Being White in Post-2000 Zimbabwe: A Reading of Eames’ Cry of the Go-Away Bird

Abstract

This article looks at Zimbabwean whiteness in the context of loss, dispossession, victimisation and the need to belong. It draws from literary narratives written by Zimbabwean whites, particularly Andrea Eames’ Cry of the Go-Away Bird, and argues that in the aftermath of the fast-tracked land reform programme of 2000, the avenues of speech became increasingly restricted for Zimbabwean whites. This gave rise to new sites of speaking and literary narratives. By means of fiction, memoirs and autobiographies whites make themselves heard and add their voices to the mainstream debate about whiteness, land ownership, citizenship and a need to belong, albeit to a marginalised group. Eames’ Cry of the Go-Away Bird is significant in its engagement with the aforementioned issues. This article examines the text against the background of Du Bois’ notion of double consciousness, the sense of being caught between conflicting ideals, and the need to belong. 

Opsomming

In hierdie artikel word ondersoek ingestel na Zimbabwiese witheid teen die agtergrond van verlies, onteiening, viktimisering en die behoefte om lid van 'n groep te wees. Daar word gekyk na die literêre narratiewe van Zimbabwiese wittes, in die besonder Cry of the Go-Away Bird deur Andrea Eames, en daar word aangevoer dat wittes in Zimbabwe sedert die versnelde grondhervormingsprogram in 2000 toenemend minder geleentheid kry om hul gevoelens te lug. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot nuwe uitingsterreine en literêre narratiewe in die vorm van fiksie, memoires en outobiografieë deur middel waarvan wittes hul stem laat hoor en 'n bydrae lewer tot die hoofstroomgesprek oor witheid, grondbesit, burgerskap en 'n behoefte aan samehorigheid, al is dit ook as lede van 'n gemarginaliseerde groep. Eames se Cry of the Go-Away Bird is van belang omdat dit met al hierdie aspekte handel. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die teks teen die agtergrond van Du Bois se gedagte van 'n tweeledige bewussyn, dat mens vasgevang voel tussen teenstrydige ideale, en die behoefte om tot 'n groep te behoort.