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bookxmagic's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book, I am always so fascinated by Zimbabwean history and this book gives such a beautiful overview. I love how she tackles the shamanism of Zim which in my opinion some of the most gifted healers com from there. A short and beautifully written book.
charliebnl's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This collection of essays by Panashe, triggered by the marches that precipitated the ousting of Robert Mugabe as president / dictator of Zimbabwe. Panashe discusses the Chimurenga, uprisings, that have risen up throughout what is now called Zimbabwe’s history of fighting to protect their land to get it back from the Colonisers and Tyranny.
It took me a while to get into the book, but by page 60 I was hooked. Reading about the history that I was clueless about, from a country I have visited several times and that borders my current home, was shameful. It highlights not only the political and historical events from the first encounter with the British, but also the spiritual linkages to mediums that Zimbabweans believe re-incarnate every so often and then lead the next Chimurenga. If you’ve ever watch Avatar the last Airbender, I kept thinking about that in this context.
Panashe also highlights the Gukurahundi, the massacre of the Ndebele in Zimbabwe between 1982 and 1987. The traumas meted onto Zimbabweans by Zimbabweans that is never spoken about and it made me think about how I have interacted with Ndebele Zimbabweans who may be survivors of that violence without knowing it.
Panashe also highlights the important role that women play in being custodians of history, depicts us being written out of it, it is another book that highlights the importance of us collecting our history from our parents, especially out mothers.
Read this if you live in Southern Africa, if you like historical non-fiction, if you ever made a comment about Robert Mugabe, if you know a Zimbabwean or have visited Zimbabwe or live / d there.
2treads's review against another edition
informative
reflective
Chigumadzi writes and reflects on events that have contributed to the shaping of her country.
emason1121's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute must-read ethnographic account of Zimbabwe’s recent history. Tackles the complexities of change and historical narratives through the entanglement with the personal— which, really, isn’t personal at all, since it is a human experience and we are all made human through our relationships to others.
littlebluewonderings's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75