A Search for Meaning in Politically Motivated Music: Rhetoric versus Pragmatics in the Zambian Political Soundscape

This study investigates the functional value of music in Zambia's political soundscape in the context of political rhetoric. It evaluates the meaning and influence of music in the political processes on the choices citizens make for supporting their preferred political parties. The study identifies rhetorical and pragmatic music as the two types of political music, which are responsible for informing the people's perspectives and the decisions they make during political elections. An examination of the influence of rhetoric and pragmatic lyrical content in Zambia demonstrates a higher acceptance of rhetorical content by and its impact on the country's election results. Furthermore, the study also elucidates various factors that contribute to the status quo, for instance, the type of lyrical content, the type of audience, the standard of creativity as well as political, and artistic motivation. The study also embraces the concept of "power of performance and the performance of power" to illustrate the varied manifestations of the power relations between politicians and musicians, and how these affect the political scene and the music industry in the country respectively. Although the analysis of politician-musician relationships reveals lopsidedness towards politicians, both entities possess undeniably significant powers to impact the political space and music creativity interchangeably in different degrees. By probing the lyrical content and influence of some of the campaign music used during selected elections, the study reveals a dominance of music with rhetorical lyrical content over that which contains pragmatic content. Additionally, the study also demonstrates that although politically motivated music contributed to the outcomes of past elections in Zambia, it is the rhetorical type that has been significantly more influential than the pragmatic kind. Zambians have since resolved to favor and embrace music that express pragmatic lyrical content over rhetoric and short-lived entertainment.

Grantor dc:publisher

Florida State University

Year dc:date

2023

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lamba, Prince F. M. (author)
• Gunderson, Frank D. (professor directing dissertation)
• Gaber, Brian, 1960- (university representative)
• Brewer, Charles E. (Charles Everett) (committee member)
• Joos, Vincent Nicolas (committee member)
• Florida State University (degree granting institution)
• College of Music (degree granting college)
• College of Music (degree granting department)

• Music
• Civilization

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

fsu:915291
iid: Lamba_fsu_0071E_18376_P

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:diginole.lib.fsu.edu:fsu_915291