By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
What happened to Mbari is not unique. Around the world, indigenous custodians of capital cities were erased in Nairobi, in Johannesburg, in Washington D.C. But restoration movements are rising.
Zimbabwe’s moment is now. and the Princess of Harare`s voice aligns Harare with a global struggle for indigenous restoration.
The story of the Mbari clan, the erasure of their chieftaincy, and the suppression of Harare’s indigenous custodians is part of a broader pattern of global injustice. Across continents, colonial and settler powers have systematically displaced or silenced the original stewards of capital cities and regions, rewriting urban and national narratives in ways that serve the powerful while erasing the rightful custodians.
In Nairobi, the Kikuyu and other indigenous communities were stripped of influence and land as colonial authorities imposed their own governance structures. In Johannesburg, the pre-colonial roles of local chiefs were sidelined to make way for the city’s apartheid-era administration. In Washington D.C., Native American lands were taken, treaties broken, and indigenous voices marginalized while the city grew into the symbolic heart of a nation. Across the globe, capitals were reshaped not just physically but symbolically — erasing the very people who had nurtured and defined these spaces for generations.
The parallels are striking. In every case, power was asserted not only through force but also through narrative control: histories were rewritten, archives hidden, oral traditions suppressed, and legal systems engineered to favour the settlers. Indigenous custodians were displaced physically, spiritually, and symbolically. Their knowledge, rituals, and governance structures were delegitimized, while the urban landscapes that grew atop their ancestral lands bore no visible trace of their original stewards.
Zimbabwe’s case mirrors this pattern. Harare, once the heart of Mbari authority, was renamed Salisbury, and colonial records systematically under-documented the clan’s influence. Successive governments perpetuated this erasure, whether through silence, bureaucratic oversight, or constitutional frameworks inherited from colonial rule. The Mbari clan, once central to the city’s governance and cultural life, became a footnote in the official narrative.
Yet, the global context provides hope. Around the world, indigenous restoration movements are gaining momentum. In Kenya, South Africa, and North America, communities are reclaiming land, asserting cultural leadership, and rewriting histories that were once suppressed. These efforts demonstrate that erasure is not permanent, and that recognition, restitution, and revival are possible with persistent advocacy and collective action.
The Princess’s work is part of this global awakening. By documenting Mbari history, advocating for recognition, and reconnecting scattered descendants, she situates Harare within the broader struggle for indigenous restoration. Her voice echoes not only across Zimbabwe but also in solidarity with those worldwide fighting to restore the dignity, authority, and memory of indigenous custodians of capital cities.
Harare’s moment is now. By confronting its hidden history, reclaiming the narrative, and asserting Mbari authority, the city can join the ranks of capitals that honour their indigenous roots. The Princess’s efforts are more than personal or local; they are an alignment with a global movement, affirming that cities must remember their original custodians, and nations must acknowledge the histories they once tried to erase.
PS – This piece is taken out from the book CHOSEN by HRH Princess Eugene Majuru`s book now available on Amazon
Comments
About Author
