Growing up in a Hlengwe society: a social history of childhood in Mwenezi district Southern Zimbabwe

Abstract

A Social History of Childhood in Mwenezi district is a detailed study of human evolution from birth to puberty. The Zimbabwean definition of a child as anyone below the age of 18 was used in this research. For the sack of knowing who are the Hlengwe the researcher starts by giving the History of the Hlengwe. First chapter gives a full detailed research about the origins, migrations, effects of Mfecane on Hlengwe societies, coming of colonialism and economic disempowerment of the Hlengwe and a detailed research about the Chitanga dynasty. The second chapter will discuss the social life of a child from birth to weaning. Issues such as the principle of naming the child, birth of illegitimate children, curse of twins, diet, medication, weaning among others. The third chapter will discuss the social life of child from weaning to puberty. Here the research discusses informal education in the form of taboos, riddles, proverbs and games. Girls’ initiation (khomba) and male circumcision (ngoma) and the marriage custom will also discuss. After a description of a human being from birth to puberty a brief of undesirable practices (harmful social practices) will be given. These include marriage by abduction, girls’ initiation, property inheritance, marriage via the Holy Spirit, appeasing the avenging spirits using human being among them. Finally the research will discuss the changes on the undesirable social practices due to modern influences such as the idea of children’s rights. The way forward to the undesirable social practices which are still practiced is also discussed.