Nehanda of Zimbabwe

Nehanda the Woman

Nehanda of Zimbabwe -1863-1898

The struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe has a long history stretching back to the last century when large numbers of white people entered the country and occupied the land. Many women and girls took part in the final war of independence that led to majority rule in 1980. They could draw inspiration from the fact that one of the major leaders of the first resistance to white rule was a woman — Nehanda.

Today the women of Zimbabwe have won their fight but in the last century Nehanda was to suffer and die for her courage. Nehanda was a spiritual leader forced by circumstances to direct her people’s resistance to foreign influences.

At the time of the white invasions, which began in 1890, Nehanda would advise those, who came to consult her and would perform the traditional ceremonies that ensured rain and good crops. It was because of these functions that the white invaders called her a witch and thought of her as something evil, someone of whom their God would not approve.

Those early arrivals were looking for gold, which was easily found in riverbeds or near the surface of the ground. Traditionally women had extracted it. With Nehanda’s co-operation, trade in gold was established but such friendly gestures were not to last. The white leaders soon began to establish their rule. Forced labour was recruited and taxes imposed. Worse still was the arrogance and cruelty of these new self-appointed masters. Anyone could be beaten at will and many were.

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