Traditional food crops as a source of community resilience

1 International Journal of the African Renaissance, 4(1) 2009 Traditional food crops as a source of community resilience in Zimbabwe Soul Shava soul. shava@gmail. com Rhodes University, South Africa Rob O’Donoghue r. odonoghue@ru. ac. za Rhodes University,... More

1 International Journal of the African Renaissance, 4(1) 2009 Traditional food crops as a source of community resilience in Zimbabwe Soul Shava soul. shava@gmail. com Rhodes University, South Africa Rob O’Donoghue r. odonoghue@ru. ac. za Rhodes University, South Africa Marianne E. Krasny Cornell University, United States of America mek2@cornell. edu Cryton Zazu Sebakwe Black Rhino Conservation Trust, Zimbabwe claytonzazu@fastmail. fm Abstract This article draws upon local narratives and observations of food sustenance practices in relocated farming communities in Sebakwe, Zimbabwe. Local knowledge on traditional food crops and related agricultural practices were proven to be a source of local community resilience enabling residents to sustain their livelihoods. Local community agency in maintaining, cultivating and processing traditional food crops was found to sustain their culture and livelihoods, thereby providing community resilience in a changing environment. Keywords: Agrobio Less