Here are 5 things that make Shona funerals unique
Mourning or mining? Not so long ago, I attended a rufu (funeral) in an area known for its rich gold deposits, which has made it … Read more
Family
The forgotten but interesting Shona housewarming ceremony
Some time ago, a reader reached out with a thoughtful question. Her family had lived in Zimbabwe years ago, and now that her children are … Read more
5 interesting discoveries from 1,000+ Zimbabweans on their mutupo
Key Takeaways Let me pour my heart out a little here. Back in July 2024, I seriously considered giving up on ZimbOriginal. I had ideas … Read more
An interesting look at Shona names
I attended a kurova guva ceremony just this past month. A mbira crew had been hired to play, and the drummer’s surname was Mangoma. He … Read more
Polygamy in traditional Shona society, as told in ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu’
A polygamous family I’ve just started reading ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu.’ This is a story about how an eighteen year old boy, Tambaoga, went about trying to … Read more
4 mutupo stories that will touch your heart
Key Takeaways 1. Losing our stories My grandmother is over a hundred years old. Now too old to live alone, she lives with my mother. … Read more
The Tembo-Shumba Samaita clan
1. Why Tembo-Shumba? I have come across a number of differing accounts on this clan. In one of them, it is stated that Tembo-Shumba (‘Zebra-Lion’) is … Read more
Mutupo| 6 interesting things you should know about Shona totems, praise names and poetry
This post was last updated on 11 April 2024. Mutupo, chidao and detembo redzinza The mutupo system is an important source of ancestral and family … Read more