During my research, I attempted to Trace the history of great African Revolutionary Women. This is how I stumbled upon Mbuya Nehanda.
In 1840, a Mashona woman by the name of Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana was born in the Mazowe District of central Zimbabwe.
She was medium to a revered female spirit of rain and land fertility, the spirit of Nehanda. She was better known as Mbuya Nehanda, spoke for her people, and was committed to upholding traditional Shona culture.
When British settlers first arrived, the people of Shonaland and nearby Ndebele land were welcoming, allowing them to trade and live freely. Unfortunately relationships became strained when the settlers started imposing taxes, forced relocations, forced labour, and worse.
According to history, the last straw was the imposition of a ‘hut tax’. ( I know, right?)
This lead to a massive revolt against the British and sealed Nehanda’s name in history forever.
Nehanda was instrumental in leading the First Chimurenga (“Revolutionary Struggle”) of 1896-1897. This made her status significant enough to become a British symbol for the need to “civilize” the Africans.
As a way of punishing her for daring to challenge colonial rule, Nehanda along with three others ( Zindoga, Hwata and Gutsa), were falsely (historians differ on the veracity of this claim) accused of murdering a brutal white native commissioner, Henry Hawkins Pollard of the British South Africa Company who lived near Mazowe and terrorised people in that district.
They were subsequently convicted on March 2nd 1898 in a case entered as “The (British) Queen against Nehanda”. They were sentenced to death by hanging and executed on April 27th 1898.
Mbuya Nehanda became a symbol for African Nationalists of the “uncolonized” past that had been destroyed by colonialism. Her legacy will forever remain entrenched in the annals of Zimbabwe’s history.
To honour her memory, her statue was erected at the Parliament of Zimbabwe. Hospital wards, streets and national jets have been named after her, as well and movies, songs and poems fondly referring to her as Mbuya or Grandmother.
Nehanda’s dying words, “My bones will rise again,” predicted the Second Chimurenga (1966-79) which culminated in the independence of present-day Zimbabwe.
May 31, 2017 at 3:14 pm
I enjoyed this article. And it made me wonder again just how courageous I would be if I were in the shoes of someone in her circumstances. Each time I read the story of individuals who stood for freedom no matter what the personal cost, I ask myself the same question. Would I have been willing to do the same? And each time, I find myself even more grateful I was born into a nation where I did not have to face that kind of decision. Of course, my free-born status and protection are the result of hundreds of my forefathers and foremothers who did make it.
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May 31, 2017 at 3:18 pm
True words. Very few have such strength of character. Thanks for stopping by🙂
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May 31, 2017 at 4:08 pm
Loved You post. Hate to read about the past injustices! So glossed over by 98% of historians! I loved the quote I read. Someone who stands up and speaks truth regardless of the consequences is a Great Man/Woman. Very well done. Bravo, Bravo
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May 31, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Thanks Chuck! Glad you liked it, albeit tragic history 👍🏽
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June 1, 2017 at 12:15 am
Wonderful! I knew nothing of this woman and I love learning about women “warriors”. Thank you for this post and the information about Nehanda.
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June 1, 2017 at 6:45 am
I didn’t either. Took me ages to dig it up! Makes you wonder what else is hidden in history. Thank you for stopping by 👍🏽
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June 14, 2017 at 1:13 am
Love her courage and strength. And I agree, really makes one wonder what else was suppressed throughout history. Kids especially need strong(er) role models.
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June 14, 2017 at 7:20 am
So good of you to take time to comment. Well, I’m still digging through historical records for more un-sung heroes.
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June 14, 2017 at 8:01 am
Can’t wait. Was trying to find the identity of a possibly Free Person of Color who lived in New Orleans around 1820. All I know is he could pass for Spanish. Stopped for a while, because needed to step away, but not for too long. My point is, I can totally relate to that thrill of finding something.
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June 14, 2017 at 10:06 am
Please let us know when you know about this person 😊
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June 14, 2017 at 11:36 am
I will! I think he ran some type of casino or brothel, or those lovely quadroon / octoroon balls. It’ll take a while, but I’m determined to find him.
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June 14, 2017 at 7:40 pm
Please do!
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June 14, 2017 at 8:18 am
Hope you find him or her😊
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June 14, 2017 at 9:59 pm
We should team up for this! I swear. I mean, I know we both have life and other things going on, but how cool would that be?! And two minds do work better than one. Especially if we do it whenever we can / time permits / we feel like it. What do you think?
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June 14, 2017 at 10:23 pm
I’m in! My “very serious ” posts focuses on stuff that makes me go “wow-really!?” If that’s your theme- why not?👍🏽
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June 14, 2017 at 11:01 pm
Same here! Things I don’t understand, that I want to get to the bottom of. Not to condone, but to really understand.
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June 14, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Exactly!
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June 14, 2017 at 11:09 pm
We are totally on the same page! So good to have found a friend! Btw, forgot to mention this where it belongs, but sent you a pm. Two, because I type too fast. 😃
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June 14, 2017 at 11:15 pm
Thanks! You type at the speed of light. Will have a look at the contact page and get back to you.
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June 14, 2017 at 11:19 pm
My fingers are actually hurting from using my phone. 😃 And I’m thinking I’m slow, because when I watch some teens, or remember my friends in America, how fast they’d type, I’m nowhere near close. And autocorrect is convinced it’s Halloween, and I forgot to give it sweets. But I just got your email, so you have me beat!!! 😃😃😃
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June 14, 2017 at 11:25 pm
My teens make me look like a grandma! Looking forward to working with you. 😊
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June 14, 2017 at 11:39 pm
That’s just a mind trick they’re trying to pull. I don’t have kids, but I’m around my friends’ children enough to get that grandma feeling as well.
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June 14, 2017 at 11:42 pm
And I’m really looking forward to our collaboration as well! Though me missing half the words, I think I should go to sleep. Don’t know about your part of the world, but it’s coming up to 2am here. I’m a night owl, but still.
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June 15, 2017 at 7:40 am
Was already asleep! See you on email on this topic😊
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June 15, 2017 at 11:05 am
Absolutely! 🙂
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