I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the Nyathi family, friends and colleagues on the passing away of Pathisa Nyathi — our fountain of historical knowledge.
My association with Nyathi dates back to the early 1970s when I was a student at the Jairos Jiri Primary School in Bulawayo.
This is the time when Nyathi together with some students with disabilities and associated with Jairos Jiri Centre were learners at Mazoe Mission.
These included one of my late friend and colleague, Livion Njini Nyathi.
Every term when schools closed, Nyathi used to come to the Jairos Jiri Centre accompanying some of his school mates he would have travelled with by train from Harare.
Later, during the weekends he would visit Jairos Jiri Centre and spend quality time with us.
It was at such times that I got to know Nyathi as a humorous and easy going character who loved all people regardless of their social standing.
In later years, from 1992 to present, I associated with Nyathi through the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme, an organisation that I lead.
- Pathisa Nyathi: A fountain of historical knowledge
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We have acquired and distributed a lot of books that he has written.
I used to invite Nyathi to give talks related to African history and the African thought, with particular focus on Zimbabwe, to some people visiting my organisation.
These groups also involved educationists, librarians, museum curators, students, among others, from Europe and other African countries. All who attended his lectures were very much impressed with the depth of his knowledge on the African history and related cultural issues. Some of his audience would end up buying his books.
A lot of people who attended his lectures also developed an interest in visiting Nyathi’s Amagugu International Heritage Centre in Matobo.
Through my association with rural schools, I always encourage schools making trips to the Matopos to also visit Amagugu Centre.
Last year one of the schools, Bernard Mizeki College near Marondera visited Amagugu Centre on their way from the Matopo National Park.
The students met Nyathi whose presentation impressed them. After the visit some of the students expressed their gratitude on how Nyathi ably highlighted the country’s history, the cultural and spiritual significance of the Matopos and its role in advancing the African thought.
Nyathi and I visited my former school, Inyathi High a couple of times where he dug more history about the Inyathi Mission and its role in shaping the Christian, education and political life of Zimbabwe.
Nyathi together with Marieke Clarke in their book, A Cradle of the Revolution: Voices from Inyathi School, featured me in this book and highlighted my participation in the struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
Nyathi was a prolific writer and at the same time a great researcher.
I recall, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, he called me for directions to some very remote areas of Nkayi district where he wanted to search for some families that were endowed with the history that he wanted to research on.
In 2013 I invited Nyathi to be the guest of honour at the launch of one of our donkey drawn mobile libraries service at Dakamela Primary School in Nkayi.
The audience at the launch, especially the elderly were amazed on his vast knowledge of the history of the area, including the Dakamela chieftainship.
Nyathi was a moving library and his vast knowledge in the history and culture of this country is impressive. Fortunately, he devoted a lot of his time and resources to produce books that will uphold his legacy. has written many books linked to the history and culture of Zimbabwe, including biographies.
Beyond the Amagugu International Heritage Centre, it can also be befitting for his family and friends, with support from the book and library sector to consider the establishment of The Pathisa Nyathi Public Library.
Writers do not die — they are turned in their bones.
Farewell Phthisa Nyathi!
* Obadiah Thembani Moyo is the secretary general of the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme. He is writing in his personal capacity
