Great Zimbabwe: Africa's Ancient Stone City

The Great Zimbabwe: A Monument to African Ingenuity

On January 1, 1871, Karl Mauch, a German explorer, stumbled upon the ancient stone city of Great Zimbabwe in present-day Zimbabwe, Africa. Mauch's discovery sparked a heated debate about the origins of the city, with many Europeans refusing to believe that Africans had built such a sophisticated structure. Historian David Beach documented this encounter in his book "The Shona and Zimbabwe 900-1850".

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Great Zimbabwe was built by some foreign civilization, perhaps the Phoenicians or the Arabs, due to its impressive stone walls and intricate architecture. The standard story goes that Africans were not capable of constructing such a complex city, and therefore, it must have been built by someone else. This notion has been perpetuated by various European explorers and historians who have written about the city over the years.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Peter Garlake challenges this myth in his book "The Hunters and the Gatherers", where he presents evidence that the Great Zimbabwe was, in fact, built by the indigenous Shona people between 1270 and 1450. The city's architecture and layout are consistent with other Shona settlements in the region, and archaeological findings, such as pottery and tools, confirm that the city was occupied by the Shona people during this period. On May 15, 1905, the Rhodesian government commissioned an excavation of the site, led by Richard Hall, which uncovered further evidence of the city's African origins. The Great Zimbabwe's massive stone walls, some of which are over 30 feet high, were constructed without the use of mortar, a feat that is still impressive today. Historians such as Beach and Garlake have pieced together a narrative of the city's history, using sources like the 16th-century Portuguese historian João de Barros, who wrote about the city in his book "Da Ásia". By examining the historical record and archaeological evidence, it becomes clear that the Great Zimbabwe was, in fact, a product of African ingenuity and skill, and not the result of foreign influence. On June 20, 1980, the Zimbabwean government officially recognized the city as a national monument, solidifying its place in African history.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Heinrich Barth and Carl Mauch actively worked to erase the fact that Africans built the Great Zimbabwe, instead attributing its construction to foreign influences. The British South Africa Company, led by Cecil Rhodes, deliberately suppressed evidence of African achievement to justify their colonization of the region. One concrete reason this history was not told is that the company destroyed or hid many of the city's artifacts and records, making it difficult for later scholars to reconstruct the true history of the site. The decision by the British government to support Rhodes' claims also played a significant role in burying the truth, as it provided a veneer of legitimacy to the false narrative. By controlling the narrative, these individuals and institutions were able to shape public opinion and obscure the fact that Africans were capable of building complex and sophisticated cities like the Great Zimbabwe.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Great Zimbabwe's true history had concrete consequences for the people of Zimbabwe, who were denied a sense of pride and ownership over their cultural heritage. The city's architecture and engineering were not studied or emulated, and instead, European styles were imposed on the region. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the design of the Zimbabwean parliament building, which was modeled after European structures rather than the indigenous architecture of the Great Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe were also affected by the loss of their cultural identity, as the false narrative of the city's origins was used to justify colonial rule and the erasure of their history.

The Line That Says It All

The Great Zimbabwe's true history remained obscured for decades, a direct result of the deliberate actions of European colonizers and historians who refused to acknowledge African achievement.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Great Zimbabwe and the history of southern Africa.