Mbuya Nehanda:
The Spirit of Resistance
The story of a revered Shona spirit medium whose place in Zimbabwe’s history became a lasting symbol of resistance, cultural identity and the struggle against colonial rule.
A woman remembered beyond her lifetime
Mbuya Nehanda, also known as Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana, holds a powerful place in Zimbabwe’s historical memory. She was a spirit medium associated with the Nehanda ancestral spirit and became one of the best-known figures connected with the resistance to British South Africa Company rule in the 1890s.
For many Zimbabweans, her story is about more than one historical moment. It speaks to the importance of land, spiritual belief, community, dignity and the determination to defend a way of life.
Resistance in a changing land
During the 1890s, colonial expansion by the British South Africa Company brought major changes to communities across the region. Disputes over land, authority, taxation and colonial control contributed to uprisings that are remembered in Zimbabwe as the First Chimurenga.
Nehanda was among the spiritual figures associated with resistance in Mashonaland. Her role was shaped by the religious and social authority of a spirit medium, a position that connected spiritual belief with the concerns and actions of the community.
The First Chimurenga
Resistance to colonial rule spread across parts of the region. Nehanda became associated with the uprising in Mashonaland and its wider spiritual and community context.
Capture and trial
Nehanda was captured and later tried by the colonial authorities. The court records relating to her case became part of the documentary record of this period.
A lasting legacy
Nehanda was executed in 1898. Her story continued to be remembered and later became an important symbol in Zimbabwe’s liberation history.
From historical figure to national symbol
In the decades that followed, Nehanda’s name became closely connected with the wider struggle for Zimbabwean independence. Her story was retold through oral history, cultural expression, literature and political memory.
Her legacy also invites us to recognise the role of women and spiritual leaders in histories that have often been told primarily through battles, colonial officials and formal political leadership.
Remembering Nehanda means exploring both the historical evidence and the ways Zimbabweans have carried her story forward.
Some stories become part of a nation’s memory.
Mbuya Nehanda’s story continues to raise questions about identity, belief, resistance and remembrance. Preserving it means passing on the history, examining the evidence and making space for future generations to understand their heritage.
Explore More Stories →Further reading & historical sources
UNESCO — Nehanda and Kaguvi mediums’ judgement dockets: Read the historical record
Academic historical context: History in Africa — research on Nehanda and the 1896–97 uprising
Historical portrait image: Wikimedia Commons — Nehanda Nyakasikana (public-domain image listing).