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MBUYA NEHANDA 
“My bones will rise again”
Many know her from a picture that’s actually not of her but of her spirit medium Charwe Nyakasikana.
She was a powerhouse! Up there with Queen Lozikeyi and other great women who played a major role in freeing present day Zimbabwe.
“My bones will rise again”
Many know her from a picture that’s actually not of her but of her spirit medium Charwe Nyakasikana.
She was a powerhouse! Up there with Queen Lozikeyi and other great women who played a major role in freeing present day Zimbabwe.
WHO WAS MBUYA NEHANDA?
According to various sources, the original Nehanda was the daughter of Monomatapa Mutota if the Mutapa State
Her real name was Nyamhika but she became widely known as Nehanda
Mutota was the father of the Matope, making Matope and Nehanda half siblings
According to various sources, the original Nehanda was the daughter of Monomatapa Mutota if the Mutapa State
Her real name was Nyamhika but she became widely known as Nehanda
Mutota was the father of the Matope, making Matope and Nehanda half siblings
It is said, Matope ordered his children to commit incest in order to increase the power of his son, the next Monomotapa, Matope
The incest ritual is said to have increased Matope’s power. When he became the Monomatapa, Matope gave his sister Nehanda a portion of his empire
The incest ritual is said to have increased Matope’s power. When he became the Monomatapa, Matope gave his sister Nehanda a portion of his empire
Nehanda became so powerful and well known that her spirit lived on in the human bodies of many spirit mediums over the years until ~500 years later when it occupied the body of Charwe Nyakasikana
Charwe is the one we see in pictures, often with Sekuru Kagubi
Charwe is the one we see in pictures, often with Sekuru Kagubi
SPIRIT MEDIUMS
The spirit Nehanda is a mhondoro (royal ancestral spirit) or "lion spirit" that uses women as mediums
The mediums are given the title NEHANDA
During periods of possession, spirit mediums speak with the voice and personality of the original Nehanda
The spirit Nehanda is a mhondoro (royal ancestral spirit) or "lion spirit" that uses women as mediums
The mediums are given the title NEHANDA
During periods of possession, spirit mediums speak with the voice and personality of the original Nehanda
CHARWE NYAKASIKANA
Charwe Nyakasikana (1840 - 1898) was a well known medium of Mbuya Nehanda.
She was born in Chishawasha to Chitaura, son of Shayachimwe, founder of the Hwata dynasty in Mazowe.
She married and had two daughters and a son. No one knows the name of her husband
Charwe Nyakasikana (1840 - 1898) was a well known medium of Mbuya Nehanda.
She was born in Chishawasha to Chitaura, son of Shayachimwe, founder of the Hwata dynasty in Mazowe.
She married and had two daughters and a son. No one knows the name of her husband
HUSBAND
Nehanda was the spiritual wife of Kagubi, which explains their connection.
Kagubi, through his medium Gumboreshumba, is said to have persuaded Nehanda to preach the gospel of war resistance in Mashonaland, which led to the first Chimurenga.
But we're not there yet
Nehanda was the spiritual wife of Kagubi, which explains their connection.
Kagubi, through his medium Gumboreshumba, is said to have persuaded Nehanda to preach the gospel of war resistance in Mashonaland, which led to the first Chimurenga.
But we're not there yet
PRIESTESS
She was very central in the religious organisation of the Shona tribes in Zimbabwe
As the medium of the powerful Nehanda, she was the centre of communication between the living and the dead. She even had influence in the installation of chiefs and political figures
She was very central in the religious organisation of the Shona tribes in Zimbabwe
As the medium of the powerful Nehanda, she was the centre of communication between the living and the dead. She even had influence in the installation of chiefs and political figures
She lived in Chidamba Village in Mazoe, Zimbabwe.
As the medium of the Great Nehanda, she was very respected and honored.
She led the traditional ceremonies and ancestral consultations.
All was good until White people happened...
As the medium of the Great Nehanda, she was very respected and honored.
She led the traditional ceremonies and ancestral consultations.
All was good until White people happened...
Like King Lobengula on the other side, Charwe-Nehanda welcomed the occupation of the land by the whites and told her followers to play nice and treat them like guests.
But just like they did Lobengula’s people, it wasn’t long before they realised that the whites had lied
But just like they did Lobengula’s people, it wasn’t long before they realised that the whites had lied
The British settlers started imposing taxes, forced relocations, forced labour and just taking over nje
Spirit mediums were regarded as the voices of God/Mwari.
Spirit mediums were regarded as the voices of God/Mwari.
Mashonaland was plagued by drought and Nehanda said Mwari said the cause of all the troubles they were facing was the whites so they white men had to be driven out of the country
She told the natives not to be afraid as Mwari would turn the bullets of the white man into water
She told the natives not to be afraid as Mwari would turn the bullets of the white man into water
CHIMURENGA
Colonialism got worse until the natives had had it. So in 1896-7 a rebellion happened (First Chimurenga)
Because of strong cultural beliefs of our people, the leading roles behind the rebellion were by three spirit mediums.
Colonialism got worse until the natives had had it. So in 1896-7 a rebellion happened (First Chimurenga)
Because of strong cultural beliefs of our people, the leading roles behind the rebellion were by three spirit mediums.
The rebellion began in Matabeleland in May 1896, led by Mukwati. Then in October 1896, Nehanda joined in
With her was the medium of Sekuru Gumboreshumba, the medium of the Kagubi spirit also known as MURENGA -meaning “war spirit”
And that’s where the name Chimurenga was derived
With her was the medium of Sekuru Gumboreshumba, the medium of the Kagubi spirit also known as MURENGA -meaning “war spirit”
And that’s where the name Chimurenga was derived
ARREST
Charwe (Nehanda) was hunted down by the colonial regime of the British South Africa Company due to her widespread influence and her denunciation of colonisation. She was able to avoid arrest for over a year but she was eventually captured at the end of 1897.
Charwe (Nehanda) was hunted down by the colonial regime of the British South Africa Company due to her widespread influence and her denunciation of colonisation. She was able to avoid arrest for over a year but she was eventually captured at the end of 1897.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS
She was accused of murdering Henry Pollard, a brutal white commissioner who terrorised people in Mazowe
Henry violently beat up Chief Chiweshe for failing to report an outbreak of some cow disease (Rinderpest) among his herds
She was accused of murdering Henry Pollard, a brutal white commissioner who terrorised people in Mazowe
Henry violently beat up Chief Chiweshe for failing to report an outbreak of some cow disease (Rinderpest) among his herds
Vele Henry had no right! So he was brought before Charwe. Charwe knelt down and spoke with Pollard before saying to her people, “Kill him but take him to the river or he will stink”
So they took an axe and chopped off his head
That’s how Charwe - Nehanda was charged with murder
So they took an axe and chopped off his head
That’s how Charwe - Nehanda was charged with murder
EXECUTION
The execution was authorized on behalf of the Queen
The warrant for Mbuya Nehanda’s death commanded that she be executed within the wall of the prison of Salisbury between the 6 and 10 pm.
The execution was authorized on behalf of the Queen
The warrant for Mbuya Nehanda’s death commanded that she be executed within the wall of the prison of Salisbury between the 6 and 10 pm.
A Catholic priest, Father Richertz, was assigned to convert Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and others to Christians before killing them.
He failed to convert Mbuya Nehanda but managed to convert Sekuru Gumboreshumba (Kagubi). He baptised him and renamed him Dismas, the good thief.
He failed to convert Mbuya Nehanda but managed to convert Sekuru Gumboreshumba (Kagubi). He baptised him and renamed him Dismas, the good thief.
But of course Nehanda didn’t go down that easily! Unsuccessful attempts were made to hang her. Unt an African prisoner present at her hanging suggested that the hangman remove from her belt a tobacco pouch (TRAITOR!).
This was done and she was successfully hanged
This was done and she was successfully hanged
According to the priest, Charwe - Nehanda called for her people and wanted to go back to Mazoe and die there
He was still baptising Kagubi when Nehanda was taken to the scaffold
He says she was crying, screaming and yelling until she died and her body dropped to the ground
He was still baptising Kagubi when Nehanda was taken to the scaffold
He says she was crying, screaming and yelling until she died and her body dropped to the ground
DEATH OF A WARRIOR
Mbuya Nehanda was hanged in 1898. Apparently, she the tree she was hanged on was in present day Harare CBD.
Unfortunately kuthwa it was hit by a truck about 10 years ago
Her remains were taken to London and displayed as war trophies in London museums
Mbuya Nehanda was hanged in 1898. Apparently, she the tree she was hanged on was in present day Harare CBD.
Unfortunately kuthwa it was hit by a truck about 10 years ago
Her remains were taken to London and displayed as war trophies in London museums
POST INDEPENDENCE
117 years later, the remains of Mbuya Nehanda and Kagubi haven't been repatriated back to Zim
They were supposed to come in April but Covid-19 happened I think.
Also expected were 25 skulls of early revolutionaries and a sacred talking rod.
A TALKING rod?
117 years later, the remains of Mbuya Nehanda and Kagubi haven't been repatriated back to Zim
They were supposed to come in April but Covid-19 happened I think.
Also expected were 25 skulls of early revolutionaries and a sacred talking rod.
A TALKING rod?
Apparently, the white colonialists took the skulls because they knew that disconnecting the head from the body meant that the person couldn’t become a spirit medium.
Also, if a person dies, apparently they can only rest if the body and soul have been buried in their native land
Also, if a person dies, apparently they can only rest if the body and soul have been buried in their native land
LAST WORDS
She “Mapfupa angu achamuka (My bones will rise again)” meaning they will rise again to fight the settlers
She also said, “Seize the gun and liberate yourselves”
CLOSING QUOTE [Stolen from my novel]: "When The Grandmothers Speak, The Earth Will Heal"
THE END
She “Mapfupa angu achamuka (My bones will rise again)” meaning they will rise again to fight the settlers
She also said, “Seize the gun and liberate yourselves”
CLOSING QUOTE [Stolen from my novel]: "When The Grandmothers Speak, The Earth Will Heal"
THE END
*122 years later not 117. Maths is not my mother language 
*Typos... Please autocorrect as you read
*If there's something I wrote that is false or if I left out important information, kindly comment
*Typos... Please autocorrect as you read
*If there's something I wrote that is false or if I left out important information, kindly comment
