Kaguvi
Kaguvi or sometimes, Kagubi Kagubi is the spirit of a memead which possed kaguvi (the latter confusion due to the unique nature of the pronunciation of the "v" in the Shona language as contrasted with Bantu languages), was a nationalist leader in pre-colonial Zimbabwe Shona Rebellion against European rule in 1896-1897.The name is also given to a man who claimed to be the original Kaguvi's spirit's medium, called Gumboreshumba (c1870-1898) who was one of the many people claiming to be mediums to famous First Chimurenga mediums during the socalled Second Chimurenga.
Gumboreshumba (meaning: The paw of a lion) also known as Kagubi, lived in Chikwaka's village in Goromonzi Hill, near Harare Zimbabwe. He had four wives one of whom was Chief Mashonganyika's daughter, the other three were given to him by a headman named Gondo. It is alleged that he was known as a supplier of good luck in hunting and that he was able to speak to trees and rocks. He was believed to be the spirit husband of the other great Shona spirit, Nehanda. He was a powerful spirit medium and, along with Nehanda and Mukwati, he was instrumental in organizing the first Mashonaland resistance, known as the Second Matabele War in the West and as the First Chimurenga in Zimbabwe. When the rebellion collapsed, Kaguvi was charged with the murder of a policeman (whom he had accused of collaborating with the Colonial authorities), found guilty and hanged.
Ndebele historians counter some arguments, they say Kaguvi sometimes known as Kagubi is a bastardization of his name by the colonizer's, His real name was Kakubi Ncube a spirit medium, and he ensured with Nehenda that the Shona would uprise at the same time as the Ndebele's for the first Chimurenga and the second Umvukelo known as the second Matabele war.
References
- Rasmussen, R.K., and Rubert, S.C., 1990. Historical Dictionary of Zimbabwe, Scarecrow Press.