CHALLENGING BLACK MASCULINITIES AND RECONSTRUCTING BLACK WOMANHOOD IN ZIMBABWEAN MTUKUDZI’S SELECTED HIV/AIDS SONGS

Abstract This study examined the prominent Zimbabwean musicians’ gender related perceptions of HIV and AIDS. It argues that women are typically depicted as the center in the spread of the disease. However, Mtukudzi departs from the tendency of constructing harmful female images. His music on AIDS constitutes a curative genre as it reverses the female stereotypes and interrogates the alleged wholesomeness and sanctity of men in the spread of HIV. In this context, women are portrayed as victims and survivors of male-perpetrated violence. Their womanhood is accentuated by their courage, resilience, love, warmth and care giving, in the face of HIV pandemic. Manhood on the contrary is challenged as Mtukudzi shifts the blame of infection towards men’s promiscuity, immorality and lack of self-respect. The study concludes that Mtukudzi’s songs on AIDS are mainly an outcry for male behavioural change in the task of eradicating the disease. As such, Mtukudzi may be perceived as a black male feminist, who addresses and defends black female concerns in Zimbabwe. It is recommended that the Zimbabwean society and artists should eliminate gender-based stereotypes and hence HIV infection risks which constrain effective national development. Key Words: Black Masculinities, Womanhood, Mtukudzi, HIV and AIDS Songs JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, April 2015, 73 – 89 ©Delmas Communications Ltd. About the authors *Clemenciana Mukenge is a lecturer in the Linguistics Department, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. **Advice Chimbarange is a lecturer in the Linguistics Department, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Full Article Words: 7,530; Pages: 17