Zindoga: African Moses
Title: Death of the Commissar
Author: Tichaona Zindoga
Pages: 79
Publisher: Underclass Books & Films
Year: 2017
There are always various perspectives in any human venture, but written records tend to be heavily skewed to the standpoint of the dominant culture. This is the case with the African story. The continent’s journey, successes and bravery are not glorified by Africans, but demeaned by writers from the Global West, who always try hard to attack and destroy the history of the continent, well known as the cradle of humanity. Writers from the West refer Africa as the Dark Continent. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a good case. In the book, Conrad shows Africa through the perception of the colonising Europeans, who tend to portray all the natives as savages.
Drawing an analogy, the best Biblical text that closely comes into mind is the Exodus story, principally Exodus 3:9-16, where the story of Israelites was told by Egyptians. Israelites were referred to as slaves and as such they were being a subjugated minority in a slaveholding culture.
Moses’ encounter with Yahweh, however, transformed Israel’s fortune forever. By having their own storyteller in Moses, they developed a new outlook on their realities. They discarded their received identity and gave themselves a new personality; they ceased to see themselves as slaves, but perceived themselves as an oppressed people. Further, they refused to consider themselves as an inferior class, but the chosen people. They moved from being at the bottom of the Egyptian social classification to being a unique people set apart by Yahweh.
It seems the Exodus story inspired one brave African writer, Tichaona Zindoga, to tell the African story through “Death of the Commissar”, a compilation of poems which deal with political, economic and social issues affecting Africa and her general citizenry. The book tells the African story in the way that does justice to Africa’s sufferings and struggles.
The writer, for instance, questions the meaning of freedom without land, an emotive issue in most, if not all, African countries.
What is freedom without the land,
Where you can stand,
Claim ownership;
Custody and stewardship? (p.32)
Zindoga also celebrated the history of Zimbabwe, her identity and heroine in the poem “The Prophetess”. In this piece, the writer is not only celebrating the life of one of the continent’s esteemed women, Mbuya Nehanda, but addressing the issues of spirituality and African religion. The theme of the poem is to celebrate the heroism of a simple woman, who once lived in this land and could see beyond her time (p.14).
“Death of the Commissar”, without an iota of doubt, is promoting the sense of belonging or the “African feeling”. This book, thus, proves absolutely that Zindoga is the African Moses as he is speaking on behalf of Africans with bravery and intellect. It is now up to Africa to develop a new outlook on her realities and refuse to consider herself as an inferior continent, but the chosen one.
Author: Tichaona Zindoga
Pages: 79
Publisher: Underclass Books & Films
Year: 2017
There are always various perspectives in any human venture, but written records tend to be heavily skewed to the standpoint of the dominant culture. This is the case with the African story. The continent’s journey, successes and bravery are not glorified by Africans, but demeaned by writers from the Global West, who always try hard to attack and destroy the history of the continent, well known as the cradle of humanity. Writers from the West refer Africa as the Dark Continent. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a good case. In the book, Conrad shows Africa through the perception of the colonising Europeans, who tend to portray all the natives as savages.
Drawing an analogy, the best Biblical text that closely comes into mind is the Exodus story, principally Exodus 3:9-16, where the story of Israelites was told by Egyptians. Israelites were referred to as slaves and as such they were being a subjugated minority in a slaveholding culture.
Moses’ encounter with Yahweh, however, transformed Israel’s fortune forever. By having their own storyteller in Moses, they developed a new outlook on their realities. They discarded their received identity and gave themselves a new personality; they ceased to see themselves as slaves, but perceived themselves as an oppressed people. Further, they refused to consider themselves as an inferior class, but the chosen people. They moved from being at the bottom of the Egyptian social classification to being a unique people set apart by Yahweh.
It seems the Exodus story inspired one brave African writer, Tichaona Zindoga, to tell the African story through “Death of the Commissar”, a compilation of poems which deal with political, economic and social issues affecting Africa and her general citizenry. The book tells the African story in the way that does justice to Africa’s sufferings and struggles.
The writer, for instance, questions the meaning of freedom without land, an emotive issue in most, if not all, African countries.
What is freedom without the land,
Where you can stand,
Claim ownership;
Custody and stewardship? (p.32)
Zindoga also celebrated the history of Zimbabwe, her identity and heroine in the poem “The Prophetess”. In this piece, the writer is not only celebrating the life of one of the continent’s esteemed women, Mbuya Nehanda, but addressing the issues of spirituality and African religion. The theme of the poem is to celebrate the heroism of a simple woman, who once lived in this land and could see beyond her time (p.14).
“Death of the Commissar”, without an iota of doubt, is promoting the sense of belonging or the “African feeling”. This book, thus, proves absolutely that Zindoga is the African Moses as he is speaking on behalf of Africans with bravery and intellect. It is now up to Africa to develop a new outlook on her realities and refuse to consider herself as an inferior continent, but the chosen one.
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