Narrative and ideology: 50 years of film-making in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article reviews film-making in Zimbabwe over the period 1948-2000. During this time, the country made the transition from British colony to independent nation in 1980. The dominant source of funding for Zimbabwe’s film production has been external, beginning with the founding of the Central African Film Union in 1948 by the British government. Over the 50-year period under review, the political history of the country has been turbulent and democratic practices have been at best, fragile. An economic and political governance crisis, which began to unfold at the end of the 1990s, has further undermined prospects. The article provides insights into the problems and prospects of African countries as global players in the production of media.