Kupururudzira muroora songs in Muzvezve: Bride welcoming ceremony or relegation of women to the subaltern?

Abstract

The institution of marriage is a place where Shona women have often suffered oppression instead of fulfilment. Women have lamented Shona cultural practices that are not cognisant of human rights despite Zimbabwe being a signatory to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development. Practices which are harmful to women and tantamount to gender inequality need to be discontinued in Shona culture. We notice that the impact of patriarchy and the vulnerability of females have been perpetuated in Shona culture through the performance of traditional bride welcoming ceremony songs.