“Ngozi” (avenging spirit), zimbabwean transnational migration, and restorative justice in Brian Chikwava’s Harare North (2009)

Abstract

This article explores the nexus between the Zimbabwean Shona concept of “ngozi” (avenging spirit), Zimbabwean transnational migration, and restorative justice in Brian Chikwava’s Harare North. In Shona cosmology, once “ngozi” is committed, it has to be recompensed in order for restorative justice to occur between individuals, families, and the community in general. However, failure to appease “ngozi” results in inexplicable misfortunes such as sicknesses or eventual death or deaths of the person or persons who would have committed the “ngozi.” Thus, engaging in transnational migration as a way of escaping “ngozi” is futile as the only solution to “ngozi” is to recompense the victim and his or her family and ensure that restorative justice takes place between individuals, families, and society in general.