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From Pioneer Historiography to Patriotic History: Constructing Usable Pasts in Zimbabwe (1890–2018)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2022

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Abstract

Different political projects and ideological positions are founded upon distinct accounts of the past, each with their own emphases, silences, and omissions. The case of Zimbabwe illustrates this connection between power and history. Whereas the myths of colonial historiography provided legitimization frameworks for settler colonialism, “patriotic history” became a key element of the legitimation strategy implemented by the post-independence regime. Pinto analyses how history and historiography were incorporated into narratives of power legitimization in both pre- and post-independence Zimbabwe and how, in the late 90s, history and historiography became critical sites of political polarization and contestation.

Résumé

Résumé

Différents projets politiques et positions idéologiques sont fondés sur des récits distincts du passé, chacun avec ses propres accents, silences et omissions. Le cas du Zimbabwe illustre ce lien entre le pouvoir et l’histoire. Alors que les mythes de l’historiographie coloniale fournissaient des cadres de légitimation au colonialisme de peuplement, « l’histoire patriotique » est devenue un élément clé de la stratégie de légitimation mise en œuvre par le régime post-indépendance. Pinto analyse comment l’histoire et l’historiographie ont été incorporées dans les récits de légitimation du pouvoir dans le Zimbabwe avant et après l’indépendance et comment, à la fin des années 90, l’histoire et l’historiographie sont devenues des sites critiques de polarisation et de contestation politiques.

Resumo

Resumo

Diferentes projetos políticos e posições ideológicas radicam em visões distintas do passado, cada uma com as suas homenagens, silêncios e omissões. O caso do Zimbabué ilustra esta relação entre poder e história. Se a historiografia pioneira se orientou para legitimar o colonialismo demográfico, a história patriótica fez parte da estratégia de legitimação do poder do regime pós-independência. Este trabalho de investigação analisa como a história e a historiografia foram apropriadas pelas narrativas de legitimação do poder, no período pré e pós-independência. Esta continuidade permite compreender como, nos anos 90, a história e a historiografia se tornaram lugares de polarização e contestação política.

Keywords

Zimbabwepioneer historiographysettler colonialismpatriotic historypower legitimation
Type
Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 66 , Issue 2 , June 2023 , pp. 373 - 393
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the African Studies Association

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