Warrior Women of Zimbabwe- A Powerful Herstory

Chiyedza tells HerStory

I was moved to the core by Chiyedza Nyahuye’s performance in “Telling HerStory, Warrior Women of Zimbabwe”. This is a powerful play whose message begs it to be acted over and over again so that more people can see, hear and understand.

Chiyedza takes her audience on a journey through three hundred years of uncelebrated Zimbabwean women- and to a destination of triumphs dotted through the three centuries. She paints a poignant picture of strength and contribution often unseen and undocumented by those who write the books of HisStory.

And on this journey she plays many roles. At times she is the legendary spirit medium Nehanda, at others a grade one pupil in just independent Zimbabwe, 1980.

Chiyedza as a distraught mother during the liberation struggle

Then she is a mother during the war of liberation, whose daughter has gone off to be a chimbwido, while she remains at home supporting the war in other ways. Then a lawyer fighting for the cause of women and then finally she is herself- Chiyedza- who has gone through so much. Who has hated men for what they have done to her- then learnt to love them again. Who has triumphed over all the things that have been stacked against her…

“This play’s purpose is to create a space to talk about Zimbabwean women and the contributions that they have made to build our country over the past three centuries. I trace the roles of dynamic women such as Mbuya Nehanda and her role in the first Chimurenga, resistance to colonial rule in 1869, to the emerging of the women’s movement in the Association of Women’s Organisations, to the women guerrilla fighter, chimbwidos in the second Chimurenga, to the catalysts that drove the creation of the women’s NGOs in the early 1980s in response to governemt policies and practices that undermined women, on through the 1990s.

I also weave my life stories and experiences as an almost born free in the new Zimbabwe. I use music, songs, dance, re-enactments of certain anecdotes and some narrations throughout the piece.”
- Chiyedza Nyahuye

Chiyedza as a human rights lawyer

Chiyedza is working on taking her play on tour around the world.

About Chiyedza

Chiyedza attended school in Hong Kong, USA and South Africa. She has performed in various musical theatrical productions in the USA including “A Musical Tribute to Miriam Makeba”, “Sleeping with a Virgin, a Perspective on HIV/AIDS”, as well as collaborations with artists at multi-cultural events all over the USA. Her debut performance at REPS Theatre was in “Godspell Revival” (2005). This performance won her the AFDIS award for Best Supporting Actress. After her spectacular role as Dolores/ Sister Mary Clarence in “Sister Action” (2006) Chiyedza then revamped her “hot stuff” as Lady Marmalade in Disco Inferno (2006, 2007). Chiyedza now presents her own original play, “Telling HerStory, Warrior Women of Zimbabwe”, whose inspiration came about while attending a Feminist Leadership Conference that was sponsored by Feminist Political Empowerment Project (FEPEP) in February 2007.

In her own words: “I feel passionately about us women creating our spaces to tell our stories, uplift our sheroes, and document our herstories. We always hear about great African leaders who are usually men like Lumumba, Nyerere, Mandela and Anan- but where are the women? This play is my small way of talking about well known figures such as Nehanda to those unsung sheroes such as mothers of the revolution who were the back bone support for the second Chimurenga, the women’s movement and even the most powerful woman in my life- my mother. I wish to create a space for dialogue to talk about our struggles and victories, reclaiming our sacred spaces as being the salt of the earth, the co-creators of life and abundance.”

Chiyedza chats with the audience after the show

Chiyedza is a woman of many trades. She holds a Bachelors of International Development Studies and a Masters of Public Policy, Public Health. She is a gender mainstreaming and policy analysis consultant, university lecturer, drama teacher for primary school children, professional massage therapist, counsellor, actress, singer, dancer and musician.

Having lived all over the world for nine years she is now determined to stay at home and invest her energy, skills and talents in entrepreneurial pursuits.

Telling HerStory- Warrior Women of Zimbabwe

Written & Performed by- Chiyedza Nyahuye
Co-Directed with- Gavin Peter
Production Manager- Gift T. Marovatsanga
Lighting Technician- Mildred Ndlovu
Sound & Projection Operator- Gift T. Marovatsanga
Sound Effects- Ross Brownley Walker
Video Clips- Daniel Hargrove
Soundtrack for Video- Oliver Mtukudzi
Projected Pictures- National Archives of Zimbabwe

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