The History of Zimbabwe from pre-colonial to present (Paperback)

There was no country called Zimbabwe prior to 1890. Mazarire argues that most of what today we call pre-colonial Zimbabwean history is a product of academic theories, and of ideas popularised during and since the nationalist struggle when it became necessary to debunk existing stereotypes of African identity and to situate the struggle for independence within the ideals of self-determination. The second section analyses state systems on the Zimbabwe plateau and the various polities in the northern and southern lowlands. Since pre-colonial societies on the Zimbabwe plateau were largely pre-literate the major source of history for this period is oral sources. Also written source Written records have also been used with great success in recovering some of Zimbabwe's pre-colonial history especially from the late fifteenth century onwards. Also various other sources include linguistic, oral history and oral tradition. construction of pre-colonial of Zimbabwe through collection of oral tradition and oral history.