The Rhodesian Independence Bell, or Rhodesian Liberty Bell, is a replica of the American

Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell, previously called the State House Bell or Old State House Bell, is an iconic symbol of American independence, located in Philadelphia. Originally placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence ...

which was used in

Rhodesia Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of S ...

to commemorate their Unilateral Declaration of Independence. It weighed and was made in 1966 in the Netherlands and was last rung in 1978.

Description

The Liberty Bell was made in the Netherlands; it is made out of bronze, is tall, weighs and is supported by Rhodesian mukwa wood. It cost £600 to make and was donated by five anonymous Rhodesians. The funding reportedly came from American conservative supporters of Rhodesia. The bell was inscribed: "I toll for justice, civilization and Christianity."

History

Rhodesia had unilaterally declared its independence as a self-declared Dominion from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. To commemorate the first anniversary in 1966, Rhodesia held a festival known as "spirit of 76" as a tribute to being the first colony to break away from the British Empire since the Thirteen Colonies in the

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. Prime Minister Ian Smith unveiled the Liberty Bell and declared "Every time it chimes it will be another nail in the coffin of those who want to interfere in the internal affairs of Rhodesia." He then ceremonially rang it 12 times at midnight on 11 November. The ritual would be repeated each year at midnight on 11 November at an "Independence Ball" event. Smith stated that the bell would always be rung 12 times despite reports it rang once for each year of independence; to which Smith said "You can imagine what the position would be when one of my successors, in due time, has to ring the bell 100 times." In 1979, the bell was not rung for the first time since 1966 after Smith returned to Zimbabwe Rhodesia from negotiations in London for the future Lancaster House Agreement. The bell was retired and stored in the Zimbabwe Rhodesian National Archives.

References

{{Reflist History of the British Empire History of the Commonwealth of Nations History of Zimbabwe Liberty symbols Individual bells National symbols of Rhodesia 1966 works 1966 in Rhodesia Rhodesia–United States relations Replicas Rhodesia