by Kudakwashe Kanhutu
I am planning to run the 42.2 Kilometre Athens Classic Marathon this year dressed the way Shona Warriors of the 5th Century would have dressed. I will also carry mock Shona weapons of the period: I envisage a Shield of some sort and a Battle Axe (Gano). Incidentally, the Battle Axe would have been my weapon of choice had I existed in that period.
MISSING PIECES:
The Athens Classic Marathon re-enacts the events of 2 500 years ago, when a Greek Soldier, Pheidippides, ran the 42.2 Kilometres from Marathon to Athens to announce to the Athenians, that they had won a brilliant victory against the invading Persians in the "Battle of Marathon." But do you doubt for a moment that these same exploits and feats were also happening, at the same time, far far away in Southern Africa? I don't doubt it for a moment, that's why I will introduce that previously untold story to the corpus this year.
AUTHENTIC OR SYNTHETIC?
Now, running a Marathon is hard on its own, it is even worse if you are carrying props and paraphernalia, this is why my props will have to be of the most lightweight materials possible. Perhaps reinforced Kaylite painted to look the real thing.
Also, because of animal rights activists, I suspect I will not be able to wear my Lion Skins (as brave warriors of that period would have done), so even my "Mhapa" and "Shashiko" will be synthetic. I may just get away with the Ostrich feathers in my Head Dress being authentic, because you do not need to have killed one to use the feathers.
BUT...
Here is where you come in, as the expert of Zimbabwean History, you must answer me this: what did the Shona Warrior look like 2 500 years ago? What weapons did he carry? Did he have a Battle Cry? Belong to a military unit? Rank? Insignia?
Your failure to answer these questions will introduce the most wild distortions to world history. For if you do not reign in my imagination thus, expect to see poetic licence gone insane! I am just a patriot, and as we all know, Patriotism ruins history!
