The Zimbabwean liberation war: contesting representations of nation and nationalism in historical fiction

Muwati, Itai; Mutasa, Davie E.; Bopape, Malekutu Levy

doi:10.4102/lit.v31i1.41

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Zimbabwean nationalism is overlaid with ethnicity, militarism, neo-traditionalism, nativism, patriarchy and violence-very negative aspects that require urgent deconstruction." Muwati et al, 49 adds that the liberation war has been made the most important expression of nationalism in Zimbabwe. This view which has been maintained by the elites has narrowed the conceptualisation of nationalism such that any other political or ideological perspective which has nothing to do with the liberation war is met with derision by ZANU PF.…”

Section: Manipulation Of the Liberation Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

The nexus between ZANU PF, Mbuya Nehanda and the liberation struggle

Nare¹

2022

SIJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Zimbabwe has a very rich history, deep rooted in its liberation struggle. However, this deep attachment to the liberation struggle has overshadowed and impeded basic government functions leading to the demise of the economy as the ruling party is entangled with the past and clearly lacking political will and innovation for the future. In the discourse of liberation war movements and activities, it is important to analyse the causes that give rise to their existence, which therefore becomes a backdrop on which their successes and failures can be analysed. This paper therefore will establish the main causes which fueled the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe and using such causes as benchmarks analyse how ZANU PF is faring forty years after independence. In this regard there are historical figures such as Mbuya Nehanda and the history of the liberation war which have become construed and contorted in political gimmicks such that the separation of such facts and ZANU PF have become difficult over the years. Hence, this paper seeks to analyse the relationship between ZANU PF, Mbuya Nehanda and liberation struggle. In making such an analysis it also becomes clearer whether ZANU PF still represents what it purports to have gone to war for, and the extent to which it has been successful in realising its objectives.

show abstract

Section: Manipulation Of the Liberation Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

The nexus between ZANU PF, Mbuya Nehanda and the liberation struggle

Nare¹

2022

SIJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Alongside the national anthem and other 'songs that won the liberation war' (Pongweni 1982), it sanctions the shedding of 'less important blood', what Butler (2009) refers to as not grievable lives, in defence of the ideals of sovereignty and nationhood, even as these very concepts are themselves contested (Ndlovu-Gathseni & Muzondidya 2011;Ndlovu-Gatsheni 2009 ). This contestation was felt in the nationalist movement of the 1960s and the armed liberation struggle of the 1970s (Sithole 1999;Muwati, Mutasa & Bopape 2010). 'Zimbabwe Ndeye Ropa' serves to remind performers and audiences that Zimbabwe was not handed on a silver plate, but that it came through a heroic struggle in which precious blood was shed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deployment of a 'sacred song' in violence in Zimbabwe: The case of the song 'Zimbabwe Ndeye Ropa Ramadzibaba' (Zimbabwe was/is Born of the Blood of the Fathers/Ancestors) in Zimbabwean Politics

Tarusarira

Chitando

2017

J. Study Relig.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The dominant narrative in the study of religion in Africa is that African indigenous religions are non-violent, peaceful and seek to promote healing and integration. In this paradigm, it is militant missionary religions such as Islam and Christianity that promote violence. Such an approach misses the key learning that no religion is violent in and of itself: only the determination of individuals and groups acting in the name of a particular religion is relevant as to whether/the extent to which a religion can be appropriated and deployed to perpetrate violence. This article explores the deployment of a song, 'Zimbabwe Ndeye Ropa Ramadzibaba' to justify 'sacred violence' to 'defend Zimbabwe against witches/enemies'. The central research question is: How is the song, 'Zimbabwe Ndeye Ropa…' appropriated and deployed to sacralise violence in Zimbabwean politics? The article describes the song and analyses some of the contexts in which the song has been strategically performed. The study seeks to underscore the manipulation of indigenous spirituality in justifying violence. Theoretically, the study challenges the naïve claims that indigenous religions are 'pure and upright' in relation to violence.

show abstract

“…Chiwome, therefore, castigates the Rhodesia Literature Bureau's negative influence in the development of ChiShona literature. Muwati (2009) concurs that the Rhodesia Literature Bureau contributed to the underdevelopment of indigenous African literature in Zimbabwe. On the other hand, missionary influence aided the production of literature that was moralistic from priests and classroom practitioners like Patrick Chakaipa.…”

Section: History Of the Chishona Novelmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…I begin the discussion by engaging scholars who have commented on Zimbabwean literature. Such scholars include , Chiwome (1996), Muwati (2009), Chinyowa (2007), Ngara (1984, , Chigidi (1998), Moyana (2006), Gaidzanwa (1985), Vambe (2006), Tatira (2010), Shava (2008) and Chimedza and Peters (2001) examines the development of the ChiShona novel from 1890 to 1984. He postulates that the period from 1890 to 1954 saw the development of the ChiShona orthography and this period produced a situation where there was literacy without literature as they were busy developing the orthography.…”

Section: History Of the Chishona Novelmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Disability representation in selected Zimbabwean Chishona novels and plays.

Hapanyengwi

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The issue of disability is a bone of contention in Zimbabwe and worldwide. People with disabilities (PWD) are looked down upon and are always viewed with a negative eye. Attempts have been made at both the international and national levels to address this problem. Internationally, Zimbabwe is a state party to the Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPWD) (2006). The convention is an attempt by the United Nations (UN) to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. Locally the government of Zimbabwe in its constitution of (2013, p.10) section 83 recognises the worthiness of persons with disabilities and as such calls for their protection and dignity. Despite these efforts, nothing has come to fruition as no significant change has been realised people with disabilities continue to be marginalised. Literature has a role to play in shaping attitudes and perceptions towards disability in society and as such, there is a need to look at what it communicates about disability in case it could be a contributory factor. This study explores the depiction of disability in selected ChiShona novels and plays with a view to answering the following questions. (i) How is disability represented in selected ChiShona novels and plays within the context of Vumunhu? (ii) What factors explain the selected ChiShona novel and play authors’ perception of, and attitudes towards disability? and (iii) Why do ChiShona writers create characters with a disability? The study used Vumunhu/ Unhu/ Ubuntu as its Theoretical framework realising that Vumunhu places value on respect for human life and dignity. Hence the study sought to find out if authors recognise the worthiness of characters with disabilities as human beings in their depiction of such characters. The study sought to find out if artists create characters with disabilities with due respect and dignity as any other characters. In an effort to answer the above questions the study adopted literary analysis as a research methodology which encompassed document analysis, critical discourse analysis as well as the translation method as research methods. The research established that disability is underrepresented in most of the studied texts. This underrepresentation is reflected in the limited number of texts that discuss disability and the inadequate fictional space that is accorded characters with disabilities in the studied texts. Another major finding of the study is that the depiction of disability is largely negative and derogatory terms are used to address those with disabilities in most of the texts, an indication that the majority of authors’ depiction of disability is not in line with the principles of Vumunhu. The study demonstrated that disability and characters with disabilities are included in literary works as a literary device which contributes to the negative depiction of disability. The study also concluded that most authors parade abuses and ill-treatment of persons with disabilities without offering solutions to the abuses something which defeats their purpose of writing. The study mainly recommends that the ChiShona language that is used with regard to disabilities should be revised. Old ChiShona terms that communicate negative attitudes towards disabilities should be discarded and new terms that promote positive attitudes and that reflect respect in line with Vumunhu should be coined to replace the derogatory ones. To this end all policies on disability should be implemented absolutely and measures should be put in place to ensure that all published literary works that articulate disability issues promote positive attitudes towards disability and that characters with disabilities are accorded due respect.

show abstract

The Zimbabwean liberation war: contesting representations of nation and nationalism in historical fiction

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

The nexus between ZANU PF, Mbuya Nehanda and the liberation struggle

The nexus between ZANU PF, Mbuya Nehanda and the liberation struggle

The deployment of a 'sacred song' in violence in Zimbabwe: The case of the song 'Zimbabwe Ndeye Ropa Ramadzibaba' (Zimbabwe was/is Born of the Blood of the Fathers/Ancestors) in Zimbabwean Politics

Disability representation in selected Zimbabwean Chishona novels and plays.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About