All about the ancient tribes
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. The Shona people (/ˈʃoʊnə/) are an ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily Zimbabwe (where they form the majority of the population). They have five major clans, and are adjacent to other groups with similar cultures and languages.
The Shona people of Zimbabwe are a diverse ethnic group with a rich history and fascinating culture. A majority tribe in this Southern African country, they make up 80% of its population though they can be found in Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa as well.
Religion: The Shona religion is a blend of monotheism and veneration of ancestors. The creator god, Mwari, is omnipotent but also remote; ancestors and other spirits serve as intermediaries between Mwari and the people.
Many sources hold that “Zimbabwe” derives from dzimba-dza-mabwe, translated from the Karanga dialect of Shona as “houses of stones” (dzimba = plural of imba, “house”; mabwe = plural of bwe, “stone”). The Karanga-speaking Shona people live around Great Zimbabwe in the modern-day province of Masvingo.
Useful Shona phrases
English | chiShona (Shona) |
---|---|
I love you | Ndinokuda |
Get well soon | Ndinovimba kuti uchakurumidza kupora (sg) Ndinovimba kuti muchakurumidza kupora (pl) |
Leave me alone! | Ndisiye! |
Help! | Ndibatsireiwo! |
Afrikaans is spoken by a small minority of white Zimbabweans, the number of whom has declined significantly since 1980. Afrikaans speakers in Zimbabwe are typically Afrikaner immigrants from South Africa or their descendants.
Shona is a language from the Bantu family and is spoken in Zimbabwe. It is the mother tongue of 75% of the people of Zimbabwe.
The traditional dress of Zimbabwe is colourful and consists of wraparound dresses and headdresses for women. Men don a breastplate made from animal skin.
Zimbabwe English: Thank you. Shona: Ndatenda ( Thank you to one person), Tatenda ( Thank you to several people) Ndebele: Ngiyabonga ( Thank you to one person), Siyabonga ( Thank you to several people)
Zimbabwe English: Hello. Shona: Mhoro ( Hello ) Ndebele: Sawubona ( Hello )
By 1200 C.E., the city had grown strong, and was well known as an important religious and trading center. Some believe that religion triggered the city’s rise to power, and that the tall tower was used for worship. The people of Great Zimbabwe most likely worshipped Mwari, the supreme god in the Shona religion.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Zimbabwe or simply want to talk to a friend or family member in their native language, learning to speak Shona is not difficult. Because the language is phonetic, start by learning how to pronounce the alphabet.
People lived in mud and reed thatch or stone houses. Simple pottery was made, leather for clothing was produced from hides, jewellery was made from copper and gold, and weapons and farming implements from iron. These items were also traded in the region, salt being a valued and needed commodity in the Zimbabwe kingdom.
1: a member of any of a group of Bantu peoples of Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. 2: the group of languages spoken by the Shona.
Zimbabwean Culture Greet anyone older than yourself first. The common greeting is a firm handshake with the right hand. The traditional greeting involves a clap after the handshake. Women may lower their body briefly, kneel or curtsy whilst shaking hands out of respect. Family and friends may hug and pat one another on the back.