Substitution and social valuation: Exploring intersectional disability and identity in Zimbabwe’s cultural landscape

Abstract

This study explores the intersectionality of disability, identity, and cultural meaning-making in Zimbabwe, where socio-religious and cultural valuations often render disabled persons as objects of "substitution" rather than inclusion. Despite policy advancements, deep-seated cultural perceptions continue to frame disability as a curse, leading to stigma, exclusion, and a pervasive logic of replacement—where disabled individuals are deemed unfit and substituted in familial and social roles. Guided by Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework and African philosophical concepts of ubuntu and personhood, this research addresses a critical gap in anthropological scholarship concerning how disability is interpreted within Zimbabwe's cultural landscape. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study employed purposive sampling to select 22 participants, comprising persons with disabilities and caregivers. Data were analyzed thematically to draw out patterns of social valuation, spiritual interpretations, and identity negotiation. Findings reveal the widespread misinterpretation of the phrase “disability does not mean inability,” which, rather than empowering, is often used to justify non-support or even exclusion. The research contributes to decolonizing disability discourse by centering African voices and experiences, while also advocating for inclusive frameworks rooted in cultural reform. It invites Africanist anthropologists to critically rethink how identity and ability are culturally constructed across diverse social fabrics.