Subversion or Identity Work? Tracing the Reception of Zimbabwean Counter-Narrative Memoirs

This article analyses the reception of memoirs that position themselves as counter-narratives to state-sanctioned Zimbabwean storytelling. It asks whether these texts play subversive role one might expect from their status counter-narratives. To study lives counter-narratives, I propose it is helpful examine narrative communities, distinguishing between implicit and imagined communities. Under scrutiny are four very different memoirs: Nkomo: The Story My Life by Joshua Nkomo (1984), Great Betrayal/Bitter Harvest Ian Smith (1997/2001), When a Crocodile Eats Sun Peter Godwin (2006) These Bones Will Rise Again Panashe Chigumadzi (2018). examines counter-narrative gestures then places them in context exploring how they reviewed debated, particularly online. Considering audiences Zimbabwe, ex-Rhodesian community, west diaspora, concludes target audience rarely state itself. Instead, written read support number identity projects, serving confirm readers’ understanding world. Countering not always prime concern readers who, like texts, communicate mostly with like-minded people.