History, literature and (post)colonialism

politics and gender in Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions (Zimbabwe, 1960s-1980s)

Abstract

The main objective of the article is to analyze "Nervous Conditions," the debut novel by Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga, originally published in 1988. The novel portrays the journey and intellectual/subjective development of Tambudzai (or Tambu), a young Shona girl in rural Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the 1960s. It focuses on her aspirations for educational opportunities following the death of her older brother, as well as the conflicts that arise from the clash between traditional African values and elements of modernity, particularly in relation to family and gender dynamics. Throughout the narrative, Dangarembga contrasts the experiences of Tambudzai with various women, such as her cousin Nyasha and her aunt Maiguru. These characters represent women who have attained educational opportunities and social mobility, albeit while facing conflicts resulting from their encounters with colonial cultures. The analysis of the novel, drawing on theoretical and methodological frameworks exploring the relationship between history and literature, as well as African studies, focuses on Dangarembga's work to investigate the processes of forming female subjectivities in colonial Zimbabwe. It pays attention to the construction of spaces for women's agency and empowerment within different social spheres, while also addressing the political debates and conflicts surrounding decolonization and the establishment of the Zimbabwean nation.