Colonialism from within versus colonialism from outside: the archaeology of nineteenth century Nguni expansion and British colonialism in southwestern Zimbabwe
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: As Bruce Trigger famously stated, a major goal of archaeology is to develop a comparative understanding of human behaviour across cultures and time periods. This paper leverages on this insight to compare the archaeology and materiality of Nguni settlement in southwestern Zimbabwe (1839–1890) and early British settler colonialism (1890–1980). We find major similarities and differences in colonial forms and outcomes. For example, Nguni settlement incorporated existing groups, making them part of the new as lower classes. British colonialism did the same but was distinctly associated with forced removals, land grabbing, racism, extractivism and the marginalisation of Africans from participating in the economy and the state. British colonialism also generated fierce resistance and wars of liberation crystallised in battle sites such as Shangani (1893) and Wankie (1967). Looking back, most narratives of African resistance were marginalised during British rule while those linked to British wars of conquest and British victories were memorialised. At independence, the Zimbabwean government gradually made efforts to achieve balance in historical presentation by preserving and celebrating heritage of resistance to British colonialism (e.g. the Shangani Battle site).
Authors: Shadreck Chirikure, Tawanda Mukwende
Institutions: University of Oxford, Great Zimbabwe University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411428893