Make Great Zimbabwe Great Again
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Make Great Zimbabwe Great Again A study of the political usage of Great Zimbabwe 1980–2020 VT20 AE2020, 30 HP Author: Adam Andersson Examiner: Tove Hjørungdal Mentor: Christian Isendahl Abstract The purpose of this master’s thesis is to show how Great Zimbabwe was politically used during the period 1980-2020. This work was also carried out with the aim to examine and nuance how archaeology is used within the framework of nationalism, and how cultural heritage is used by political organizations for different purposes. The essay applies a theoretical perspective based on critical cultural heritage studies. The essay’s material consists of archaeological texts which deal with Great Zimbabwe, the material also consists of news articles, political speeches, and interviews with Zimbabwean archaeologists. This material is studied through an in-depth literature study. What is made clear in this thesis is that the Great Zimbabwe monument has different purposes during different periods. The thesis concludes that initially between 1980 and 2000, Great Zimbabwe was used in the creation of a new Zimbabwean identity, but at the onset of the 21st century this role changes towards a more active one. The study suggests that Zimbabwe´s severe economic downturn over the last two decades has resulted in an increase in the political usage of Great Zimbabwe. Keywords: Great Zimbabwe; Mugabe; Nkomo; ZANU-pf; ZANU; ZAPU; MDC; Zimbabwe Bird; Shona; Ndebele; Identity; Colonialism; Rhodesia; Cultural Heritage; 2 Acknowledgements There are a few people which I would like to thank, without their contribution, this essay would never have been completed, and perhaps never even started. First, I would like to extend my thanks to my supervisor Christian Isendahl, if it were not because you immediately lowered both idea one and two, I might never have chosen to focus on this topic. If I had not decided on this, the essay would probably never have been completed. I also want to say thank you for constantly criticizing me and giving me the opportunity to grow with the task. I am absolutely convinced because of this I have become a better archaeologist and a better scientist. I would also like to extend a special thanks to my former supervisor Tove Hjørungdal. You were constantly present on email. I like to thank you for leading several seminars which gave everyone new strength and willingness to complete this work. At the same time, I would also like to thank you for providing me with a stable foundation, as the result of the bachelor’s thesis you helped me finish. I would also like to take the opportunity to extend my special thanks to Edward Matenga and Munyaradzi Elton Sagiya. I am grateful over the fact both of you chose to participate in the interview survey. I am not sure I could have finished this work if it were not for the generous sharing of your knowledge of Great Zimbabwe. I hope that in the future we will be able to collaborate on new projects and that we will have continued contact. I would also like to thank my closest friends Marcus Nilsson, Erik Boman, Axel Hjerpe-Darrell, and Tobias Rydquist for keeping me healthy and alive throughout the years. If it were not for you all being by my side, I probably would never have made it all the way here. I would also like to thank Gösta Persson for the seminar and the points you made. A special thank you to my friend Joakim Johansson for helping me with my internet and my computer when I was amidst of wrapping up my thesis. Another special thanks to Ellen Kristensen for always being available when I need it. Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my parents, my grandparents and, my brother. I would like to thank both my parents for their interest in both archaeology and history, and for constantly encouraging my academic studies. I would also like to thank my brother for being at my side during my childhood. I would also like to thank my late grandfather, and my grandmother for always having been there for any issue, big or small. If I were to describe how I am currently feeling than I would say I am experiencing feelings of great, Joy, Ease, Satisfaction, and Success and I would not have been able to do it without any of you. 3 Table of contents • 1. Background/Introduction ....................................................................................... 5 • 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 6 • 1.2 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 6 • 1.3 Delimitations ....................................................................................................................... 6 • 1.4 Research Overview ............................................................................................................... 7 • 1.5 Theoretical Perspectives ....................................................................................................... 9 • 1.6 Method and Materials ........................................................................................................... 10 • 1.7 Reflexivity and Source Criticism .......................................................................................... 11 • 1.8 Disposition ............................................................................................................................ 11 • 2. Review of the case study Zimbabwe, and Great Zimbabwe ................................ 12 • 2.0.1 Shona and Ndebele ............................................................................................................ 12 • 2.1 The history of Great Zimbabwe and the site’s archaeological history .................................. 14 • 2.1.1 Great Zimbabwe´s Research History ................................................................................. 14 • 2.1.2 The Great Zimbabwe Ruins and what the research has led to ........................................... 26 • 2.2 The Portuguese presence between 1500–1880 ..................................................................... 30 • 2.3 Cecil Rhodes, the British South Africa Company British Southern Rhodesia 1880-1965 ... 30 • 2.4 Rhodesia, the Bush War and the Second Chimurenga 1962-1979 ....................................... 34 • 2.4.1 The role of Great Zimbabwe during the war and in Rhodesia ........................................... 37 • 2.4.2 The merger of ZANU – ZAPU, and creation of ZANU-pf ............................................... 39 • 3. The Political usage of Great Zimbabwe between 1980-2000 ............................... 40 • 3.0.1 National Museums and Monuments Act ............................................................................ 40 • 3.1 Great Zimbabwe between 1980-2000 the creation of an identity ......................................... 42 • 3.1.1 Summary of the political usage of Great Zimbabwe between 1980-2000 ......................... 50 • 4. The Political usage of Great Zimbabwe between 2000–2020 ............................... 52 • 4.0.1 The background to Zimbabwe´s economic problems ........................................................ 52 • 4.1 Great Zimbabwe between 2000-2020 the third Chimurenga ................................................ 55 • 4.1.1 Unity Day Anniversary 2001, 2003 ................................................................................... 55 • 4.1.2 The repatriation of another Soapstone Bird, 2003 ............................................................. 57 • 4.1.3 Robert Mugabe’s 92nd birthday celebration, 2016 ............................................................ 61 • 4.1.4 Great Zimbabwe, the Soapstone Birds and life after Robert Mugabe ............................... 63 • 4.1.5 Summary of the political usage of Great Zimbabwe between 2000-2020 ......................... 66 • 5. Discussion of the analysis ....................................................................................... 67 • 5.0.1 Why Great Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Bird ................................................................ 68 • 5.0.2 The Government, ZANU-pf and Great Zimbabwe ............................................................ 71 • 5.0.3 Zimbabwe’s economic situation and an evolving political usage ...................................... 73 • 5.0.4 Has the value of Great Zimbabwe been affected by the political landscape? .................... 76 • 6. Conclusion Great Zimbabwe’s political role between 1980-2020 ....................... 78 • 7. Summary .................................................................................................................. 80 • 8. Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 81 • 8.1 Internet sources ..................................................................................................................... 83 • 8.2 Picture list ............................................................................................................................. 84 • 8.3 Speeches ............................................................................................................................... 85 • 8.4 Laws ..................................................................................................................................... 85 • 8.5 Orally ...................................................................................................................................