Title Chihera in Zimbabwe : a radical African feminist principle / Exra Chitando, Sophia Chirongoma, Munyaradzi Nyakyudya, editors

Published Cham, Switzerland : Palgrave Macmillan, an imprint of Springer, [2023]

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Description 1 online resource Contents Intro -- Contents -- Notes on Contributors -- List of Images -- Chapter 1: Introducing a Radical African Indigenous Feminist Principle: Chihera in Zimbabwe -- Introduction -- Putting This Volume into Context -- Chihera: A Radical Zimbabwean/African Indigenous Feminist Spirit and Practice -- The Chihera Spirit: Transforming the Key Locales of Women's Oppression -- Women's Bodily Autonomy -- Freedom from Oppressive Cultural and Religious Ideologies -- Women's Political Participation and Leadership -- Women's Economic Empowerment -- Patriarchy Pushes Back: Critiques of Chihera Building on the Chihera Momentum: An Overview -- Structure of the Book -- Part I: Chihera in the Spiritual Hierarchy-Traversing Patriarchy -- Part II: From the Mouths of Chiheras and Mhofuyokuno-Disrupting Patriarchy -- Part III: Subverting Patriarchy-Chihera Persona in the Film Industry and Advocacy for Gender Parity -- Part IV: Chihera Prototype Navigating the Zimbabwean Genderised Economic Sector -- Part V: Confounding Chihera-Patriarchy Fights Back -- References -- Part I: Chihera in the Spiritual Hierarchy: Traversing Patriarchy Chapter 2: Chihera in the Ancestral Realm: Exploring Female Ancestry Among the Hera People in Buhera, Zimbabwe -- Introduction -- Statement of Study -- Background: Contextualization of Eland Female Ancestry (Chiheraism) -- Essential Theoretical Matters and the Shona Cultural Context -- Relevance of Symbolic Interactionism to Explore Chihera in the Ancestral Realm -- Methodology -- Assertiveness of Chihera dzimu (Ancestor) -- Chihera and Aesthetic Values -- Musha wavaChihera (Household of Chihera) -- Children Revere Their Mothers More Than Their Fathers -- Chihera and Traditional Leadership Chihera zitete remhuri (Chihera's Aunting Role) -- Identity and Visibility of Chihera Ancestor in the Contemporary World -- Significance of kuera (Sacredness) in Chihera: Final Reflections -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 3: VaChihera: A Profile of Ndakaziva -- Introduction -- The Coping Strategy -- Chihera with Her Contemporaries -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4: Chihera: Renegotiating the Status of Women in Shona Indigenous Culture in Zimbabwe -- Introduction -- Theoretical Framework -- The Status of Chihera Women in Shona Indigenous Culture: An Africana Womanist Perspective Chihera as the Backbone of the Economy -- Agriculture -- Maoko (Hands) Wealth -- Traditional Healing -- Traditional Midwifery (Mbuya Nyamukuta) -- Chihera and Leadership -- Chief (Mambo) -- Spirit Medium (Svikiro) -- Chihera and Social Life -- Marriage -- Motherhood -- Roles of Chihera as Mothers -- Childbearing -- Mothers as Nurturers -- Mothers as Caregivers -- Feeding the Family and Ethnic Group -- Mothers as First Teachers -- Chihera and Marriage Negotiations -- Tete (aunt) -- The Ambuya/Mbuyawasha (Mother-in-Law) and the Mombe Yeumai (Motherhood Cow) -- The Bride Summary Zimbabwean social media has been awash with images of a woman character, spirit, or concept called Chihera. Traditionally, a woman descending from the Mhofu (Eland) lineage/totem is known as Chihera. In the cumulative tradition of the Shona (a Zimbabwean ethnic group), Chihera is a fiercely independent, assertive, free spirited, and no nonsense woman. This volume seeks to deepen reflections on the Chihera phenomenon in the context of the search for gender justice in Zimbabwe and Africa. The authors reflect on how this radical indigenous feminist ethic circulating on social media can animate the quest for Zimbabwean and African womens full liberation from patriarchy and all oppressive forces. They grapple with the issue of generating culturally sensitive theories and approaches to galvanize the struggle for African womens liberation in post-colonial settings. Second, they locate the Chihera mystique in the context of the practical struggle for womens empowerment. Third, the volume illustrates how the Chihera phenomenon could be utilized for gender justice in Zimbabwe and beyond. Ezra Chitando is Professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion and World Council of Churches Theology Consultant on HIV and AIDS in Africa. Sophia Chirongoma is a senior lecturer in the Religious Studies Department at Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. She is also an academic associate/research fellow at the Research Institute for Theology and Religion (RITR) at UNISA. Munyaradzi Nyakudya is a senior lecturer in the History, Heritage and Knowledge Systems Department at the University of Zimbabwe. He has research interests in, among other areas, history, ethnomusicology, and human security Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Includes index Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on March 31, 2023) Subject Women's rights -- Zimbabwe Women -- Zimbabwe -- Social conditions Equality -- Zimbabwe Feminist spirituality -- Zimbabwe Equality Feminist spirituality Women -- Social conditions Women's rights Zimbabwe Form Electronic book Author Chitando, Ezra. Chirongoma, Sophia. Nyakudya, Munyaradzi. ISBN 9783031124662 3031124669

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