How Mbuya Nehanda became privileged as the icon of our collective ethnic spiritual identity.
Mbuya Nehanda (Front) Charwe Nayakasikana, the Zezuru spirit medium of Mazowe popularly known as Mbuya Nehanda is arguably one of the most debated personalities of her era. Her profile is the subject of various interpretations, constantly redacted to suit contemporary ideological needs. This article explores the process that led to the ascent of Charwe Nyakasikana in the national imagination as a way to appreciate why some historical figures are privileged over others. In elite theory, the ruling class of a particular society sets the political agenda. In Marxist terms, they dominate the economy, and by extension also determine the cultural norms and practices of that society. Post colonialism, the ruling elite embarked on a drive to unilaterally reclaim and rethink the history and agency of Zimbabwe as it transitioned from imperial subordination to nation building. Social engineering tactics deployed via myth making and jingoistic narratives to ideologically connect Zimbabwean ma...