It was not until after the 1790s, that the name Mataranyika found its way into the lexicon of the Maungwes.
The name Mataranyika is derived from the prefix “Matara” (inscribe, territory marking or demarcation) and suffix “Nyika” (nation or state). Different meanings are attached to the name Mataranyika. One is that it was a name of action given by Chief Ruredzo to one of his sons, stating the obvious, that it was them responsible for allocating or parcelling pieces of land to settlers in the Maungwe area.
Another one is that it was given him as a reflection of the zeitgeist, that of internal family feuds pitting one brother against the other, while yet another narrative is that Ruredzo was foretelling the partitioning of Africa which would occur years after his rule. While the original holder of that name passed on in his youth, and before he could get married, the name refused to die with him.
After Chief Ruredzo was succeeded by one of his thirteen sons, Zendera, the name would get a new lease of life when the new Chief gave it to one of his sons in memory of his younger brother who had met his untimely death young. Fortunately for us, this Mataranyika would grow up, get married, and have numerous children. As they say, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Mataranyika would go on to sire several children with different women, taking after the deeds of many others before him who had practised polygamy for centuries. Amongst Mataranyika's children were sons, Rakafa, Chigwada, Mandiwa, Mandevana, Shumbayawonda and Chakadeyi, who is my side of the family tree.
Because Mataranyika has been the family name used by all of us, his descendants, for more than two hundred years, and we are many, I will in this write-up, follow the thread from his son Chakadeyi, who is the grandfather to my father and my great-grand father and all those who are descendants of this our great ancestor.
When Chakadeyi became a grown man, he would get married to his childhood sweetheart, Dambudzo, from the Chinenere family of the Shumba totem. For years, they would try for children without success, with each attempt resulting in a stillbirth. As was the tradition back then, when Chakadeyi’s uncle (a Marimira) died, he was made to inherit his wife. With the inheritance of his uncle's wife, Chakadeyi was now himself a polygamist and his inherited wife would bring with her into the union, a step daughter, VaMupuza. In no time, his new bride would conceive giving him his first child, a girl whom they named Ziganga.
About the same time, his married wife, Dambudzo would also conceive, giving the couple their first surviving child, also a girl, whom she named Masodzi (tears). This was because as she would tell anyone who cared to listen, the child wouldn't survive, she would complain; it was just another futile attempt, she would soon be in tears again as had happened many times before.
Like Gunguwo, Muswere and many others before him, Chakadeyi would continue with family traditions and values when he gave his first daughter Ziganga's hand in marriage to one, Mapupa Garikayi Magosha of the Moyo Chirandu totem. This was to show his debt of gratitude to Mapupa for his outstanding contribution in the war effort against Chief Mutasa on the east.
Nelson Mutemajiri would get married to Nesta Mavhowani of the Dziva totem with whom he had eight children three boys, John Mafi, Gilbert Chigo and Paul Takorera and five girls, Mary Hunda, Fernia Marowa, Mabel Mazaiwana, Ruby Gova and Rira Shonhiwa.
The second son of Chakadeyi, Kurauone (Kurai) Mazikana would mary his childhood sweetheart Sophia Chinyama of the Mhofu totem and the couple would be blessed with five children, two boys Tongai and Steven Tapfumaneyi, my father and three girls, Majecha, who left home to work on farms, never to come back home, Sabina my father's twin and Calista.
Steven Tapfumaneyi would be married to Mabel Musasa of the Bonga Chihwa totem and the couple would blessed with six children, all boys, Johane Mhanamana, Philip, Revai, Thomas, Donald and Garikayi.
The third son of Chakadeyi, Johanes Mhanamana Mataranyika Makoni would be married into the Mudondo family of the Bonga Chihwa totem and father two children, a girl, Cecilia and son, Matthius.
It is always important to know one's roots, for trees don't grow from the sky. I am grateful to my family for having kept the record of our lineage and heritage from almost 500 years ago, which is half a millennium. Isn't that incredible? It is the duty of all of us going forward, to continue to keep records and pass our heritage on to future generations who are bearers of the generational torch into the future.
As we shall see going forward, it is on the shoulders of these giants that we stand, should we be able to see further. As we continue connecting the dots, looking backwards, we know we can only build going forward, we cannot change history. If we cannot look back and be inspired, I don't know what would.
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