👣 Walking in Our Ancestors’ Footsteps at Great Zimbabwe

On June 5, 2025, our journey took us to the legendary Great Zimbabwe Ruins—a day that felt divinely aligned. It also happened to be the birthday of me and Denise’s 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 I’ve shared before, words often fall short, and this visit was no different. The magnitude, beauty, and sheer brilliance of Great Zimbabwe can’t be captured by photos alone.

The Great Zimbabwe wall is truly one of Africa’s greatest ancient achievements—a massive dry-stone structure built between the 11th and 15th centuries by the ancestors of today’s 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 “house of stone,” 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 top—overlooking the land of our ancestors—was 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 life—from architecture and arts to healing practices and community customs—carried forward from the time of Great Zimbabwe. With its handcrafted homes and cultural displays, the village is a beautiful celebration of Zimbabwe’s heritage and the resilience of the Shona people. 💛 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 path—a 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 can’t wait to share what happened next. Come along with us—there is so much more to tell.