The Mbari Clan of Harare: A History of Pre-Colonial Rule and the Revival of a Chieftaincy
The history of Harare, the modern capital of Zimbabwe, is often presented through the lens of its colonial foundation as Fort Salisbury in 1890. However, this narrative overlooks a rich and complex pre-colonial history, a period defined by the rule of powerful traditional leaders and clans. Among these, the Mbari clan and its paramount chief, King Mbari, or Mambo we Ndoro, are central to the indigenous history of the region. This paper examines the history of the Mbari clan as the pre-colonial rulers of Harare, their role in the First Chimurenga, and the contemporary efforts led by Princess Eugene Majuru to resuscitate the chieftaincy and preserve its cultural and historical legacy.
The Mbari Chieftaincy in Pre-Colonial Harare
Prior to the arrival of the British South Africa Company (BSAC), the area now encompassing Harare and parts of the Mazowe region was under the dominion of Paramount Chief Mbari of the Shumba Gurundoro clan. According to indigenous historical accounts, Chief Mbari’s influence was so profound that the name “Harare” itself is derived from his reputation. The name, a shortened form of “Ha-rarie” or “Ha-rare,” means “he who does not sleep.” This moniker was bestowed upon the chief because of his tireless work in settling disputes, administering justice, and providing assistance to his people, who would travel from afar to seek his counsel, often waiting all night for an audience.
The Mbari chieftaincy, as with many pre-colonial Shona polities, was a complex system of governance rooted in a blend of spiritual authority, political leadership, and control over land. The chiefs were seen as both temporal rulers and spiritual conduits, their power legitimized through their lineage and a metaphysical connection to the ancestors. They were responsible for the allocation of land for farming and settlement, the management of communal resources, and the maintenance of peace and order.
The First Chimurenga and the Fall of the Chieftaincy
The arrival of the Pioneer Column in 1890 and the subsequent establishment of colonial rule marked a violent and transformative period for the Mbari chieftaincy. The colonial administration sought to dismantle existing traditional power structures and replace them with a system of “native commissioners” who could facilitate the exploitation of land and labor. The Mbari people, under the leadership of Chief Mbari’s brother, Makombe, and his son, Nyamadzawo, were at the forefront of the resistance.
The region controlled by the Mbari clan became a hotbed of the First Chimurenga, the armed uprising that swept through Mashonaland and Matabeleland in 1896-1897. The uprising was fueled by a combination of factors, including land expropriation, forced labor, and a spiritual call to arms led by powerful spirit mediums like Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi. Notably, historical sources indicate that the spirit medium Mukwati, a key mastermind and coordinator of the rebellion, was Chief Mbari’s son, Mudavanhu.
The Mbari clan’s fighters, led by Nyamadzawo, employed sophisticated guerilla tactics, ambushing colonial patrols and cutting telegraph wires to isolate settler families. The intensity of the conflict in the region was so severe that colonial documents refer to the area as the “troubled Mazowe area.” This fierce resistance, while ultimately suppressed by the superior firepower of the colonial forces, led to a brutal campaign of retribution and a near-genocide against the Mbari people. Their defeat resulted in the complete destruction of their political authority, the seizure of their lands, and the scattering of their people, effectively erasing the chieftaincy from the official colonial record.
The Role of Princess Eugene Majuru in Cultural Preservation and Revival
In the modern era, the historical narrative of the Mbari chieftaincy has been largely confined to oral traditions and indigenous memory. However, a significant effort to revive this history and re-establish the chieftaincy is being led by Princess Eugene Majuru, who asserts her lineage as the granddaughter of Paramount Chief Mbari.
Princess Majuru’s efforts are centered on two main pillars: the resuscitation of the Mbari chieftaincy and the preservation of cultural heritage. She has worked to raise awareness about the historical legacy of the Mbari clan, arguing for its recognition as the pre-colonial rulers of Harare. This work involves engaging with both local and international communities to bring the indigenous history of the region to the forefront.
A key aspect of her advocacy is the campaign for the repatriation of the remains of Shona leaders and spirit mediums, including Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, whose skulls are believed to be held in museums in the United Kingdom. Princess Majuru has hosted conferences and utilized media platforms to pressure for the return of these ancestral remains, viewing it as a critical step in healing historical wounds and restoring cultural dignity. This act of repatriation is not merely political; it is deeply spiritual, as it would allow the Mbari people and other Shona communities to properly lay their ancestors to rest and restore the spiritual connection that was violently severed during the colonial era.
Through her work as a journalist, cultural ambassador, and public figure, Princess Majuru is working to ensure that the Mbari chieftaincy is not lost to history. Her efforts embody a broader movement among indigenous peoples worldwide to reclaim their historical narratives, assert their traditional rights, and preserve their cultural heritage in the face of post-colonial legacies.
The history of the Mbari clan and Paramount Chief Mbari is a vital but often marginalized chapter in the story of Zimbabwe. It highlights the existence of a sophisticated and resilient pre-colonial polity that fiercely resisted the encroachment of colonialism. While the chieftaincy was dismantled by force, its memory and significance have been kept alive through oral tradition. The contemporary efforts of Princess Eugene Majuru represent a crucial continuation of this history, a modern struggle to reclaim a narrative and a cultural identity that were suppressed for over a century. Her work to revive the chieftaincy and repatriate ancestral remains is a powerful testament to the enduring importance of traditional leadership and cultural heritage in modern-day Zimbabwe, and a beacon for the broader conversation on decolonizing history.
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