African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

Rhodesia remained under the domain of the white minority, despite the advances of black
nationalists who desired independence.
In 1965, the Rhodesia Front (RF) government, led by Ian Smith, declared its
independence from Britain in hopes of continuing white supremacy. While both Britain
and the United Nations refused to recognize Smith’s government, neither took strong
measures to end it. Plans to overthrow the RF were carried out by black nationalists who,
in 1966, began underground movements and an armed struggle for independence. The
advances of these nationalists forced many of the white settlers into exile and the RF was
eventually forced into negotiations. An election in 1980 allowed the black nationalists to
take over the government, and Robert Mugabe subsequently became the first prime
minister of independent Zimbabwe. Although once seen as a great leader of independent
Africa, Mugabe now stands accused of political corruption and destroying the Zimbabwe
economy with an ill-conceived and brutally managed landresettlement plan.
The social conditions of most of Zimbabwe’s people greatly improved immediately
after independence, but now they have lost nearly all of the foreign-exchange income
they were earning for agricultural products. Tobacco was a major crop, but most of the
farms have been destroyed, as white landowners and their workers have been driven
away. Recently the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank severed their
relationships with the country due to nonpayment of loans. Yet another sobering note is
the impact of HIV/AIDS—life expectancy dropped to forty-three years in 1990, and in
2000, one in five individuals was infected with HIV.
Harare, the capital, has become southern Africa’s center for arts and communications.
Many of the city’s filmmakers, musicians, writers, and artists are internationally
renowned for their work. Malachite carvings by Zimbabwean sculptors are also
internationally valued and renowned.
JENNIFER JOYCE
See Beadwork
African folklore 1064
ZULU