Indigenous music research and violation of tradition protection systems in Zimbabwe

Authors : Perminus Matiure, Wonder Maguraushe

Pages : 232-254

View : 29 | Download : 129

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Zimbabwean artists and generations of their ancestors have been sustained by the country’s lush wealth of indigenous music resources, which are wide-ranging and spread across approximately 14 ethnic groups. These Indigenous music resources are in danger of distortion or extinction because they are being exploited through research. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they were appropriated by non-indigenous people. After the turn of the millennium, some locals have joined the Loot Committee as well and are siphoning them at an alarming rate. This is tantamount to violation of traditional music protection systems and the culprits are profiting from the indigenous music resources at the expense of the indigenous communities who own the resources simply because they do not know about nor own rights over music. The preservation of indigenous music resources has been compromised by this lack of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) among the indigenous musicking communities. Wielding IPRs empowers local musicians with the right to own and protect their intellectual property rights. This study discusses the rights of indigenous musicians and their experiences as music researchers in Zimbabwe. This qualitative research was descriptive and sought to uncover the emotions, views, and experiences of Indigenous musicians in their communities. Data were collected through document analysis, historicism, and interviews with indigenous music performers and IPR practitioners. Results show that Indigenous musical cultural traditions need to be protected through the implementation of the IPR policy in Zimbabwe. We argue that the preservation of Indigenous music knowledge systems in Zimbabwe ought to be guided by putting in place stricter legal instruments that ensure protection. In addition, we recommend that the Shona traditional protection methods be revisited and restructured as a way of augmenting the generic structures put in place by the Intellectual Property Rights Organisation. Key words: indigenous music, intellectual
Keywords : indigenous music, intellectual property, protection, research, traditional protection systems

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL