These Bones Will Rise Again – Response (Global Politics)

The book, These Bones Will Rise Again, by Panashe Chingumadzi, responds to the November 2017 ousting of Robert Mugabe, exploring the events leading up to the ‘coup, not coup’ that brought his 37-year rule to an end. The book brings together critical analysis to radically reframe the political and cultural history of the country, recognising the role of women, workers and urban movements in its liberation struggle. These Bones Will Rise Again explores the overwhelming post-independence days of the 80s, the economic downturn of the 90s, through to the effects of the fast-track land reform policies at the end of the century. Panashe Chigumadzi depicts a complex and personal history of the past and present along with the intercession of the anti-colonial heroine Mbuya Nehanda, the founding ancestor of Zimbabwe’s revolution, as well as her own beloved grandmother, who passed away shortly before the De Facto coup. 

 

However, rather than focusing solely on Mugabe and the amount of power he held, as well as how he was overthrown by his own military (which had supported him for almost four decades). Chingumadzi focuses on Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana and how she finds connections of the spiritual figure’s personality in her own grandmother. Mbuya Nehanda was one of the major spiritual leaders of African resistance to white rule during the late 19th century in what is now Zimbabwe. Nehanda had taken part in the “War of Liberation” in 1880 more commonly known as the Chimurenga and was later hung for her participation. 

 

Despite Mbuya Nehanda’s awful end, Panashe Chingumadzi finds similarity between Nehanda and her grandmother. Panashe describes a picture of her grandmother in which she is alone. She realized that Lilian Chingumadzi (her grandmother) stood with no baby in her arms or on her back or husband by her side and assumed that she was in her early 20’s. She seemed to belong to no one but her self, despite the several names people had given her which connected her to the society around her like, Mai Chigumadzi, Mrs Kenneth Chigumadzi, Mai Rophina or Tete Rophina.  To her (Panashe), she felt as though her grandmother was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need to rely on anyone else and was ready to voice her own opinions despite the society around her, like Mbuya Nehanda. However, Panashe’s view of her grandmother becomes further enhanced throughout the book as she realizes that contrary to what she thought, Lilian was actually a lot younger in the picture than she seemed and was also bearing a child. This portrayed her to be vulnerable and so in Panashe’s eyes even more admirable. Additionally, “modern African women were often portrayed as prostitutes” (pg 55) especially when they disregarded societal order and proceeded to do as they pleased. However, regardless of her position as an independent woman (and so by implication a prostitute), Lilian became a part of a wealthy family and was ready to stand tall and meet the world’s gaze. Consequently, with Nehanda as the spiritual role-model, Panashe and her community who are eagerly fighting for liberation from Mugabe’s rule, see traces of Nehanda’s will to fight in themselves and in their ancestors. So both her grandmother and Nehanda together inspire her to do what she is doing.

 

Personally, in a way, I feel that my own mother may be able to relate to Panashe as my grandmother was a single mother who raised two children on her own. Despite, having to take control and raise two children and being pitied for her loss of position in society, she managed to provide them with good education and overall a decent and happy life. She was able to choose for herself and decided that she wanted to support her family without assistance from others. Society tends to resent women who aren’t dutiful or do not obey and respect society’s laws. There are several women who have overcome society’s constant demands and have been humiliated for being different from society’s standard of an ideal woman. An example could be Harriet Tubman who escaped from slavery during the American Civil War. She returned to slave-holding states many times to help other slaves escape despite the constant backlash she was given for primarily being a woman and disobeying the gender laws that society had established. Moreover, another simple example could be Nora from A Doll’s House who in the end values her own judgment rather than become submissive and docile to her husband and society’s desires. (Act 3) “Helmer: I would gladly work night and day for you. Nora – bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Nora: It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done.” This quote from the book highlights how women have been forced to be submissive to men and give up on personal identity and their idea of self due to social pressures.  Although the circumstances are not the same, the idea of females fighting for freedom has been stressed over time and Panashe perfectly presents the black female-minority struggle for independence in post-colonial Zimbabwe through her beliefs in her family and religion (Nehanda being a spirit representative of liberation) and the connections she finds with her past. 

 

—–

 

More about Robert Mugabe:

Robert Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1963, he founded ZANU, a resistance movement against British colonial rule. Mugabe became prime minister of the new Republic of Zimbabwe after British rule ended in 1980, and he assumed the role of president seven years later. Mugabe retained a strong grip on power, through controversial elections, until he was forced to resign in November 2017, at age 93.) Military interference was needed in Zimbabwe as the (Zimbabwe) military confirmed early Wednesday that it had taken control of the country and its leader, Robert Mugabe. There had long been concerns about the health of the 93-year-old president and what would come next for the African country he has ruled since 1980. Mugabe grew up in Southern Rhodesia, a self-governing British colony that later became Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe. After becoming a schoolteacher, he joined an opposition group to fight British rule. He was jailed and later forced into exile in Mozambique. After the British withdrew from his country, Mugabe grasped the opportunity and ran in national elections on the promise that he would distribute Zimbabwe’s resources more equitably.

 

Image result for these bones will rise again

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *