The recent adoption of jira reretso by the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team has sparked a new wave of cultural nationalism in Zimbabwe.
However, this enthusiasm for cultural heritage is selective, as evidenced by the silence of critics like Clive Mandizha and Sekuru Tozi, who had previously condemned the play “Lovers in Time” for its depiction of cultural symbols ten years ago.
The play, which told the story of the spirits of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi travelling through time, was accused of being distasteful and insensitive. Yet, the same critics failed to speak out against the cricket team’s appropriation of jira reretso.
This double standard highlights the hypocrisy of cultural nationalism in Zimbabwe and raises important questions about who has the right to tell our stories and how they should be told.
The Play: A Celebration or Distortion?
The play’s producer, Blessing Hungwe a two times award winner, had intended to celebrate the lives of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi through a comedic lens.
However, critics like Mandizha and Tozi saw it as a distortion of history and a misrepresentation of African legacies.
This now raises questions about who has the right to tell our stories and how they should be told.
Is it only acceptable to portray our ancestors in a somber and reverent manner, or can we also approach their stories with humor and creativity?
Jira Reretso: A Cultural Symbol
Jira reretso is a sacred cloth worn by spirit mediums in Zimbabwe, particularly those who possess the spirit of Shavi rekuvhima, or Hombarume, the hunter.
The cloth is red in color with designs in black and white, symbolising the blood of the ancestors, the earth, and the spiritual realm.
It is a powerful symbol of cultural identity and spirituality, and its significance cannot be taken lightly.
Cultural Appropriation
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team’s decision to wear jira reretso as part of their uniform was widely celebrated, with many seeing it as a nod to the country’s cultural heritage.
However, this move was culturally insensitive and appropriative.
The cloth is not a fashion statement or a symbol of national pride, but a sacred object that holds deep spiritual significance.
For whites to wear it is akin to wearing a priest’s robe or a Muslim’s hijab as a fashion statement – it is disrespectful and disingenuous.
Notably, critics who were quick to condemn the play, have been silent on the issue of cultural appropriation surrounding the cricket team’s use of jira reretso.
This silence is deafening and highlights the double standards at play.
The Defeat of the Cricket Team
The defeat of the Zimbabwean cricket team at the hands of India is a significant anomaly in this context.
The team’s decision to wear jira reretso was seen as a way to tap into the country’s cultural heritage and gain spiritual strength.
However, their defeat suggests that this approach was misguided and disrespectful.
It is as if the ancestors themselves were displeased with the team’s appropriation of their symbols.
The Double Standards
The controversy surrounding the play is not an isolated incident.
The double standards exhibited by Zimbabweans on cultural issues are glaring.
Why is it acceptable for white people to appropriate our cultural symbols, but not for black people to reinterpret them in a creative way?
Why do we celebrate the wearing of jira reretso by the cricket team, but condemn its depiction in a play?
The Hypocrisy of Cultural Nationalism
This incident highlights the hypocrisy of cultural nationalism in Zimbabwe.
We often talk about the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, but when someone tries to innovate or reinterpret it, we cry foul.
This approach stifles creativity and limits our ability to engage with our cultural symbols in a meaningful way.
It also perpetuates the notion that our culture is static and unchanging, rather than dynamic and evolving.
In parting remarks, the controversy surrounding “Lovers in Time” is a symptom of a larger problem – our inability to engage with our cultural issues in a nuanced and thoughtful way.
We need to move beyond the double standards and hypocrisy that characterise our approach to cultural issues.
We need to embrace creativity and innovation, while also respecting our cultural heritage.
Only then can we truly celebrate our culture in all its complexity and diversity.
Blessing Hungwe’s play may have been controversial, but it has also sparked an important conversation about our cultural values and how we approach them.