Before colonisation: governance, trade and movement across Africa were much more flexible, allowing for the incorporation of 'outsiders' into the community on the condition that they accepted its customs and where the sense of obligation and solidarity went beyond that of the nuclear family. This allowed for better interaction and social cohesion of different cultures and communities with ease.
The colonisation of Africa resulted in the creation of national borders through African communities which had existed for many years. However, these borders did not have regard for the existing realities and livelihoods of Africans, who were not involved in partitioning their continent. Despite some of the disruptions and challenges that the continent has faced as a result of its colonial history, the people of Africa have a rich heritage which spans over centuries. Right across Africa, we share languages, cultures, and spirituality.
Since time immemorial African life has revolved around three calendars to determine times and seasons. African lives have revolved around the cosmic, lunar and solar calendars, these being products of our cultural astronomy, which has charted our destiny from the ancient days.
Africa’s Interconnectedness: Southern Africa Focus
Despite the separation created by national boundaries imposed by colonialism, Africans are interrelated and in many ways share a common history. For instance, historians trace early Southern African settlements to the Limpopo Valley, where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet. Historians and archaeologists have unearthed over one thousand Iron Age sites in this valley, with reliable radiocarbon dates available for about sixty of them. From these settlements, the Mapungubwe kingdom emerged and later many other great kingdoms of Southern Africa that traded with the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and many other international traders.
Across the face of Southern Africa are the remains of more than five hundred and sixty monuments, which are outstanding palaces of stone, once the abode of our kings and ancient rulers. The biggest monument is the Great Zimbabwe site found in Masvingo in Zimbabwe, which is a remarkable work of architectural genius, a hallmark and a pinnacle of ancient African civilisations.
Other ancient Southern African capitals include Khami in Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe in South Africa, Majojo in Botswana and Mozambique monuments. Colonial borders later separated many African societies and communities. However, despite the borders, African societies remain connected and continue to share their history, language and culture. AmaXhosa people are found in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. AmaNguni people are found in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The Sotho-Tswana people groups are found in Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Other cross-border people groups include the Shangani, Venda, Chewa, Tsonga, Nyanja, Ndau, Manyika, Kalanga, Sena. This reaffirms our oneness and common ancestral roots.
African spirituality affirms that there is a superior being, an equivalent of God. However, more deities play various roles in interacting with humanity. Among the Nguni, uNkulunkulu was the first created being who, in turn, was assigned to create more human beings, animals and vegetation. This being is known as Musikavanhu among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. When Christianity was established in Southern Africa, names like uNkulunkulu and Musikavanhu were distorted to mean God, which is not their original meaning in the respective languages and spirituality. Among the Sotho-Tswana people , the first created being is called Matsieng.
Southern Africa has evolved over centuries, with queens, kings and military generals shaping the region's culture, geography and polity to date. Powerful military generals who later established kingdoms include Sigidika Senzangakhona commonly known as Shaka, who built the Zulu kingdom in South Africa. Other generals include Mzilikazi of the Ndebele kingdom in Zimbabwe, Soshangane of the Shangani kingdom in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Zwangendaba of the Ngoni kingdom of Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, Sebetwane of the Lozi kingdom in Zambia. Other kingdoms include the Sotho kingdom of Lesotho and the Swati kingdom of eSwatini.
These kingdoms later evolved into countries that we now find today in Southern Africa after colonisation. It is interesting to note that at some point, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi were a federation with its capital in Salisbury, now known as Harare. Zimbabweans, Malawians and Zambians share a common history, and the people have intermarried and assimilated over the years. It is no surprise that Chewa is recognised as an official language in the Zimbabwean Constitution.
Well, this was just a general introduction to this column. In our future instalments, we shall do in-depth discussions on the historical, spiritual and cultural ties of the peoples of Africa. We shall also explore the significance of various African monuments and spiritual centres.
Thomas Sibanda is a lawyer by profession and a student of African history. He can be contacted via e-mail: thomas@sibandalaw.co.bw. You may also follow his Twitter account @TheRealMzalaTom for history and culture threads and TwitterSpaces.
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