ZCCD
ZIMBABWE CULTURAL CENTRE IN DETROIT’Smission is to educate, archive, & promote the arts & culture of Zimbabwe. We continuously strive to encourage strong ties between culture-producers & residents in Zimbabwe, Detroit, & abroad, acting as catalysts for critical artistic production as well as cultural exchange between communities.
COMRADES /
JOYCE JENJA MAKWENDA
RESIDENT /
ZCCD Research Fellow
2017
ZCCD Research Fellow
2017
In partnership with Njelele Art Station, Joyce Jenje Makwenda came to Detroit to research the connection between Zimbabwe township music and Motown.
Joyce Jenje Makwenda is an archivist, historian, ethnomusicologist and writer who was born in Zimbabwe in 1958. She lives and works in Harare where she founded and runs the Joyce Jenje Makwenda Collection Archive. It is one of the largest privately-owned archives of documented interviews, newspaper, vinyl records, photography, musical instruments, amongst other objects and materials, in Zimbabwe. For the past 30 years her work has been focused on early urban culture, music, politics, education, religion, media, fashion, sexuality (taboo), cultural issues and women’s histories in Zimbabwe. Some of her notable publications are Zimbabwe Township Music (2005), Divorce Taken (2009), and Women Musicians of Zimbabwe (2013).
Joyce Jenje Makwenda is an archivist, historian, ethnomusicologist and writer who was born in Zimbabwe in 1958. She lives and works in Harare where she founded and runs the Joyce Jenje Makwenda Collection Archive. It is one of the largest privately-owned archives of documented interviews, newspaper, vinyl records, photography, musical instruments, amongst other objects and materials, in Zimbabwe. For the past 30 years her work has been focused on early urban culture, music, politics, education, religion, media, fashion, sexuality (taboo), cultural issues and women’s histories in Zimbabwe. Some of her notable publications are Zimbabwe Township Music (2005), Divorce Taken (2009), and Women Musicians of Zimbabwe (2013).
◄ In her archive in Harare.
Research Motown hostory with Martha Reeves (center), Marsha Philipot (left) and Joyce Jenja Makwenda (right) at Martha Reeves residence in Detroit. ▶
◄ Joyce Jenje Makwenda with Marsha Battle Philpot aka Marsha Music at Trinosphes Cafe in Detroit during her research.