By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru.
King Mbari was the ruler of Harare, he was Paramount Chief (King) before British settlers arrived and colonised Zimbabwe. A spiritual relationship exists the Mbari clan and Nehanda, it’s important to note this relationship is not in the physical form. In the spiritual realm, there are fathers and children and mothers and uncles (muchamweya) and this in not in the bloodline. From the times that Nehanda`s spirit has appeared in Zimbabwe there has been a total of 9 right up to Mazviona who was the last Nehanda in 1972. Mazviona came out in 1972 following Charwi whose head was chopped off by the British settlers during colonialism during the first Chimurenga, by then Nehanda was 50.
Nehanda is supposed to live for over 100 years but this one`s life was cut short that`s why this one exceeds the time period. All the other Nehanda`s have exceeded 100 years. It is believed the previous Nehanda`s were buried in an area called Handa near Caborrabassa. Other history evidence states Charwi was buried in Mazoe by Paramount Chief (King) Makombe soon after she was beheaded by the British, he is said to have managed to get the body and secretly bury her within the Harare Kingdom without the British catching him. Nehanda simply means honour of the Handa. As far as Chiredzi no one knew Nehanda they had their own spirit medium called Makopa.
When Nehanda arrived in Harare she was given area to settle by King Mbari, she was given land in Mazoe where she settled for barley 6 months before the British settlers arrived. It was Mbari who gave her land to live on. In some history books they mention that Nehanda had a relationship with King Mbari, some people assume it’s a love relationship but it was a spiritual relationship. Unfortunately these books don’t mention what the relationship was, they just mention it in passing. It is important to clarify this information.
Modern day meaning of Nehanda is comforter, this name is given to a girl. In the USA the name is fast becoming popular it’s a powerful name that being respected and is associated with good leadership full of wisdom, resistance, strength, its loved for it`s unique sound and the connection with Zimbabwean Shona history. The name is meant to inspire future generations but most Zimbabwean who w use it on social media use it to insult someone and say they are too backward and ancient. This is a result of proper knowledge and lack of respect coupled with not knowing the true and full history and what Nehanda stood for. Other accounts define the name Nehanda to have originated from the fact that the little girl who was possessed with Nehanda spirit used to move around with a small lion in other words a handa, with the Ne meaning with. Others claim Mbuya Nehanda means the old woman with a small lion.
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