BaNambya Exhibit in Hwange, Zimbabwe
A great safari isn’t just about the big five! We're expanding our knowledge and understanding of the Nambya people, a tribe of about one hundred thousand people. They were the inhabitants of Hwange National Park until the park was established in 1928. The Nambya are descents of the Rozvi Dynasty, and it is believed that the Nambya came from Great Zimbabwe. This is evidenced by the great stone walled Nambya structures, which are similar to Great Zimbabwe. They are descents of the Rozvi Dynasty, a strong centralized society dating back to 1100 AD when Great Zimbabwe was built. They now live clustered around Hwange, a town named after the Nambya King Hwange.
Gwango is compiling a record of the Nambya journey sourced through oral tradition, discussions carried out by Gwango with the support of our local community. We have presented these materials as part of a series of public forums, which included the participation of 5 Traditional Chiefs from our region of Zimbabwe. The materials discussed during the public forums will be on public display at Gwango Heritage Resort in 2017. Visitor will also be able to tour a traditional Nambya Homestead..
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Where we started..
The BaNambya Exhibit is a compilation of stories documented through scholarly research and oral tradition. When our work began in 2014, very little was known about the Nambya and other tribes inhabiting this region. The BaNambya were only known to be originally from Masvingo. Their spoken words were vaguely recognisable and reminiscent of the Shona language, but with a new vocabulary.
Since 2015, numerous gatherings were organised with Nambya Chiefs, elders and stakeholders. We also arranged expeditions to Nambya sacred sites, and have carried out a series of discoveries. We came to know of nearby sacred places, where annual pilgrimages and ancient ceremonies took place in times past - and we began to piece together the Journey of the BaNambya, beginning with the exodus of two Rozvi princes from the ancient Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe, to the expansion and evantual fall of the Nambya empire in Hwange. We are proud to present our findings for public display at Gwango Heritage Resort.
Gwango is compiling a record of the Nambya journey sourced through oral tradition, discussions carried out by Gwango with the support of our local community. We have presented these materials as part of a series of public forums, which included the participation of 5 Traditional Chiefs from our region of Zimbabwe. The materials discussed during the public forums will be on public display at Gwango Heritage Resort in 2017. Visitor will also be able to tour a traditional Nambya Homestead.
Trusting the process..
26 May 2016 Gwango organised an expedition to Shangano Ruins. The expedition titled "Journey of the Nambya People" was organised in partnership with the Hwange District Administrator's Office and included, as part of the the expedition, the Minister Cain Mathema, traditional Chiefs from the region, the Deputy Director for Provincial Affairs as well as representatives from the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, Forestry Commission and tourism stakeholders.
14 January 2016 Gwango led a historic expedition to Mtoa Ruins. This was the first time the living BaNambya Chiefs had visited to the sacred site where their ancestors once held ancient rainmaking ceremonies.
10 April 2015 Traditional Chiefs and Stakeholders from the Hwange region came together to formalise the establishment of the BaNambya Cultural Exhibit, a platform through which traditional leaders, local community and other stakeholders from the region can participate meaningfully in cultural preservation and tourism activities resulting in more jobs and economic development.
