Dr. Nyasha Blessed Bushu holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in African Studies with a focus in the International Studies Group from the University of the Free State in South Africa. He also holds a BA Honours Degree in Economic History and an MA in African Economic History from the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are conflict, violence, and justice in colonial and post-colonial Africa.
Notably, in 2022, he interfaced with the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission of Zimbabwe on issues related to conflict and justice through his participation in the Spirits of Peace: Recovering Zimbabwe’s Heritage of Traditional Reconciliation for Today’s Peacemakers Project that was organised by the University of Liverpool in conjunction with the British Academy.
His doctoral work breaks new ground by illuminating how local jurisprudential traditions were adapted to local dispute settlement during the early colonial encounter. The intellectual novelty and methodological innovation of this research were recognized internationally through three prestigious fellowships awarded by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programme between 2023 and 2025.
APDD: Briefly describe the central argument of your doctoral dissertation. What is its main contribution to knowledge in your field?
The central argument of this dissertation, titled “BEYOND CHIEFLY COURTS: AFRICAN GRASSROOTS JUSTICE PRACTICES IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA c.1890-1937,” is that African communities have a long history of sustained and adapted use of hidden, often spirit‑based adjudicative systems as deliberate alternatives to both customary tribunals and colonial courts.
The dissertation contributes to the growing field of study on alternative dispute resolution. It foregrounds conversations about community, spirit‑based adjudication as a distinct and persistent form of legal practice. Overall, the dissertation uses spirit-based non-judicial practices as lenses that provide empirical and theoretical insights into marginalized, indigenous, non‑violent, and restorative approaches to conflict resolution.
How did the Next Gen fellowship program impact your doctoral journey?
The three Next Gen Awards that I received provided crucial financial support, which helped me to complete my dissertation. I was able to organize writing retreats, which enabled me to focus fully on writing, data analysis, and revisions. In addition to the several workshops organised by the APN and Next Gen program, these opened the door to mentorship and a vibrant academic network that also offered valuable feedback and guidance, which strengthened the quality and rigour of my work. This award also enabled me to engage in extensive research beyond the requirements of my doctoral thesis, which has given me a launchpad to extend my publication record. Overall, the Next Gen Fellowship helped strengthen my analytical, critical thinking, and research skills, preparing me for advanced scholarly work.
Now that you have completed your PhD, what are your plans for the future?
I am now preparing to transition into post-doctoral studies, where I intend to further expand my research, deepen my expertise, and contribute more extensively to my field of study. I have already been accepted for a post-doctoral position at the University of the Free State, where I am going to work on converting my doctoral dissertation into a book.
Do you have any advice for those planning to embark on doctoral studies?
My advice to those planning to embark on doctoral studies is to first of all find a research topic that excites them. The next step would be to find a mentor and to create a network of people who share the same passion in the chosen field. To stay focused on your path, set detailed research and writing goals. Throughout the journey, stay curious, stay persistent, and embrace the new challenges that come with it. Above all, take care of your physical and mental health.
Publications and Contributions
- Contributed to a Special issue of the African Economic Review 2020: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356187691_African_Economic_Review_2020_-_Compressed
- Revisiting the Colonial Social and Economic History of Zimbabwe (Nyasha Blessed Bushu, Ushehwedu Kufakurinani, Godfrey Hove).
- Bushu, Nyasha, Blessed Colonial Zimbabwe and Technical Training: White Miners’ Training Institutions in Historical Perspective, 1923-1948.
- BOOK REVIEW: S. Mlambo, E.S. Pangeti, I. Phimister, A History of Manufacturing, 1890-1995, University of Zimbabwe Press, 200.
2. Bushu, Nyasha Blessed, and Ushehwedu Kufakurinani. “The Zimbabwean Economic Crisis.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History. 2024.
3. BOOK REVIEW: Winnifred Bedigen. Indigenous Peace Building in South Sudan: Delivering Sustainable Peace through Traditional Institutions, Customs and Practices. London: Routledge, 2023. vii + 243 pp. Figures. Introduction. Bibliography. Index. $128.00. Hardback. ISBN: 9780367561642. https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2024.155
4. BOOK REVIEW: Elizabeth Cooper. 2022.Burning Ambition: Education, Arson, and Learning Justice in Kenya. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. 222 pp. African Studies Quarterly | Volume 22, Issue 3 | November 2024.
