The function and significance of war names in the Zimbabwean armed conflict (1966-1979)
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Authors
Pfukwa, Charles
Issue Date
2007-01
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Chimurenga , Connotation , Denotation , Descriptive backing , Erasure , Guerrillas , Identity , Ideology , Onomastics , Shona , War names
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study is a survey of war names adopted by guerrillas during the
Zimbabwean conflict (1966-1979). The study collects, describes and
analyses war names that were used by ZANLA guerrillas in the conflict. It
explores onomastic patterns and processes that influenced these war
names. Names collected from textual sources and from interviews of
former guerrillas are analysed and classified into nine categories. One of
the main findings is that the background of the namer influenced the
naming patterns and processes identified in the study. Another finding is
that most guerrillas named themselves and it was also observed that some
guerrillas have retained their names. The findings, analysed within the
theoretical framework developed earlier from the onomastic and identity
theories, indicate that the war name plays a vital role not only in
concealing the old identity of the guerrilla but also in creating new
identities, which were used as weapons for challenging the enemy and
contesting space. Onomastic erasure and resuscitation are proposed as
partial explanation for the creation of some war names. The study
contributes to onomastic research not only in that it has produced a large
corpus of war names that can be used for further research in that it is a
significant point of reference in onomastic research in Zimbabwe and in
southern Africa, especially in the area of nicknames and war names. It also
lays the foundation for further research on the role of naming patterns and
processes in peace building and conflict resolution in Zimbabwe, on the
southern African subcontinent and elsewhere.
Description
Citation
Pfukwa, Charles (2007) The function and significance of war names in the Zimbabwean armed conflict (1966-1979), University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3155>