‘Those who are not known, should be known by the country’: patriotic history and the politics of recognition in southern Zimbabwe

Mujere, Joseph; Sagiya, Munyaradzi Elton; Fontein, Joost

doi:10.1080/17531055.2017.1290765

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Gramsci's cultural hegemony perspective has also been employed in cultural studies to understand how the ruling elites use cultural heritage and related institutions to create and maintain dominance over the subaltern (Chiwaura & Naidoo, 2020; Fontein, 2006; Mataga, 2018; Matenga, 1998; Muchemwa, 2020; Mujere et al, 2017; Tevera, 2015; Thondhlana et al, 2021; Raftopoulos, 2014; Ranger, 2004). Chiwaura and Naidoo (2020) explain that cultural heritage has been appropriated by the state if it appears to benefit them while unpleasant heritages are relegated and need to be forgotten.…”

Section: Research Methods and Gramscianismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many state institutions have deployed heritage symbolism on their branding and examples are of institutions of higher learning (Thondhlana et al, 2021). The state continues to deploy war shrines and patriotic history to exclude other ethnic and opposition parties on the basis of not having contributed to independence of Zimbabwe (Mujere et al, 2017; Ranger, 2004). Since Zimbabwe has been in the spotlight for human rights abuses and election related violence, the state finds the different dimensions of cultural heritage (such as the national dress) usable and a convenient vehicle to pre‐dominate the weak by consent and propaganda so as not to attract regional and international condemnation.…”

Section: Research Methods and Gramscianismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Negotiating national identity in postcolonial Zimbabwe through a national dress

Chitima

2022

Nations and Nationalism

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A national dress is a reflection of national consciousness towards the nation and its cultural heritage. Instead of simply being functional, a national dress is also a script that exhibits people's identities. This study examines how Zimbabweans identify with the national dress as a facet of achieving national identity. Qualitative research methods and Gramscianism were employed in the study. It is revealed that the majority of Zimbabweans fail to identify with the national dress due to political, cultural and economic reasons. The national dress is perceived as a campaign strategy being used by the state to achieve political expediency and to be seen as champion of moral as well as cultural regeneration. Some participants associate the dress with cultural imperialism and waste of resources. Very few participants take the dress as a positive step towards the decolonisation of cultural spaces and identities. Conclusively, the majority of Zimbabweans find the dress insignificant in their lives and in national identity construction.

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Section: Research Methods and Gramscianismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Methods and Gramscianismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating national identity in postcolonial Zimbabwe through a national dress

Chitima

2022

Nations and Nationalism

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“…For ZANU-PF the Conical Tower became the symbol of unity. According to Mujere et al. (2017), over the years the Conical Tower has become a powerful political symbol and part of state iconography.…”

Section: Heritage Nationhood and Branding: National And Political Symbolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Referring to the appropriation of Great Zimbabwe by the ruling ZANU-PF party, Nyakurerwa (2017) notes, ‘You would have thought that the party constructed the gigantic national wonder […]’. Anti-colonial liberation war memorials, inside and outside the country of Zimbabwe, which include the National Heroes Acre and Chimoio, have also been designed to incorporate visual elements from Great Zimbabwe (Mujere et al ., 2017; Pikirayi, 2006). The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, formed in 1999, initially incorporated the Zimbabwe bird in its official logo.…”

Section: Heritage Nationhood and Branding: National And Political Symbolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nation branding in Zimbabwe: Archaeological heritage, national cohesion, and corporate identities

Thondhlana

Chitima

Chirikure

2021

Journal of Social Archaeology

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This article critically assesses how heritage has been appropriated in various contexts to create national, partisan, and corporate identities in Zimbabwe. Using iconography, we attempt to establish how various players have created visual identities based on iconic archaeological artefacts and places. We discern that archaeological evidence has played a vital role in the invention and re-invention of national identity and patriotic iconography. Archaeological evidence has influenced the branding of corporate bodies, including universities, which are the major focus of this paper. Visual manifestations of the ancient Zimbabwe Culture ( madzimbahwe), especially Great Zimbabwe, dominate the branding process. The Zimbabwe bird, Conical Tower, and motifs associated with the drystone built heritage form the key visual elements in the country’s branding enterprise. We advance the argument that the period associated with madzimbahwe has been projected as the only ‘Golden Age’ of ancient Zimbabwe. Consequently, other heritages, diverse histories, and past cultural achievements have been marginalised.

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“…In more or less the same way, academics and former nationalist combatants have written on the war and covered some battles. Prominent amomg them include Bhebe (1999), Nkomo (2001), Martin and Johnson (1981), Chung (2007), Kriger (1992), Mazarire (2010), Mujere et al (2017), Nhongo-Simbanegavi (2003) and so on. The last for example discusses sexual assaults that were meted on ZANLA female guerrillas by their male counterparts especially in Mozambique.…”

Section: Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remembering Zimbabwe’s War of Liberation through Memories of the August 25 1979 Mushayi Battle, Dambara Area, Gutu

Chakawa¹,

Nyandoro²

2020

AHS

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In rural areas, the liberation war is often remembered through specific battles which afflicted permanent scars on communities. This is the case with the Mushayi battle of 25 August 1979 which involved the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) guerrillas and Rhodesian Security Forces (RSFs). The Mushayi homestead is about 63 km from the small town of Gutu in Masvingo Province. It is located in Dambara area comprising small scale commercial farms (formerly Native/African Purchase Areas). The suffering of affected people as a result of the said battle is central to understanding postwar healing, reconciliation and integration at local level because memory is key in making sense of the world people live in. Grassroots perceptions are important because the sense of sameness over time is sustained by remembering. Political status in Zimbabwe today, 41 years after the armed struggle is hinged on liberation war credentials. The importance of the paper lies in locating demands for compensation and restitution by some victims of the war not only in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa. It also dispels allegations that African Purchase Area farmers always sided with the minority regime since Rhodesians had originally established them to create a content loyal middle class. Last, the article explores the contribution of Purchase Areas as important places for resting, meeting and recuperating under the cover of vegetation.

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‘Those who are not known, should be known by the country’: patriotic history and the politics of recognition in southern Zimbabwe

Cited by 13 publications

References 19 publications

Negotiating national identity in postcolonial Zimbabwe through a national dress

Negotiating national identity in postcolonial Zimbabwe through a national dress

Nation branding in Zimbabwe: Archaeological heritage, national cohesion, and corporate identities

Remembering Zimbabwe’s War of Liberation through Memories of the August 25 1979 Mushayi Battle, Dambara Area, Gutu

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