African history is replete with accounts of triumph intertwined with indigenous spiritual traditions. Primary to them is the heroic record of Mbuya Nehanda, Zimbabwe’s celebrated ancestral spirit and national grandmother. It is to the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda that the Shona and Ndebele people attributed guidance and protection during the 1896-97 war against colonial encroachment. It is the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda that fueled the modern-day liberation movement that led to Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence.
Construction to erect a monument to honor Mbuya Nehanda is underway. The structure, modeled from a photo taken of an Mbuya Nehanda medium in 1898, will be mounted in the capital city of Harare at the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way. It will be a reminder of how Zimbabweans resisted colonial conquest. It will serve as a testament to ancestral partnership. Click here to learn more about the pervading link between freedom movements and indigenous spirituality, as exemplified by Mbuya Nehanda.
Click here to check out the bonus video that further explains the historical significance of Mbuya Nehanda.