Phillip Mpofu
Biographic Data
| ID | 4052211 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Phillip Mpofu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Phillip |
| FAMILY NAME | Mpofu |
| SIGNATURE | MPOFU P |
| AFFILIATIONS | North-West University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0186-740X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Indigenous African Language Media: Practices and Processes
This edited volume provides a documentation of the vast indigenous African language media with multi-angle analysis on their presentation and influences.
Indigenous African Language Media: Practices and Processes
Appreciating vulgarity in raw Zimdancehall music as expression of truth
While there are refined creations, vulgarised Zimdancehall has been a subject of academic, political and cultural concern. It is widely disparaged as abominable and culturally subversive music. However, vulgar lingo has always been a functional and ornamental component of speech and song in specific contexts of the Shona cultural community. Deploying the aesthetics of vulgarity thesis, this article appreciates the place of raw Zimdancehall in tod…
Code Mixing in Kwayedza: Language Subversion and the Existence of African Language Newspapers
African language press plays important linguistic roles including language development, maintenance and pedagogy. However, Zimbabwe’s African language press has struggled to exist in a highly competitive print media market dominated by English language newspapers. For that reason, they have resorted to eccentric reporting styles including code mixing. Although this linguistic practice is perceived as language corruption and retrogressive, it is c…
Facebook groups as transnational counter public sphere for diasporic communities
Mainstream media tend to frame media content from the perspectives of locals and seldom in the interest of diasporic communities. However, the emergence of social media has supported the existence of online diasporic communities. Deploying insights from the concepts of alternative media, digital counter public sphere and hidden transcript, this study explores the use of Facebook groups by Zimbabwean diaspora to form transnational online communiti…
Sex Gospel in Zimbabwe’s Pentecostal Christianity as a Response to Social Change: The Case of Apostle Kapandura and Mai Lucia Gunguwo
Sexuality has always been a closely guarded subject in both Christianity and African Traditional Religions (ATRs), and regarded as a sensitive topic unfit for public discussion. In Zimbabwe, there is an emerging trend of sex gospel in Pentecostal Christianity. This has stirred mixed feelings among Christians and ATR adherents. Deploying the religion and social transformation perspective, this netnographic study of Christopher Kapandura of ZAOGA (…
Indigenous Media and Social Media Convergence: Adaptation of Storytelling on Twitter, SoundCloud and YouTube in Zimbabwe
Storytelling is ordinarily trivialised as an antiquated oramedia genre, and of less significance in Zimbabwean mainstream media and communication studies, hence it is understudied. Recent studies largely take a literary gaze on storytelling, and do not theorise it from an indigenous media viewpoint or appreciate its convergence with social media. Drawing on concepts of media convergence and the digital public sphere, this netnographic study exami…
Naming the Ghost: Self-Naming, Pseudonyms, and Identities of Phantoms on Zimbabwean Twitter
In Zimbabwean online spaces, especially Twitter, use of phantom names is widespread. It is arguable that this is partially a result of the country’s repressive political environment. It is the names that the nameless Twitter characters select and the motivations for using specific names that are the focus of this present study. The study is grounded in anthroponomastic concepts of pseudonymity and self-naming, and self-presentation and identity t…
The Nollywood cultural effect in Zimbabwe: Manifestation of Nigerian lingo in everyday discourses
The Nollywood films, Nigeria’s greatest cultural export, have had phenomenal cultural impact in Zimbabwe. Deploying a theoretical gaze grounded in the social learning theory and notions of linguistic diffusion, lexical and pragmatic borrowing, this article explores the manifestation of lexis, accents, semantic and pragmatic elements of Nigerian linguistic and cultural heritage in Zimbabwe’s everyday discourses, as well as cultural productions. Th…
Critical reflections on erotic content in Star FM’sCouples quality timeand Ya FM’sMoto mubhurugwa(fire in underwear)
In Shona tradition, sex education customarily occurs in gendered, compartmentalised and private contexts. Accordingly, sexually explicit representations in the public sphere are morally obnoxious. However, there has been an unpredicted upsurge of sexually explicit content in Zimbabwe’s Shona language broadcasts. This study is an evaluative and explanatory enquiry of erotic content in Star FM’s Couples quality time and Ya FM’s Moto mubhurugwa, and…
African language use in the digital public sphere: Functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe
The widely used web search engine in Zimbabwe, Google, offers a localised webpage with an option to change the language from English to African languages for users to find information using their favoured languages. This article interrogates the practicality of the localised Google webpage which is also available in ChiShona, IsiNdebele, Chichewa and Setswana, over and above English, the main language. The enquiry employs the qualitative research…
In Pursuit of Recognition and the Expression of Power? Making Sense of Vulgarity in Zimdancehall
While there are many refined musical productions, Zimdancehall is epitomised by the use of explicit vulgar lyrics. This article attempts to make sense of vulgarity in the musical genre against the knowledge that, although vulgarity is obnoxious in the public sphere, it is functional in specific contexts among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Deploying a theoretical gaze that is grounded in concepts of indigenous knowledge systems, aesthetics of vulg…
Interrogating the Autonomy of Previously Marginalised Languages in Zimbabwe's Indigenous-Language Press
While Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution officially recognises previously marginalised languages, existing studies expose the dominance of Shona and Ndebele in the public domain. Among existing newspapers, only two use indigenous languages. These are Kwayedza and Umthunywa, which publish in Shona and Ndebele respectively. However, presently Kwayedza publishes a column in Ndau, and uMthunywa includes a column in Kalanga. In the context of the prevailing…
Culture of sensationalism and indigenous language press in Zimbabwe: Implications on language development
Indigenous language media are active spaces for the development, maintenance and renewal of indigenous languages in Africa. Juxtaposing Kwayedza and uMthunywa tabloids, which publish in Shona and Ndebele languages, alongside mainstream English language press, The Herald and The Chronicle, this study interrogates the implications of sensationalism on the structural and functional development of indigenous languages and the indigenous language pres…
Interdisciplinarity and Indigenous Language Media: Understanding Language Choices in Zimbabwe’s Media
Indigenous language media research by linguists in Zimbabwe is generally epitomised by animated arguments which disapprove of the dominance of English and marginalisation of indigenous languages in broadcast and print media. Considering the communicative and cultural imperatives for indigenous language media in post-independence African nation-states, including indigenous languages in the media is paramount. However, whilst the need to protect in…
Linguistic disenfranchisement, minority resistance and language revitalisation: The contributions of ethnolinguistic online communities in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a multicultural nation with multiple ethnolinguistic groups. Since 1980, when the country attained its independence from colonial rule, the government has struggled to fit all linguistic and cultural representations in the public domain. This resulted in disenfranchisement and disillusionment of linguistic minorities. However, the subject of ethnicity is sensitive and is to some extent associated with undertones of regionalism and div…
Militarising Music and Demilitarising the Military: Making Sense of “Musoja” in Zimdancehall Music
The debate in this paper is enthused by the neurotic recurrence of the Shona linguistic expression “Musoja” (soldier) in Zimdancehall musical discourses. The enthusiastic utilisation of this name by the assemblage of Zimdancehall artists such as Sniper Storm, Jah Prayzer and Guspy Warrior, among others, is profoundly sustained by the militarised lingo, images and discourses that suffuse into their titles, chants, mannerisms, gesticulation and reg…
Appreciating vulgarity in raw Zimdancehall music as expression of truth
While there are refined creations, vulgarised Zimdancehall has been a subject of academic, political and cultural concern. It is widely disparaged as abominable and culturally subversive music. However, vulgar lingo has always been a functional and ornamental component of speech and song in specific contexts of the Shona cultural community. Deploying the aesthetics of vulgarity thesis, this article appreciates the place of raw Zimdancehall in tod…
Critical reflections on erotic content in Star FM’sCouples quality timeand Ya FM’sMoto mubhurugwa(fire in underwear)
In Shona tradition, sex education customarily occurs in gendered, compartmentalised and private contexts. Accordingly, sexually explicit representations in the public sphere are morally obnoxious. However, there has been an unpredicted upsurge of sexually explicit content in Zimbabwe’s Shona language broadcasts. This study is an evaluative and explanatory enquiry of erotic content in Star FM’s Couples quality time and Ya FM’s Moto mubhurugwa, and…
Militarising Music and Demilitarising the Military: Making Sense of “Musoja” in Zimdancehall Music
The debate in this paper is enthused by the neurotic recurrence of the Shona linguistic expression “Musoja” (soldier) in Zimdancehall musical discourses. The enthusiastic utilisation of this name by the assemblage of Zimdancehall artists such as Sniper Storm, Jah Prayzer and Guspy Warrior, among others, is profoundly sustained by the militarised lingo, images and discourses that suffuse into their titles, chants, mannerisms, gesticulation and reg…
Culture of sensationalism and indigenous language press in Zimbabwe: Implications on language development
Indigenous language media are active spaces for the development, maintenance and renewal of indigenous languages in Africa. Juxtaposing Kwayedza and uMthunywa tabloids, which publish in Shona and Ndebele languages, alongside mainstream English language press, The Herald and The Chronicle, this study interrogates the implications of sensationalism on the structural and functional development of indigenous languages and the indigenous language pres…
Interdisciplinarity and Indigenous Language Media: Understanding Language Choices in Zimbabwe’s Media
Indigenous language media research by linguists in Zimbabwe is generally epitomised by animated arguments which disapprove of the dominance of English and marginalisation of indigenous languages in broadcast and print media. Considering the communicative and cultural imperatives for indigenous language media in post-independence African nation-states, including indigenous languages in the media is paramount. However, whilst the need to protect in…
Linguistic disenfranchisement, minority resistance and language revitalisation: The contributions of ethnolinguistic online communities in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a multicultural nation with multiple ethnolinguistic groups. Since 1980, when the country attained its independence from colonial rule, the government has struggled to fit all linguistic and cultural representations in the public domain. This resulted in disenfranchisement and disillusionment of linguistic minorities. However, the subject of ethnicity is sensitive and is to some extent associated with undertones of regionalism and div…
Interrogating the Autonomy of Previously Marginalised Languages in Zimbabwe's Indigenous-Language Press
While Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution officially recognises previously marginalised languages, existing studies expose the dominance of Shona and Ndebele in the public domain. Among existing newspapers, only two use indigenous languages. These are Kwayedza and Umthunywa, which publish in Shona and Ndebele respectively. However, presently Kwayedza publishes a column in Ndau, and uMthunywa includes a column in Kalanga. In the context of the prevailing…
African language use in the digital public sphere: Functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe
The widely used web search engine in Zimbabwe, Google, offers a localised webpage with an option to change the language from English to African languages for users to find information using their favoured languages. This article interrogates the practicality of the localised Google webpage which is also available in ChiShona, IsiNdebele, Chichewa and Setswana, over and above English, the main language. The enquiry employs the qualitative research…
In Pursuit of Recognition and the Expression of Power? Making Sense of Vulgarity in Zimdancehall
While there are many refined musical productions, Zimdancehall is epitomised by the use of explicit vulgar lyrics. This article attempts to make sense of vulgarity in the musical genre against the knowledge that, although vulgarity is obnoxious in the public sphere, it is functional in specific contexts among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Deploying a theoretical gaze that is grounded in concepts of indigenous knowledge systems, aesthetics of vulg…
Naming the Ghost: Self-Naming, Pseudonyms, and Identities of Phantoms on Zimbabwean Twitter
In Zimbabwean online spaces, especially Twitter, use of phantom names is widespread. It is arguable that this is partially a result of the country’s repressive political environment. It is the names that the nameless Twitter characters select and the motivations for using specific names that are the focus of this present study. The study is grounded in anthroponomastic concepts of pseudonymity and self-naming, and self-presentation and identity t…
The Nollywood cultural effect in Zimbabwe: Manifestation of Nigerian lingo in everyday discourses
The Nollywood films, Nigeria’s greatest cultural export, have had phenomenal cultural impact in Zimbabwe. Deploying a theoretical gaze grounded in the social learning theory and notions of linguistic diffusion, lexical and pragmatic borrowing, this article explores the manifestation of lexis, accents, semantic and pragmatic elements of Nigerian linguistic and cultural heritage in Zimbabwe’s everyday discourses, as well as cultural productions. Th…
Critical reflections on erotic content in Star FM’sCouples quality timeand Ya FM’sMoto mubhurugwa(fire in underwear)
In Shona tradition, sex education customarily occurs in gendered, compartmentalised and private contexts. Accordingly, sexually explicit representations in the public sphere are morally obnoxious. However, there has been an unpredicted upsurge of sexually explicit content in Zimbabwe’s Shona language broadcasts. This study is an evaluative and explanatory enquiry of erotic content in Star FM’s Couples quality time and Ya FM’s Moto mubhurugwa, and…
Code Mixing in Kwayedza: Language Subversion and the Existence of African Language Newspapers
African language press plays important linguistic roles including language development, maintenance and pedagogy. However, Zimbabwe’s African language press has struggled to exist in a highly competitive print media market dominated by English language newspapers. For that reason, they have resorted to eccentric reporting styles including code mixing. Although this linguistic practice is perceived as language corruption and retrogressive, it is c…
Facebook groups as transnational counter public sphere for diasporic communities
Mainstream media tend to frame media content from the perspectives of locals and seldom in the interest of diasporic communities. However, the emergence of social media has supported the existence of online diasporic communities. Deploying insights from the concepts of alternative media, digital counter public sphere and hidden transcript, this study explores the use of Facebook groups by Zimbabwean diaspora to form transnational online communiti…
Sex Gospel in Zimbabwe’s Pentecostal Christianity as a Response to Social Change: The Case of Apostle Kapandura and Mai Lucia Gunguwo
Sexuality has always been a closely guarded subject in both Christianity and African Traditional Religions (ATRs), and regarded as a sensitive topic unfit for public discussion. In Zimbabwe, there is an emerging trend of sex gospel in Pentecostal Christianity. This has stirred mixed feelings among Christians and ATR adherents. Deploying the religion and social transformation perspective, this netnographic study of Christopher Kapandura of ZAOGA (…
Indigenous Media and Social Media Convergence: Adaptation of Storytelling on Twitter, SoundCloud and YouTube in Zimbabwe
Storytelling is ordinarily trivialised as an antiquated oramedia genre, and of less significance in Zimbabwean mainstream media and communication studies, hence it is understudied. Recent studies largely take a literary gaze on storytelling, and do not theorise it from an indigenous media viewpoint or appreciate its convergence with social media. Drawing on concepts of media convergence and the digital public sphere, this netnographic study exami…
Indigenous African Language Media: Practices and Processes
This edited volume provides a documentation of the vast indigenous African language media with multi-angle analysis on their presentation and influences.
Indigenous African Language Media: Practices and Processes
Appreciating vulgarity in raw Zimdancehall music as expression of truth
While there are refined creations, vulgarised Zimdancehall has been a subject of academic, political and cultural concern. It is widely disparaged as abominable and culturally subversive music. However, vulgar lingo has always been a functional and ornamental component of speech and song in specific contexts of the Shona cultural community. Deploying the aesthetics of vulgarity thesis, this article appreciates the place of raw Zimdancehall in tod…
Sociology (16 works) · Political science (14 works) · Linguistics (10 works) · Law (9 works) · Multilingual Education and Policy (8 works) · Politics (8 works) · Media studies (7 works) · African studies and sociopolitical issues (6 works) · Gender Studies (6 works) · Aesthetics (5 works)