I first heard about Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana on the Encyclopedia Womannica podcast (highly recommend!) that is documenting the history of women, one woman at a time every day in 5-7 minutes. They are brief, engaging podcasts that make for a great start to your day.
Anyways, Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana. Nyakasikana was a spiritual leader of the Zezuru Shona people in what is now known as the Mashonaland region of Zimbabwe, and one of the leaders of the resistance movement against British colonialism. She was married in her 40s with two children when, it is thought in 1848, the spirit of Nehanda possessed her, and that is when she started using ‘Nhanda’ in preface to her name. Nyakasikana was already one of the most powerful women and fiercely committed to upholding traditional Shona culture. As a spiritual medium, she had great influence and is the only recorded woman to have held such a position in the 19th century.
These spiritual mediums were basically known as the voices of god to the people, and that’s why their role in the rebellion was so important. It was Nyakasikana and two others who not only preached resistance to the people, but also organized and directed resistance assaults.
At the end of the rebellion she was captured and executed by the British, and refused to convert to Christianity, unlike others who were captured, saying that her body would rise again to lead another, successful rebellion. Her resistance has become that of legend, and she is commemorated with statues, street names, hospitals, the College of Health and Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, songs, novels, and poems, and is still an important figure in the nationalist movement in Zimbabwe. Her name is also adorned with the honorary title of ‘Mbuya’, or ‘grandmother’.
I have to admit, my knowledge about the history of Africa as a continent and its individual countries is shamefully low, and this is one (of many) areas that I would love to brush up on, which is part of why I love writing this limited series.