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Edited by Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana,
Jesmael Mataga, and Dawson Munjeri
Independent Museums and Culture
Centres in Colonial and Post-
colonial Zimbabwe
Independent Museums and Culture Centres in Colonial and Post-colonial
Zimbabwe presents case studies that grapple with the issue of ‘decolonising
practice’ in privately owned museums and cultural centres in Zimbabwe.
Including contributions from academics and practitioners, this book focusses
on privately run cultural institutions and highlights that there has, until now,
been scant scholarly information about their existence and practice. Arguing
that the recent resurgence of such museums, which are not usually obliged to
endorse official narratives of the central government, points to some desire
to decolonise and indigenise museums, the contributors explore approaches
that have been used to reconfigure such colonially inherited institutions to
suit the post-colonial terrain. The volume also explores how privately owned
museums can tap into or contribute to current conversations on decoloniality
that encourage reflexivity, inclusivity, de-patriarchy, multivocality, commu-
nity participation, and agency. Exploring the motives and purpose of such
institutions, the book argues that they are being utilised to confront deeply
entrenched stigmatisation and marginalisation.
Independent Museums and Culture Centres in Colonial and Post-colonial
Zimbabwe demonstrates that post-colonial African museums have become
an arena for negotiating history, legacies, and identities. The book will be of
interest to academics and students around the world who are engaged in the
study of museums and heritage, African studies, history, and culture. It will
also appeal to museum practitioners working across Africa and beyond.
Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana is currently the holder of the UNESCO Chair
on African Heritage and Director of the Centre for Culture and Heritage
Studies at Great Zimbabwe University.
Jesmael Mataga is an Associate Professor and the inaugural Head of the
School of Humanities at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in South Africa.
Dawson Munjeri is a Research Professor at the Centre for Culture and Herit-
age Studies at the Great Zimbabwe University since March 2018.
Routledge Research on Museums and Heritage in Africa
This exciting new series presents researchers, students, practitioners, and
policymakers with the latest thinking regarding museums and heritage in
Africa.
Providing a platform for the valuable and diverse voices of those work-
ing in Africa, the series presents cutting-edge research that captures and
critically examines the most recent developments in museum and heritage
discourse and practice from across the continent. The series includes the-
oretically informed, interdisciplinary research from scholars based in the
academy and in museums, both in Africa and in the Global North, who
are pursuing projects that reveal the unique nature and future of museums
and heritage in Africa. Giving priority to voices and perspectives from the
continent, the series is intended to promote dialogue among museum and
heritage studies scholars working in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Titles in the series will be relevant to those working across a wide range of
disciplines, including museum and heritage studies, African studies, sociol-
ogy and politics, anthropology, development studies, and tourism studies.
The following list includes only the most-recent titles to publish within
the series. A list of the full catalogue of titles is available at: https://www.
routledge.com/Routledge-Research-on-Museums-and-Heritage-in-Africa/
book-series/RRMHAFR
National Museums in Africa
Identity, History, and Politics
Edited by Raymond Silverman, George Abungu, and Peter Probst
Independent Museums and Culture Centres in Colonial
and Post-colonial Zimbabwe
Non-State Players, Local Communities, and Self-Representation
Edited by Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana, Jesmael Mataga, and Dawson Munjeri
Independent Museums and
Culture Centres in Colonial
and Post-colonial Zimbabwe
Non-State Players, Local Communities,
and Self-Representation
Edited by
Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana,
Jesmael Mataga, and Dawson Munjeri
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 selection and editorial matter, Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana,
Jesmael Mataga and Dawson Munjeri; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana, Jesmael Mataga and Dawson
Munjeri to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of
the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Thondhlana, Thomas Panganayi, editor. | Mataga, Jesmael,
editor. | Munjeri, Dawson, editor.
Title: Independent museums and culture centres in colonial and
post-colonial Zimbabwe : non-state players, local communities and
self-representation / edited by Thomas Panganayi Thondhlana, Jesmael
Mataga, and Dawson Munjeri.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, [2022] |
Series: Routledge research on museums and heritage in Africa | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021058846 (print) | LCCN 2021058847 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367621711 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367621759 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003108238 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Museums--Zimbabwe. | Arts facilities--Zimbabwe. |
Community centers--Zimbabwe. | Decolonization--Zimbabwe.
Classification: LCC AM91.Z54 I53 2022 (print) | LCC AM91.Z54 (ebook) |
DDC 069.096891--dc23/eng/20220103
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021058846
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021058847
ISBN: 978-0-367-62171-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-62175-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-10823-8 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003108238
Typeset in Times New Roman
by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd.
Contents
List of figures viii
List of contributors x
Preface xiv
Acknowledgements xvii
List of abbreviations xviii
1 Introduction: Museum diversity in Africa: museums, related
exhibitionary institutions and non-state players 1
JESMAEL MATAGA, THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA, &
DAWSON MUNJERI
PART I
Colonial Museology, ‘Un-inherited Pasts’ and
Decolonial Possibilities 37
2 Saving modern heritage: The National Railways of Zimbabwe’s
Railways Museum, Bulawayo 39
ROB BURRETT
3 Legacies of the British empire: Remembering Rhodes at the Rhodes
Nyanga Historical Exhibition, eastern highlands of Zimbabwe 51
MESHULLAM MUDZEDZE, THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA, &
EDMORE NYAMUTOWA
4 Colonial wounds and the demand for social justice: The case
of the Murray MacDougall Museum 61
THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA & TAWANDA MUKWENDE
vi Contents
5 Museums in small places: The Milton High School
Museum, Bulawayo 71
FRANCIS MUCHEMWA
6 Colonial vestiges, difficult heritage, and the post-colony:
Rescuing Ian Smith’s collections at the Gwenoro
ecomuseum, Shurugwi 79
SIMBARASHE SHADRECK CHITIMA
PART II
Liberation Heritage, Museum-Making,
and New Narratives 89
7 African liberation heritage in the post-colonial period:
The museumisation of Joshua Nkomo’s house in Bulawayo 91
HENRY CHIWAURA
8 Liberation heritage and ‘patriotic history’: Preserving the legacy
of the ‘soul of the nation’ at KwaVaMuzenda House Museum 101
LESLEY HATIPONE MACHIRIDZA & NDINAISHE MAZVIHWA
PART III
Independent Players, Communities,
and Cultural Rights 113
9 Independent living museums, intangible heritage, and
sustainability: The Kambako living museum, Chiredzi 115
JESMAEL MATAGA & THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA
10 Local narratives and decolonised knowledge production
at Amagugu international heritage centre, Matobo district 127
BUTHOLEZWE KGOSI NYATHI
11 Cultural restoration, self-representation, and community
development: A case study of Paiyapo arts development
and heritage centre, Chipinge 137
PHILLIP KUSASA, ELIAS GWENZI KONYANA, & FORTUNE SIBANDA
Contents vii
12 African aesthetics and decolonial aesthesis: Revisiting the art
and non-art debate at the independent art museum in Masvingo 148
THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA, VONGAI GLORIA CHINUWO,
& JESMAEL MATAGA
13 Towards community-driven curatorship: Traditional chiefs
and cultural connoisseurs at the Avuxeni community museum,
Chiredzi South district 158
HERBERT PIKELA, THOMAS PANGANAYI THONDHLANA,
& STEYN KHESANI MADLOME
Index 169
Figures
1.1 Map of Zimbabwe showing the cultural-geographical
boundaries of the minority cultures (modified after
Hachipola 1998 by Thomas Thondhlana). 23
1.2 Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of privately owned
museums and cultural centres discussed in this book (by
Thomas Thondhlana). 24
2.1 Showing the Rhodes coach that is on display at the Railway
Museum (courtesy of Rob Burrett). 45
3.1 Pictorial display of the second Chimurenga anti-colonial
liberation war hero, Chief Rekayi Tangwena (courtesy of
Meshullam Mudzedze). 57
4.1 Mac’s medals which include the order of the British Empire
and military crosses (courtesy of Tawanda Mukwende). 67
5.1 Displays containing uniforms and sporting shields and other
memorabilia associated with Milton High School (courtesy
of Francis Muchemwa). 74
7.1 Entrance at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Museum (courtesy
of Henry Chiwaura). 95
8.1 The entrance at KwaVaMuzenda House Museum, now
redesigned with inspiration from the Great Zimbabwe world
heritage site (courtesy of Thomas Thondhlana). 105
8.2 Inside the KwaVaMuzenda House Museum premises,
showing huts that were built circa 1890s (courtesy of Thomas
Thondhlana). 106
9.1 Map showing the location of Kambako living museum in
relation to Malilangwe wildlife reserve and Gonarezhou
national park (courtesy of Bruce Clegg). 116
10.1 Mural paintings that illustrate Ndebele culture and heritage
at AIHC (courtesy of Thomas Thondhlana). 130
Figures ix
12.1 Exterior of the EAG art Museum, Masvingo (courtesy of
Thomas Thondhlana). 149
13.1 Entrance at the ACM that was built with financial support
from the Frankfurt zoological society (courtesy of Thomas
Thondhlana). 163
