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The Archive and Chieftainship Claims in Zimbabwe: Some Methodological Reflections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2019

George Bishi
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Abstract:

This article focuses on the uses of the archive in contemporary Zimbabwe by individuals and families making claims to chieftaincy. A reading of the colonial archive on chieftainship histories reveals that there is an information gap especially for some years. For instance, from the 1960s to the present, there are relatively few documents specifically relating to the subject of chiefs and headmen in Zimbabwe. As a result, researchers working on chieftainships, hired historians, and claimants to chieftaincy face a frustrating challenge of limited sources. This article analyzes the sources that hired historians use to write chieftaincy claims reports in Zimbabwe for their clients. It also explores the use of oral evidence to complement or counter the narratives offered through colonial documents, and it also recommends the use of alternative sources on chieftaincy, both within and beyond the repositories of the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ).

Résumé:

Cet article porte sur l’utilisation des archives du Zimbabwe contemporain par des individus et des familles faisant valoir leurs droits à un titre de chef. Une lecture des archives coloniales sur l’histoire des chefferies révèle qu’il existe un manque de documentation, en particulier sur des années spécifiques. Par exemple, depuis les années 1960, il existe relativement peu de documents spécifiquement consacrés à la question des chefs de différentes catégories au Zimbabwe. En conséquence, les chercheurs (professionels ou engagés pour l’occasion) ou ceux qui prétendent à un titre de chef font face à un défi frustrant lié à celui de la limitation des sources. Cet article analyse les sources utilisées par les historiens recrutés par les prétendants au titre de chef pour rédiger des rapports de réclamations. Il explore également l’utilisation de preuves orales pour complémenter ou contrer les récits proposés dans les documents coloniaux. Enfin, l’article traite des sources alternatives localisées dans les Archives Nationales du Zimbabwe ou en dehors.

Type
Archival Reports
Information
History in Africa , Volume 46 , June 2019 , pp. 385 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2019 

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