Diana’s Vow

Location:
Inyanga, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

Background:
“Diana’s Vow” rock paintings tell many stories of early man. The rock paintings and rock formations are protected by the Zimbabwe National Monuments.

The huge overhanging rock face has the most unusual rock paintings probably dating back 2000 years ago. The paintings are intricate in their detail.

The main scene depicts two long friezes of human figures, emblazoned with white stripes, dots and head-dresses. Several are masked. Above them is laid out all the panoply of their equipment — baskets with handles, skins, bows, quivers, truncheons and a mass of edible fruits or roots. The whole scene is enclosed in a triple series of curved lines.

Above this is a much larger reclining male figure. Below him is a simpler female figure which echoes his posture. Dogs, a chicken, a snake and further humans adjoin the central scene.

Underneath these figures can be seen isolated animal paintings in an earlier, simpler style — notably a buffalo. This rock art is complex and open to interpretation.

“Hunting and foraging people painted this rock art in Zimbabwe in Southern Africa about 2,000 years ago. The scene depicts a ceremonial dance whose purpose may have been to animate the life force. The large figure in the center, very likely wearing an antelope mask, is lying down and perhaps in a state of trance, or altered consciousness.” Reference “ Diana’s Vow” site, Manicaland, Zimbabwe. R. Dunn

A different interpretation of the rock art is given by the late Peter Garlake, Zimbabwe’s eminent author on rock art, who said “The figures which surround him are participants in a sable dance, the numerous dots of white on the figures represent n/um, or potency, which has been generated by the dancers and the trancer. The trancer, also embellished with the white dots of potency, will enter the spirit world to plead with the San Gods on behalf of the community to ease some communal tension, or cure sickness, or bring relief in the form of rain.” 

To the right of the rock overhang, there is a path which leads you to a fort which is built on a Kopje. The remnants of the stone walls suggest that the fort was built to protect against attack by their enemies.