''Jit'' is a

Zimbabwean Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Moza ...

film made in 1990, written and directed by Michael Raeburn. It is about a young man, nicknamed UK, who lives in

Harare Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...

with his musician uncle,

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

, who plays himself. UK is knocked out when he falls out of a taxicab and then falls in love with the woman he gazes up at when he regains consciousness. He determines that he must marry her, but her father insists on a "bride price" in the form of an expensive stereo and cash. UK sets out to obtain these things, but has to appease his jukwa (ancestral spirit), who is visible only to him and wants him to give her beer and earn money to send to his parents in the countryside. Much of the film is set in the beer garden at the Queens Hotel in Harare, which at the time was the epicenter of the style of popular Zimbabwean dance music called

jit Jit (also known as jiti, jit-jive and the Harare beat) is a style of popular Zimbabwean dance music. It features a swift rhythm played on drums and accompanied by a guitar. Jit evolved out many diverse influences, including domestic chimurenga, ...

, also known as jit-jive, from which the movie takes its name. Certain aspects of the film satirize

Shona Shona often refers to: * Shona people, a Southern African people * Shona language, a Bantu language spoken by Shona people today Shona may also refer to: * ''Shona'' (album), 1994 album by New Zealand singer Shona Laing * Shona (given name) * S ...

beliefs, including the jukwa's incessant craving for beer. ''Jit'' was the first Zimbabwean feature film to attract international attention and be enthusiastically received by local audiences. Upon its release the film played to full houses for two months. According to Raeburn, the film "explores the conflict between rural and urban life and it celebrates determination."Thompson, Katrina Daly
Cinematic Arts: Language, Power, Identity''
Indiana University Press, 2013, p. 211.

References

External links

* Zimbabwean comedy films 1990 romantic comedy films 1990 films 1990s English-language films {{Zimbabwe-film-stub