Ziwo 'Tracing the Heritage of Zimbabweans Living in Manchester' project collection

This collection consists of:

• Project papers detailing the development, management and promotion of the project

• Oral histories as collected by the volunteers on the project

• A book produced as one of the project outputs

The Zimbabwe Women's Organisation (ZIWO) is a constituted voluntary group established by five Zimbabwean women in 2006. The group is led by volunteers and supports Zimbabweans living in Greater Manchester to realise their full potential. Zimbabweans living in Greater Manchester seem to be hidden from the multicultural make up because there was no record of their heritage or existence in the area. In 2018 ZIWO received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to undertake the Tracing the heritage of Zimbabweans living in Greater Manchester project.The aim of the project was to demonstrate the diversity of black minority ethnic communities in Greater Manchester and the richness and uniqueness of the Zimbabwean culture. Meeting at the Turkey Lane & Monsall Neighbourhood Centre several times, the community group were able to come together and share beliefs and traditions, dance and eat food.The project collected life stories which covered themes including childhood, their migration journey to the UK, Zimbabwean traditions and totems as well as hopes and fears for the future. By recording these stories it was hoped that Zimbabweans could familiarise themselves with the culture, values and morals enshrined in Ubuntu and future generations will be able to trace where they came from and the life their families lived. The testimonies also provide a wealth of insight to those outside of the Zimbabwean community.

• GB3228.86/1 Project papers

• GB3228.86/2 Oral histories

• GB3228.86/3 Project outputs

24 hours notice is required to view this collection. Material will then be accessible through Manchester Central Library Search Room, Manchester Central Library, St. Peters Square, Manchester, M2 5PD. To access this collection please contact: rrarchive@manchester.ac.uk

Donated by T. Madzunzu on behalf of Zimbabwe Women's Organisation (ZIWO)

A printed summary and index of the interviews in this collection available in the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre Library, Ref: MAN/HI.1/ZIW

Catalogue created in Jan 2020 by J. Robson with assistance from by T. Madzunzu

For private research and study purposes only. If you wish to publish or further use any item in this collection please contact the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre rrarchive@manchester.ac.uk

No appraisal undertaken

Received directly from Zimbabwe Women's Organisation (ZIWO) via Wetransfer, email and in person donation.

No further accruals expected for this collection. Further archives may be forthcoming from this group due to a desire for a second NLHF project based on this initial work.

An interview with Tendayi and Elinah about the aims and achievements of ZIWO (recorded May 2009) can be found at: www.vimeo.com/26906480

A video showcasing the Salford Refugee Fun Day (23 Jun 2018) which includes a piece by Tendayi about their involvement in the day can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIJ2zZ0aYZY

Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre Archive: GB3228.57/2/17: Information on the Zimbabwean community organisation including a summary of support and activities; a history of the organisation; fund-raising projects, including a trip to Blackpool for children; flyers and poster for cultural events including Shakedown Party, Zimbabwe Family Day, and Zimbabwe Community Fund-raiser; Zimbabwe Refugee Project script for a play; and two press cuttings regarding the Mugabe regime.

Photographs of the Tracing the heritage of Zimbabweans living in Greater Manchester launch and final event taken by AIUET staff attending the events are held in the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust collection Ref: GB3228.22

Items held in the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Library:
Tendayi Madzunzu and Elinah Mugwagwa were interviewed as part of the Manchester Refugee Support Network project in 2016. Transcripts of the interviews are available in the library Ref: MAN/HI.3/MAN