comprehension between genders, and the cultivation of a framework that actively discourages the perpetuation of stereotypes that undermine women and their societal contributions.