Fictions of the Past

Using Historical Fiction to Understand the Effects of Colonial Gender Roles on 1940s Zimbabwe

Abstract

Throughout history there have been numerous influences that have affected and shaped African society and culture, few of which have been as impactful as the colonization from European settlers. The impacts from the colonization of Africa reach beyond political, economic, and historic changes and affected African societies down to a personal level. As Europeans left their home continent and began to colonize and establish settlements in Africa, their ideas regarding gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy followed. These “western” ideas would eventually spread throughout the continent of Africa, ultimately changing and influencing Native Africans cultural practices, identities, and beliefs about gender and sexuality. The impacts from colonization regarding these topics of personal identity have influenced countless forms of artistic expression ranging from music, artwork, and written stories and novels. Zimbabwean author Yvonne Vera is well known for her novels rooted in issues plaguing colonial Zimbabwe, addressing harsh subject matters such rape, abortion, gender inequality and other sensitive topics. While most of her work is historical fiction, Yvonne Vera’s writings are an example of how historical fiction can bridge the gap between personal memory and collective trauma.