Honest by chance: An investigation into Bemba music in Zambian politics

Nchindila, Bernard

doi:10.1080/18125980902798581

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The language is not spoken by any tribe per say as it borrows heavily from many languages, especially Chewa, Ngoni, Nsenga and even Bemba. The popularity of the Bemba and Nyanja songs during elections is a reflection of the large number of mostly urban voters that are able to understand these languages and can related to the messages (Nchindila, 2008). This group of people are a primary target for political party messaging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The party had in the previous three presidential elections utilized music to communicate its messages and garner popular support. In 2006, Sata appropriated Nathan Nyirenda's hit gospel song "Mwe Makufi" (You, My Knees) but was condemned for using it without permission (Nchindila, 2008). Sata's use of the song was daring and immediately helped people associate his to an already popular song.…”

Section: Background and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Patriotic Front’s Use Popular Music in the 2016 Elections in Zambia: A Literature Review

Kalobwe¹

2021

SSRN Journal

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This paper reviews recent studies that examine how music has been used for electioneering in in the 2016 general elections in Zambia. After a survey of several papers addressing music and elections in contemporary Zambia, a total of three papers specific to the 2016 elections are examined, these are: "Music and its Role in the Electoral Process of Zambia" by Namuyamba et al (2018); "The Discursive Role of Music in African Elections: A Perspective from Zambia" by Mambwe (2019); and "Singing Dununa Reverse: Interrogating the Symbolic, Political, Cultural and Patriotic Perspectives in a Zambian Political Campaign Song" by Lumbwe (2017). From the three papers examined, there is an acknowledgement of the power that music has in communicating key messages in elections. Music has become an important element Zambian electioneering as parties have recognized how effective they can reach masses. Further, in the electioneering context, music can be used and examined differently. The papers analyzed demonstrate that there exists latitude in what music can achieve for political communication.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Patriotic Front’s Use Popular Music in the 2016 Elections in Zambia: A Literature Review

Kalobwe¹

2021

SSRN Journal

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“…For example, Gorzelany-Mostak observes that during elections, "electoral candidates employ a range of tactics to harness the sound, symbols and rhetoric of pop culture" (2017, p. 4). Nchindila (2008), Mambwe (2019) and Kalobwe (2021) have highlighted how popular music has been used in Zambian politics, especially during elections, primarily to sale the candidate, highlight the achievements, make promises, persuade voters, and even taunt opponents.…”

Section: (B) Popular Music Social Media and New Alliances In The Press: The 2016 Presidential Electionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populism, Media and Elections in Zambia: The case of the Patriotic Front in the 2011 and 2016 elections

Hamusokwe

Mambwe

2021

rrijm

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This paper interrogates the intermingling of populist politics and the media in Zambia. It analyses populist tendencies the country’s 2011 and 2016 presidential elections. The examination of the 2011 elections considers this coming together of populist Patriotic Front (PF) party figures and the media through the lens of The Post Newspaper, representing ‘old’ media. The 2016 elections examination focuses on alternative media, particularly looking at how the PF utilised popular music and social media, to communicate its populist ideas. The analysis shows that the PF, with and without their populist founder Michael Sata, managed to maintain close ties with the media for their political success. Later, they were willing to utilise and harness the potential of alternative media to meet their objectives in 2016. The paper however warns that the merging of media with populism is a danger that heavily compromises the ability of the media to serve the public as they should.

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“…The bodies and voices of the audience are also brought on stage; 'the people' are encouraged to perform to themselves. The MMD's campaigns featured commissioned jingles while the PF appropriated songs and dances from folk traditions and popular musicians that were familiar to, and easily performed by, the audience (Nchindila, 2008). Official party advertising, posters and slogans dominated the MMD's campaign; homemade costumes and banners the PF's.…”

Section: Populism As Political Theatrementioning

confidence: 99%

Post-populism in Zambia: Michael Sata’s rise, demise and legacy

Fraser

2017

International Political Science Review

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Models explaining populism as a policy response to the interests of the urban poor struggle to understand the instability of populist mobilisations. A focus on political theatre is more helpful. This article extends the debate on populist performance, showing how populists typically do not produce rehearsed performances to passive audiences. In drawing 'the people' on stage they are forced to improvise. As a result, populist performances are rarely sustained. The article describes the Zambian Patriotic Front's (PF) theatrical insurrection in 2006 and its evolution over the next decade. The PF's populist aspect had faded by 2008 and gradually disappeared in parallel with its leader Michael Sata's ill-health and eventual death in 2014. The party was nonetheless electorally successful. The article accounts for this evolution and describes a 'post-populist' legacy featuring hyperpartisanship, violence and authoritarianism. Intolerance was justified in the populist moment as a reflection of anger at inequality; it now floats free of any programme.

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Honest by chance: An investigation into Bemba music in Zambian politics

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

The Patriotic Front’s Use Popular Music in the 2016 Elections in Zambia: A Literature Review

The Patriotic Front’s Use Popular Music in the 2016 Elections in Zambia: A Literature Review

Populism, Media and Elections in Zambia: The case of the Patriotic Front in the 2011 and 2016 elections

Post-populism in Zambia: Michael Sata’s rise, demise and legacy

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