Draft:Moyo Muturikwa Totem

• Comment: As explained that this(Moyo Muturikwa Totem) is among many sub-groups of Moyo Totem, why not gathering information to make a Moyo Totem article to cover all the sub groups or xpanding the Mangwende article with this information since it has a part explaining Moyo Muturikwa Totem.
  Citing/copying several (full) tongues' songs in one article in enWiki isn't really necessary, citing where they are found would be helpful.
  Formatting to comply with Wikipedia's formatting and more references for verification are required. ANU^writes 02:18, 24 November 2024 (UTC)

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Moyo Muturikwa is one of the many sub-groups of the Moyo totem, a central identifier within the Rozvi traditions of Zimbabwe. The Rozvi, known for their historical dominance in south-western Zimbabwe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, used the Moyo totem as a unifying symbol. However, the Moyo totem, including the Muturikwa subgroup, evolved in response to shifting socio-political contexts and the integration of various chiefdoms.

Origins and Significance

The Moyo Muturikwa clan derives its name from the term "Muturikwa," which translates to "hung up as a useless weapon." This name reflects a historical narrative tied to the aftermath of the Rozvi Empire's fragmentation. Following the Nguni invasions and the eventual collapse of the Rozvi Kingdom, various Moyo sub-groups such as Muturikwa, Shavamombe, and Mushoriwa adopted new identifiers to symbolize their altered roles or statuses in the evolving socio-political landscape.

Despite these shifts, the Moyo totem retained its shared ancestral connection, as expressed through common praise poems. These poems traced genealogies, places of origin, and burial sites, preserving the unity of people who had dispersed across regions after the fall of the Rozvi.

Notably, historian A. S. Chigwedere highlights the interconnectedness of Moyo dynasties in his book The Karanga Empire (1985). He notes that some dynasties acknowledge their origins as segments of others. For instance, the Masembura dynasty in Chiweshe identifies as a breakaway from the Nyamweda Moyo Ziruvi dynasty, which itself acknowledges descent from the Mangwende Moyo Muturikwa (Nhohwe) dynasty. Interestingly, the Nyamweda dynasty has made efforts to abandon its chidao, Ziruvi, in favor of reclaiming the Muturikwa identity, reaffirming its connection to the parent dynasty.

Chigwedere further suggests that the Mangwende dynasty may itself be a fragment of an even older, possibly extinct dynasty, such as the Ndanga dynasty, emphasizing the layered and dynamic nature of Moyo clan histories.

This view aligns with broader Rozvi traditions centered on totemic identity. Historian David Beach (1994a) and others note that the Rozvi emerged from a moyo nuclear zone in the Murewa area, where many sub-groups initially shared the Moyo totem. Over time, power shifts, migrations, and the incorporation of non-Moyo groups complicated this identity. As the Rozvi spread to new territories, they adopted situational identities, adjusting their zvidawo (praise names) and totems to reflect evolving socio-political contexts.

Among the identities that emerged during this period was Moyo Muturikwa, alongside others like Moyo Shavamombe and Moyo Mushoriwa. Hodza and Fortune (1979) document this adaptability, listing Moyo Muturikwa among several shifting Rozvi identities, such as Moyo Chirandu, Moyo Wakapiwa, and Moyo Muzivikani. These transformations reveal how the Moyo totem became a flexible marker of identity and power, with its use often tied to the shifting dynamics of Rozvi leadership and influence.

By tracing the fluidity of Moyo sub-groups through genealogies, oral traditions, and written records, it becomes clear that the Moyo Muturikwa identity, though rooted in specific historical events, represents the broader adaptability and resilience of Rozvi cultural and political traditions.

Role in Rozvi Power Dynamics

The Rozvi Moyo totem, central to the identity and cohesion of the Rozvi Empire, was initially associated with political power and prestige. However, not all Moyo groups enjoyed equal administrative influence. Sub-groups like Moyo Muturikwa often operated on the periphery of Rozvi power structures. Their identities evolved as they were absorbed into various dynasties or chiefdoms, a reflection of the complex and fragmented political organization of the Rozvi Empire.

Oral traditions suggest that the Rozvi strategically incorporated non-Moyo groups into their administration. This integration often led to the emergence of situational totemic identities, as ruling dynasties sought to assert their connection to the dominant Rozvi lineage. Dynasties such as Chihunduro-shoko, Tumbare-bhebhe, and Mavhudzi-shava rebranded themselves with Rozvi praise names to establish legitimacy and align with the Rozvi identity.

As Hodza and Fortune (1979:221) observed, many Rozvi zvidawos (praise names) emerged during periods of integration and political decline, reflecting the shifting nature of Rozvi identities. Some of these zvidawos included Moyo Sinyoro (senhor), Moyo Chirandu, Moyo Wakapiwa, Moyo Mutaurwa, Moyo Muturikwa, Moyo Shavamombe, Moyo Mupfuyiwa, Moyo Mushoriwa, Moyo Muvhimwa, Moyo Muzivikani, Moyo Varasa Mugonderwa, Moyo Chipfuyamiti, and Moyo Ndebele. These totemic shifts highlight how the Rozvi adapted to fluctuating socio-political contexts, emphasizing the fluidity of ethnic and clan identities.

This dynamic resonates with the insights of Chigwedere (1985) in The Karanga Empire. He argues that dynastic fragmentation was central to the evolution of Zimbabwe's history, noting that no dynasty exists independently; each is a segment or fragment of another, whether still existing or extinct.

For instance, Chigwedere discusses the interconnectedness of dynasties, using the Mangwende Moyo Muturikwa dynasty as a case study. The Mangwende dynasty acknowledges its fragmentation from an older dynasty, the Nyamweda Moyo Ziruvi, which itself broke away from the Mangwende Moyo Muturikwa (Nhowe) dynasty. Today, the Nyamweda dynasty is making efforts to abandon its chidao, Ziruvi, in favor of reclaiming the Muturikwa identity, which it recognizes as the chidao of its parent dynasty. However, as Chigwedere highlights:

"What it fails to see and acknowledge is that the Mangwende dynasty, its parent-dynasty, may in turn be a segment or fragment of another older existing or extinct dynasty: the Ndanga dynasty."

This observation underscores the layered nature of Moyo identities, where each sub-group reflects a deeper historical lineage tied to older dynasties like the Ndanga.

The Moyo Muturikwa sub-group, in particular, exemplifies this process of fragmentation and reinvention. As part of the Rozvi legacy, it embodies the complexities of shifting identities in the face of changing political landscapes.

Clan Praise and Oral History

The praise poetry of Moyo Muturikwa[1][2] reflects the history and resilience of the clan. It captures key themes of displacement, survival, and unity. For instance, the Moyo Muturikwa praise poem celebrates the group's lineage and emphasizes their ties to the broader Moyo Rozvi identity. These praises also serve as a record of ancestral migrations, alliances, and conflicts, marking Moyo Muturikwa as part of a larger Rozvi narrative.

Moyo Muturikwa and the Mangwende Chieftainship Dispute

The Mangwende Chieftainship is a historic institution that dates back over 300 years and is deeply tied to the Moyo Muturikwa clan. In November 2010, a significant discussion surrounding the legitimacy of this chieftainship arose during a meeting chaired by Mashonaland East Provincial Governor, Aenius Chigwedere. The meeting, held with the VaNhohwe clan—led by George Farayi Siyawamwaya—centered around the clan's request for official resettlement at Maganga Estates. They argued that their displacement by colonialists in 1945 warranted restitution.

During this meeting, Chigwedere, a prominent historian and traditionalist, illuminated the historical roots of the Mangwende Chieftainship, clarifying its rightful inheritance by the Moyo Muturikwa clan. He rejected claims by the Moyo Muvhima and Moyo Muzukuru factions, pointing out that Moyo Muzukuru had only ascended to power due to collaboration with colonial authorities. Chigwedere emphasized that the rightful custodianship of the chieftainship, rooted in the Rozvi dynasty, rested with the Moyo Muturikwa clan.

Colonial Influence and Historical Distortions

The assertion that the colonial administration disrupted the traditional structures of the Nhohwe Kingdom draws from multiple sources. A pivotal reference is the article "Maganga Estate Ownership Wrangle Rages On," published in The Herald, which highlights how the colonial authorities displaced rightful custodians of the chieftainship and manipulated traditional authority to install loyal collaborators.

This perspective is further supported by ongoing debates among individuals with in-depth knowledge of Nhohwe history, shared through forums and oral traditions. A view that taken from Muturikwa advocates states that Moyo Muzukuru ascended to power through alignment with the colonial administration, including an alliance with District Commissioner Williams. This manoeuvring disregarded the traditional authority of the Moyo Muturikwa clan. To suppress resistance, the colonial regime allegedly forcibly scattered Muturikwa descendants across Zimbabwe, fragmenting their influence.

While formal documentation may be limited, these debates and collective memories provide critical insights into the historical distortions that elevated Moyo Muzukuru’s claim while sidelining the rightful lineage of the Moyo Muturikwa.

Contemporary Implications

The ramifications of these historical events are still evident today. Moyo Muzukuru descendants are unable to perform traditional rites and rituals of the Nhohwe Kingdom or the Rozvi dynasty. A notable instance occurred during the unveiling of the Mbuya Nehanda statue, where Chief Svosve had to invite Moyo Muturikwa representatives to perform the spiritual rites of invoking the spirit of Nehanda.

Mambo Svosve (middle) at the unveiling of The Statue of Mbuya Nehanda, announcing that he came with “gono guru remagono ose” Muturikwa, of the Moyo clan, represented by Madyira Panze Chitova holding the microphone, who then preceded to perform the ritual.

At the ceremony Mambo Svosve speaks the following:

Pano ndukutaura, ndini Mambo Svosve, muzukuru. Ndinavo pano gono guru remagono ose, Muturikwa, muyera Moyo, ndinaye pano, mwana wavo muzukuru mukuru, iye Madyira Panze Chitova. Tinavo nokuti ndivo vanebasa rekuomberera nyika kuti nyika iye inofamba zvakanaka kubvira pasi chigare.

Hevo madyira, panze

Varidzi venzwizi

Vachengeti vemapako

Vachengeti vezvinoyera

Gono muchiomberwa

Kuti nyika irarame zvakanaka

Zviripasi zvibunde

Zvino Madyira panze

Tinoti chiomberai

Musvitseo kuna mbuya

Mumweya mutsvene unotera

Ndimi munotungamirira hova dzepasi

Nenzwizi matirimana enyika

Ndinotenda taurai

Madyira panze.

This act reaffirmed the spiritual and traditional authority of the Moyo Muturikwa lineage over the Nhohwe Kingdom.

Moyo Muturikwa remains a pivotal identity, deeply tied to the Rozvi legacy and the Nhohwe Kingdom. Their historical displacement and ongoing claims to the Mangwende Chieftainship highlight the enduring tensions between traditional authority and colonial legacies.

References

Category:African royal families Category:Culture of Zimbabwe