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đŁ Walking in Our Ancestorsâ Footsteps at Great Zimbabwe
On a day filled with deep meaning, we explored the Great Zimbabwe Ruinsâan ancient masterpiece built by our Shona ancestors and a powerful symbol of African ingenuity. From the towering stone walls to the living history of Shona Village, this visit brought our heritage to life and connected us to our grandfatherâs memory in the most beautiful way.
GREAT ZIMBABWE RUINS
Tamara Driver
1/9/20262 min read
On June 5, 2025, our journey took us to the legendary Great Zimbabwe Ruinsâa day that felt divinely aligned. It also happened to be the birthday of me and Deniseâs grandfather, Ezell H. Jackson, the very man whose bloodline led us to Zimbabwe in the first place. To walk this land on his day felt like a full-circle moment, a quiet reminder that our steps were guided long before we arrived. As Iâve shared before, words often fall short, and this visit was no different. The magnitude, beauty, and sheer brilliance of Great Zimbabwe canât be captured by photos alone.
The Great Zimbabwe wall is truly one of Africaâs greatest ancient achievementsâa massive dry-stone structure built between the 11th and 15th centuries by the ancestors of todayâs Shona people. With no mortar at all, each stone was shaped and fitted with such precision that the walls still stand centuries later. Some rise more than 30 feet high, stretching across an ancient city that once pulsed with royal power, spiritual life, and global trade reaching Arabia, India, and China. This masterpiece not only gave Zimbabwe its name, meaning âhouse of stone,â but it continues to stand as a testament to the brilliance and sophistication of early African civilizations.
Denise and I were overwhelmed with pride knowing that we, too, share the blood of the Shona people. Climbing those stone pathways and standing at the topâoverlooking the land of our ancestorsâwas breathtaking. We took countless photos, including ones of ourselves. We explored every curve of the ruins and imagined where the king once stood, where guards kept watch, and what life must have been like here centuries ago. The rock formations alone were astonishing. To witness something so old still standing with such strength left us in awe.
Nearby, we visited Shona Village, which felt like stepping directly into living history. The welcome sign explained that the village preserves traditional Shona lifeâfrom architecture and arts to healing practices and community customsâcarried forward from the time of Great Zimbabwe. With its handcrafted homes and cultural displays, the village is a beautiful celebration of Zimbabweâs heritage and the resilience of the Shona people. đ We could have stayed much longer, but eventually it was time to move on. As we drove away, baboons, monkeys, and colorful birds crossed our pathâa true treat for the eyes!
With Masvingo behind us, our next stop was Kwekwe, where another unforgettable family reunion awaited me and Denise. This journey just kept getting better, and I canât wait to share what happened next. Come along with usâthere is so much more to tell.
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Serving and supporting others as we go.
Š 2025. All rights reserved.
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Discovering cultures, cuisine, and geography across the globe.