It’s rather unfortunate that the only visual reference that most Africans have of their history mostly come from colonial documents, and old paper cuts from the colonial press. Subsequently, figures like Mbuya Nehanda’s medium are only known through the lenses of prison cameras. In this artwork, I took it upon myself to imagine her when she was free and full of life. Years, before being inevitably chained and hanged. I included the word “inevitably” because freedom always comes with a price. In my visual creation, I imagined an alternate universe in which Nehanda picked up a gun and fought alongside other freedom fighters. This “warrior version” of the spirit medium was inspired by many historical things including “sacred” fabric patterns, and Chimurenga music. In order to bring out the pivotal role that was played by Chimurenga music in the Zimbabwean colonial war, I chose to include two mbira instruments in my visual creation.
Most people tend to forget that grandmothers also play a huge role in motherhood in several African households. Likewise, my version “Mbuya” is seen taking care of a child that’s too young to be biological hers (muzukuru). A child who in this particular image, represents Zimbabwe. The medium’s eyes see things in a spiritual dimension, and her gun deals with other threats on a very practical and tangible level.
