Stories

These stories are based on the accounts of ordinary Zimbabweans - the experts from whom the content on ZimbOriginal is sourced.

Easy ways to use ‘fananidzo’ and ‘enzaniso’ – from Imbwa Nyoro

By ZimbOriginal | June 13, 2025 | 0 Comments

There’s something I love about reading Shona novels from decades past — stories written before I was even born. These works offer a richer experience … Read more

Why Shona learning matters, and how to make it easy

By ZimbOriginal | January 9, 2025 | 0 Comments

Ever since I took on my first learner back in 2019, Shona learning has become a subject dear to me. I believe proficiency in more … Read more

What you need to know about ancestors to understand Shona religion — it might surprise you

By ZimbOriginal | April 7, 2024 | 4 Comments

The Shona people believe in a Supreme Being, whom they call by different names. These names include Musikavanhu, Musiki, Mwari, Nyadenga, Samasimba, Samatenga, Wedenga, Musikarudzi, … Read more

5 uncommon death and funerary customs of the Shona

By ZimbOriginal | March 20, 2024 | 0 Comments

The Shona have a number of beliefs and practices that relate to remembering and respecting the dead. These may differ in one way or another … Read more

101 English verbs — and their rich nyaudzosingwi

By ZimbOriginal | March 2, 2023 | 5 Comments

This post was last updated on 12 January 2025. Adverbs and Nyaudzosingwi Adverbs are words that modify or describe verbs, adjectives, clauses, sentences, or even … Read more

These 28 madimikira make Tambaoga Mwanangu a great read

By ZimbOriginal | February 9, 2023 | 8 Comments

After reading China manenji hachifambisi I wrote on idioms (madimikira) that the writer, Mordikai A. Hamutyinei, used in the story. I decided to do the … Read more

A Shona legend| The Hera chief and a cave

By ZimbOriginal | January 8, 2023 | 14 Comments

A legend is a traditional story that is believed to be true. Some legends on the origins of the Shona people detail how large societies … Read more

Polygamy in traditional Shona society, as told in ‘Tambaoga Mwanangu’

By ZimbOriginal | October 31, 2022 | 8 Comments

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

By ZimbOriginal | June 25, 2022 | 4 Comments

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

Indigenous religion in Zimbabwe| 5 key ‘chivanhu’ ritual festivals

By ZimbOriginal | March 30, 2021 | 18 Comments

Recurring cycle-based religious festivals For this story, I will refer to indigenous religion in Zimbabwe as chivanhu. This is a term used to refer to … Read more

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    ZimbOriginal was born from a passion for discovery and writing, and a commitment to never losing sight of who we are.

    It is a place for stories on culture, customs, traditions, and anything else indigenous to Zimbabwe. ZimbOriginal not only promotes cultural awareness, but also supports learning and discovery.

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