The history of Bulawayo
Bulawayo a city filled with history, intrigue, heritage and magnificent monuments. The history of Bulawayo is one that is filled with interesting facts and intrigue. The current position of Bulawayo was part of King Lobhengula’s kingdom.
The name of Bulawayo loosely translated means the place of slaughter.
The facts surrounding how it got this name is tied to the bloodshed that happened when Nkulumane the first son of Mzilikazi who became the king after the Ndebele people were separated from their first king Mzilikazi. This was taken as an act of treason and those who had a hand in this act were killed. Lobhengula became king after Mzilikazi died. Bulawayo was originally named Gibixhegu but it was later changed. Bulawayo was one of the cities that never had its name changed during the colonial era.
Bulawayo was colonised on the 4th November 1893. On that day it ceased to be kingdom it became part of the colonial Rhodesia. Bulawayo was part of the new era. The 3c’s were starting to take form. It was now Colonised, Christianity was on the rise even though it had faced challenges in its early days in the Kingdom. Most importantly it was about to turn into a hub of Commerce. Bulawayo transformed over the ages from a Ndebele Kingdom to a boisterous hub of commerce, a railway line was built and it was so filled with industries that spewed smoke into air and it was turned into industrial haven. This marked the beginning of a new life in Bulawayo. The name ‘Kothuntu ziyathunqa’ was given to Bulawayo.
A kingdom of the Matebele was now the Kingdom of steel, smoke and innovation. During this time Bulawayo was the Capital city of Rhodesia, this was later handed over to Salisbury which is currently Harare. Bulawayo remained as a gem of production due to its location. Bulawayo is strategically located in the manner that its geographical location gives it an added advantage as it’s the city that is nearest to South Africa and Botswana. The railway and road network make Bulawayo what it is.
Bulawayo’s history is entangled with sports and enriched by culture. Bulawayo has in its history book the formation and opening of one of Zimbabwe’s most recognized football team Highlanders Football Club popularly known as ‘Amahlolanyama or Mantengwane’. This Football Club was found in 1926. Babourfields Stadium one of the Bulawayo monuments was and still is the home of the beloved ‘Tshilamoya’ that has inspired several songs such as Tshilamona by the well-known talented Musician from Bulawayo Lovemore Majaivana. Bulawayo is home to arts. Its historic has that in stone and concrete. The Amakhosi Cultural centre is deeply embedded into the History of Bulawayo. After Independence the Amakhosi was the place were arts flourished after the polarisation of the Rhodesian culture. Notable talent has come out of the Centre. Stanley Square is one of the Bulawayo monuments has had an active role in the cultural history of Bulawayo. During the colonial times Stanley Square was also the melting pot of politics.
With the booming Industries of Bulawayo there was the need for a Bus Rank and there is no well-known place in Matabeleland such as eRenkini. The nostalgia and memories that are attached to this bustling Bus rank is visible on the Literary History of Bulawayo. N Sigogo is one of the best writers in Zimbabwe and Bulawayo was the city where most of his books were based. The history of Bulawayo is incomplete without mentioning eRenkini and the small cafes littered around Third Avenue. This was where the hard working men boarded the buses back to their families that were based in the communal lands. The cafés were the place visitors went to sit down and grab some refreshment. A soft drink, buns, pies and toffees were the most popular of these refreshments. The beer gardens were the social hive. The beer gardens were not just structures but they contributed the social structure of Bulawayo. They didn’t not only cater to men and their brotherhood but they became the locations for burial society meetings. They are dotted all over the old townships Makokoba has the ever so popular Madlodlo, Marisha, Gibixhegu, Sidudla and Makhwananzi even though the y are dying out they will always be a part of the history of Bulawayo.
The Bulawayo Registry Office which is popularly known as ‘KoMsitheli’ is linked to the history of Bulawayo. Every form of identification was and still obtained here. Birth Certificates, ID, Marriage Certificate, Death certificates and travelling documents such as the passport are still obtained at the Bulawayo Registry Office. The history of Bulawayo can be found ‘KoMsitheli’
The history of Bulawayo will never be complete. It’s written every day.