Introducing migratuality through Kufambira

This article proposes migratuality, a southern-centred theory of mobility grounded in African spiritual and relational epistemologies. Drawing on the Shona concept of kufambira, it explores how migration can be understood not as mere relocation but as a transformative, collective and metaphysical journey. It places African thought at the centre of migration studies. Kufambira, a Shona term, embodies the familial, communal, spiritual and relational disposition of journeying with a transformative quest of the self in relation to family and community, accentuating the social networks, mutual aid and collective responsibility that underpin migratory experiences. The article argues that a journey guided by kufambira is not merely a physical relocation, but a metaphysical exploration of one's place in the world, a search for truths about one's existence and purpose in relation to others in society. Drawing empirical illustrations from Zimbabwe, it proffers insights into the interface between spirituality and mobility.