I've heard this story since I was 5 and I now know which bits are true and the ones that have been 'added on'.
This story was written for my personal records (exactly as it was told), but I saw no harm in sharing it (You can read this while I finish crystallizing my thoughts on: The path we'll take towards a technological singularity and how venture capitalists can identify the great opportunities that will come with it) :
"Chi-rinda", is derived from the Shona language (Zimbabwe). It's a phrase that a certain man called Gwangwava used often, which meant: "watch over me". The name has been around since the early 19th century.
"Chi-rinda", is derived from the Shona language (Zimbabwe). It's a phrase that a certain man called Gwangwava used often, which meant: "watch over me". The name has been around since the early 19th century.
According to Shadrech Chirinda (my grandfather), Gwangwava used to live in the geographical region that was close to the Zambezi river; in the country that is now Zambia. He was the youngest son of a powerful chief that lived in the region during the late 18th century.
... A young ambitious man
Gwangwava had the gift of speech; he was sharp with his words and could persuade anyone to do anything! He was also very ambitious and wanted to take over from his father as chief. However as the youngest son of the chief, there were no cultural avenues available for the fulfillment of his ambitions (according to the traditions; only the oldest son of the chief could succeed his father, unless there were exceptional circumstances).
Using his gift of persuasion; he won allies in his father's court who promised to help him wrestle power from his older brothers upon his father's death. When the chief (his father) learned of Gwangwava's plans; he was infuriated and felt threatened by Gwangwava's ambitions. He believed that his son had the potential to overthrow him, and, ordered his army to kill Gwangwava.
... Running away
Word of the chief's order got to Gwangwava and he went on the run, heading southwards towards what is now known as Zimbabwe. He took off in the middle of the night and left with nothing. It is estimated that he was between 19-21 years of age when this happened.
Using his gift of persuasion; he won allies in his father's court who promised to help him wrestle power from his older brothers upon his father's death. When the chief (his father) learned of Gwangwava's plans; he was infuriated and felt threatened by Gwangwava's ambitions. He believed that his son had the potential to overthrow him, and, ordered his army to kill Gwangwava.
... Running away
Word of the chief's order got to Gwangwava and he went on the run, heading southwards towards what is now known as Zimbabwe. He took off in the middle of the night and left with nothing. It is estimated that he was between 19-21 years of age when this happened.
Gwangwava ran through lion infested forests, avoiding human settlements at all times. He ran during the night and rested and ate whilst in hiding; during the day. It took him 3 nights to get to the banks of the Zambezi river. He walked along the river searching for a narrow part, found a narrow part and swam across to the other side of the river (to Zimbabwe).
Exhausted and hungry, he went to the first human settlement he found, narrated his story to the inhabitants of the settlement, and they took him in. He stayed with them for almost a year, until his father's officials tracked him and tried to kill him whilst he slept. He managed to flee and found another settlement further down- south.
..."Watch-over me"
He didn't get to live there very long, as he was again tracked by his father's officials, and was again on the run. He became paranoid and didn't live in a settlement for long. He was always on the run and asked people to watch over him whilst he slept. He would say to them "Chirinda' meaning "watch over me", until people started calling him "Chirinda". Those were the origins of the last name "Chirinda", from a man called Gwangwava. He is the ancestor of the Chirindas
