Category: Shona Culture
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Shumba Sipambi Praise Poetry
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Th totem of Shumba (lion) of the Sipmabi clan Shumba Sipambi Mazviita Shumba, Maita Sipambi, Yakapamba nedzevamwe, Vadyi vefazhakamwe Inodyarwa ikamera. Maita matikaha nokuona tsimba, Kuona munhu vana vanotya, Mukakatirakwasviba, Kumuka ndodzvova, kutsika zvovava, Mutakuranhawo kuno munhuhwi, Sipambi, mwana wechikara, Chokanyaira chobva Magare, Choinda Imbwarume chisina uta. Zvaitwa varidinhire Chigarachibwe, Vari Magare VaMupfurawatya. Mazviita Mugonderwa,…
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Sinyoro Praise Poetry
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Th totem of Moyo Sinyoro is also called Moyo Vanjanja. The Njanja praise poem was passed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. Below is the poem as taken from Zimbabwean poet Aaron C Hodza poetry book “Mitupo neZvidao Zamadzinza,” loosely translated as “Totems and venerated names of the clans.” Maita Sinyoro, Zvaitwa Muroro,…
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Unraveling Shona Tales: A Crash Course on Ngano Traditions
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Hey there, language enthusiasts and culture connoisseurs! Welcome to another exciting journey into the Shonaverse (i.e. the world of Shona language on Speak Shona.) Today we’re diving into the captivating realm of Ngano โ traditional Shona stories that weave together language, culture, and history. What is Ngano? Ngano, pronounced “แตษกa-no,” is the Shona word for…
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Origins of Shona Totems and Clans
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Today, in the Shonaverse we embark on a captivating journey into the heart of Shona culture, exploring the ancient origins of Shona totems (mutupo) and clans (dzinza). Why do two strangers suddenly become siblings just because they have the same totem? Why cant you ‘eat’ your totem?. I. Totems Totems are seen as symbols and…
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Bantu Language Similarities
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All languages have similarities. Some more than others. Today’s Shonaverse expedition is all about exploring and unravelling the similarities that weave Bantu languages together, of which Shona belongs. From Swahili to Zulu, Bantu languages form a rich tapestry of communication. Common Roots: The Bantu Language Family Before delving into the similarities, let’s grasp the scope…
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Shonaverse? What is the Shonaverse?
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A Crash Course in the Linguistic Galaxy of Speak Shona! Greetings, Shona language explorers! Prepare to be catapulted into the Shonaverse, the captivating world of Shona language on Speak Shona โ a realm where words are the stars and phrases are the constellations. Navigating the Shonaverse The Shonaverse is a digital cosmos where language enthusiasts…