Guns and Rain: Guerillas and Spirit Mediums in Zimbabwe Volume 38

As a son of Zimbabwe I would dare say herein lies many of the clues,explanations and answers to some of the seemingly illogical occurences and happenings in Zimbabwe. I consider the book essential reading to anyone even vaguely interested in the history of Zimbabwe and its politics.

Guns and Rain is a very good ethnography which demonstrates how creative human relationships can be despite the most adverse of conditions. The book is set during the civil war which ensues in former Rhodesia with a minority white government unwilling to extend voting rights to the majority unrepresented black population. In highlighting the human level of these problems, Lan very effectively shows us how destructive and instructive colonialism can be for a people. By reading of the relationships that existed before white rule and their destruction and also their emergence out of this experience, we are ultimately awed by how strong the human spirit can be. In spite of such horrific abuse and forced represssion, the local people are able to conquer their lives and move forward and create a new life. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a different perspective on life and humanity in such traumatic circumstances as war and colonialism.