Challenging Patriarchy and Exercising Women's Agency in Zimbabwean Music: Analysing the Careers of Chiwoniso Maraire and Olivia Charamba

Most authors tend to distinguish women in Zimbabwean music according to the genre. While this has some merit, it tends to create an artificial demarcation amongst women artists who might face similar challenges and struggles. This article utilises the careers of two women to illustrate the challenges and successes that women in Zimbabwean music experience. Through a discussion of the careers of Chiwoniso Maraire in mbira music and Olivia Charamba in gospel music, the study seeks to highlight the status of women in Zimbabwean music. The article maintains that women in Zimbabwean music face a multiplicity of challenges. In particular, they have to contend with patriarchy and its construction of space. However, they have exercised their agency to negotiate these challenges. This has resulted in some of them, such as Chiwoniso and Olivia Charamba, becoming visible as accomplished cultural workers.