Nation and nationalism in Zimbabwe: the life and times of King Itai David Mutasa

In Zimbabwe the statist narrative of nation and nationalism, with the same ruling party in power, has predominated since independence in 1980. The celebration of former president Robert Mugabe, who ruled for thirty-seven years, and of the power elite claiming legitimacy through involvement in the liberation war has so far driven the public discourse. This monograph offers insight into the life of a nationalist who has been forgotten but who played a significant role not only in Zimbabwe's struggle for independence. King Itai David Mutasa was the rare nationalist who understood the importance of coupling his dedication to anti-colonial nationalism with his vision of a postcolonial nation driven by belonging, aspiration, and responsibility. This volume provides the social biography of a Zimbabwean nationalist so far unrecognized in Zimbabwe and beyond and at the same time aims to contribute to the debate about nation and nationalism more broadly by examining the nationalist experience and political thought both in Zimbabwe and its diaspora.