On the psychology of oppression: blame me on history!

Critical Arts, July, 2009 by Brilliant Mhlanga

This is a story of the continued wanton destruction and suppression of our memory. Our story, of a forced denial of our shadows and characterisation of them as ugly, constitutes my face-to-face encounter with the psychology of oppression.

References

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Davidson, B. 1992. Blackman's burden: Africa and the curse of the nation-state. Oxford: James Currey.

Dumont, R. 1966. False start in Africa. London: Andre Deutsch.

Durkheim, E. 1958. Professional ethics and civil morals. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press.

Fanon, F. 1967. Wretched of the earth. London: Penguin Books.

Frankl, V.E. 1984. Man's search for meaning. New York: Pocket Books Publishers.

Freire, P. 1993. Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum Publishing Group.

Gatsheni-Ndlovu, S.J. Forthcoming. The Ndebele nation: reflections on hegemony, memory and historiography. Amsterdam: Savusa/Rozenberg/Unisa Press.

Guest, R. 2004. The shackled continent: Africa's past, present and future. Oxford: Macmillan.

Hill, G. 2005. What happens after Mugabe: can Zimbabwe rise from the ashes? Cape Town: Zebra Press.

http://www.sokwanele.com/articles/sokwanele/gukurahundiinzimbabwe 29May2007 .html (accessed on 10/11/2008).

Mazrui, A. 1980. The African condition: apolitical diagnosis. The Reith lectures. London: Heinemann.

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Mbembe, A. 2001. On the post-colony. Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Patterson, O. 1982. Slavery and social death: a comparative study. Harvard: Harvard University Press.

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Werbner, R.P. 199 I. Tears of the dead." the social biography of an African family. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Notes

(1) Ndebele is a nation which was formed by King Mzilikazi Khumalo out of different ethnic groups. It is located in the southern part of Zimbabwe, also encompassing part of the Midlands region. This expansive area is chiefly referred to as Matebeleland and Midlands. There are many ways by which people have chosen to understand and define Ndebelehess; in historical and sociopolitical terms (based on power relations--their emergence as the 'other'). However, now the Ndebele have been classified as an ethnic group found in Zimbabwe. For a detailed engagement on the history of the Ndebele, refer to Sabelo J. Gatsheni-Ndlovu (forthcoming), The Ndebele nation." reflections on hegemony, memory and historiography. Amsterdam: Savusa/Unisa Press. Or Richard P. Werbner, 1991. Tears of the dead." the social biography of an African family. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

(2) For more information on the Gukurahundi Genocide, refer to the following works: Peter Stiff, 2002. Cry Zimbabwe: independence-twenty years on. Alberton: Galago Publishers. Geof Hill, 2005. What happens after Mugabe: can Zimbabwe rise from the ashes? Cape Town: Zebra Press. Werbner, R.P., 1991. Tears of the dead." the social biography of an African family. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. The Gukurahundi Genocide (1982-1987) stands today as the only genocide to happen in modern-day southern Africa. This genocide was perpetrated by Robert Mugabe on behalf of the Shona people against the Ndebele people. The term 'Gukurahundi (Operation)' was commonly used. It refers to the first rains that clean or wash away the dirt before the ploughing season. Please note the symbolism here, of an army (the Fifth Brigade) being dubbed as cleaners and sent to annihilate the Ndebele people, who were perceived to be dirty, or chaff.