Culture of Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
Zimbabwe
has many different cultures which may include beliefs and ceremonies, one of them being Shona
. Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group is Shona. The Shona people have many sculptures and carvings of gods (idols) which are made with the finest materials available.
Among members of the white minority communtiy, Theatre has a large following, with numerous theatrical companies performing in Zimbabwe's urban areas.
Though the country's art is admired by those that know of its existence, several Zimbabwean artists have managed to gain a world audience, to name some world-famous Zimbabwean sculptors we have Nicholas, Nesbert and Anderson Mukomberanwa, Tapfuma Gutsa, Henry Muyradzi and Locardia Ndandarika. Internationally Zimbabwean sculptors have managed to influence a new generation of artists, particularly Black Americans, through lengthy apprenticeships with master sculptors in Zimbabwe. Contemporary artists like New York sculptor M. Scott Johnson and California sculptor Russel Albans have learned to fuse both African and Afro-diasporic aesthetics in a way that travels beyond the simplistic mimicry of African Art by some Black artists of past generations in the U.S..
is the official language
of Zimbabwe though only two per cent consider it their native language, mainly the white and Coloured
(mixed race) minorities. The rest of the population speak Bantu languages
like Shona
(76 per cent) and Ndebele
(18 per cent). Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo
, published in 1957. English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas.
or cornmeal as it is known in other parts of the world, is used to prepare bota,
a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water, to make a thick paste.
This is usually flavored with peanut butter, milk, butter.
Bota is usually eaten for breakfast.
Cornmeal is also used to make sadza, which is usually eaten for dinner, and by many for lunch too. The process of making sadza is similar to bota, however after the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste until it is hard. This meal is usually served with vegetables, (spinach, collard greens, grapes, etc.)or the vegetables can be dried also known as mufushwa, and beans or meat that is either stewed or grilled or roasted. Sadza is also commonly eaten with curdled milk commonly known as lacto (mukaka wakakora). On special occasions rice and chicken with coleslaw salad is often served as the main meal. Graduations, weddings and any other family gatherings will usually be celebrated with the killing of a goat or cow, which will be braaied (or barbecued) for the gathered family.
Since Zimbabwe was a British colony, they have adopted some English habits.For example, most people will have porridge in the morning, however they will still have 10 o'clock tea (midday tea). They will have lunch, which can be left-overs from the night before, freshly cooked sadza, or sandwiches (which is more common in the cities). After lunch there is usually 4 o'clock tea that is served before dinner. It is not uncommon for tea to be had after a dinner either
in Moscow, and seven in swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics
and 2008 Summer Olympics
.
Zimbabwean legends
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
has many different cultures which may include beliefs and ceremonies, one of them being Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
. Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group is Shona. The Shona people have many sculptures and carvings of gods (idols) which are made with the finest materials available.
Arts
Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewelry, and carving. Among the distinctive qualities are symmetrically patterned woven baskets and stools carved out of a single piece of wood. Shona sculpture in essence has been a fusion of African folkore with European influences. Also, a recurring theme in Zimbabwean art is the metamorphosis of man into beast.Among members of the white minority communtiy, Theatre has a large following, with numerous theatrical companies performing in Zimbabwe's urban areas.
Though the country's art is admired by those that know of its existence, several Zimbabwean artists have managed to gain a world audience, to name some world-famous Zimbabwean sculptors we have Nicholas, Nesbert and Anderson Mukomberanwa, Tapfuma Gutsa, Henry Muyradzi and Locardia Ndandarika. Internationally Zimbabwean sculptors have managed to influence a new generation of artists, particularly Black Americans, through lengthy apprenticeships with master sculptors in Zimbabwe. Contemporary artists like New York sculptor M. Scott Johnson and California sculptor Russel Albans have learned to fuse both African and Afro-diasporic aesthetics in a way that travels beyond the simplistic mimicry of African Art by some Black artists of past generations in the U.S..
Language
EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the official language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
of Zimbabwe though only two per cent consider it their native language, mainly the white and Coloured
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
(mixed race) minorities. The rest of the population speak Bantu languages
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
like Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
(76 per cent) and Ndebele
Ndebele language
There are at least two languages commonly called Ndebele:*The Northern Ndebele language, a Nguni language spoken in Zimbabwe*The Southern Ndebele language, classified as Nguni language or Sotho–Tswana language, spoken in South Africa, heavily influenced by surrounding Sotho–Tswana languages and...
(18 per cent). Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo
Solomon Mutswairo
Solomon Mangwiro Mutswairo also spelt Mutsvairo, is a Zimbabwean novelist and poet. A member of the Zezuru people of central Zimbabwe, Mutswairo wrote the first novel in the Shona language, Feso....
, published in 1957. English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas.
Food
Like in many African countries, a majority of Zimbabweans depend on staple foods. Mealie meal,or cornmeal as it is known in other parts of the world, is used to prepare bota,
a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water, to make a thick paste.
This is usually flavored with peanut butter, milk, butter.
Bota is usually eaten for breakfast.
Cornmeal is also used to make sadza, which is usually eaten for dinner, and by many for lunch too. The process of making sadza is similar to bota, however after the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste until it is hard. This meal is usually served with vegetables, (spinach, collard greens, grapes, etc.)or the vegetables can be dried also known as mufushwa, and beans or meat that is either stewed or grilled or roasted. Sadza is also commonly eaten with curdled milk commonly known as lacto (mukaka wakakora). On special occasions rice and chicken with coleslaw salad is often served as the main meal. Graduations, weddings and any other family gatherings will usually be celebrated with the killing of a goat or cow, which will be braaied (or barbecued) for the gathered family.
Since Zimbabwe was a British colony, they have adopted some English habits.For example, most people will have porridge in the morning, however they will still have 10 o'clock tea (midday tea). They will have lunch, which can be left-overs from the night before, freshly cooked sadza, or sandwiches (which is more common in the cities). After lunch there is usually 4 o'clock tea that is served before dinner. It is not uncommon for tea to be had after a dinner either
Sport
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe, although rugby union and cricket also have a following, traditionally among the white minority. Zimbabwe has won eight Olympic medals, one in field hockey at the (boycotted) 1980 Summer OlympicsZimbabwe at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Zimbabwe competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR. The nation, previously known as Rhodesia, had competed at three Games under that name.- Gold:...
in Moscow, and seven in swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Zimbabwe at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Zimbabwe competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Swimmer Kirsty Coventry won three medals. Zimbabwe had only ever won one Olympic medal before .-Gold:...
and 2008 Summer Olympics
Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Zimbabwe sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.Zimbabwe sent thirteen athletes to Beijing, competing in swimming, athletics, tennis, cycling, triathlon, and rowing...
.
See also
- Balancing RocksBalancing RocksThe Balancing Rocks are geomorphological features of igneous rocks found in many parts of Zimbabwe, and are particularly noteworthy in Matopos National Park and near the township of Epworth to the southeast of Harare. The formations are of natural occurrence in a perfectly balanced state without...
- Reps TheatreReps TheatreReps Theatre is a multi-racial Zimbabwe theatre and theatrical company based in the capital city of Harare. It is one of Zimbabwe's oldest amateur theatrical companies...
and Over the EdgeOver the Edge (Zimbabwe)Over the Edge is a Zimbabwean multi-racial Theatrical company. It is one of Zimbabwe's most prolific and successful independent theatre companies. They have won both local and international acclaim, as well as numerous awards....
- (Zimbabwe Theatrical Companies) - Music of ZimbabweMusic of ZimbabweZimbabwean music includes folk and pop styles, much of it based on the well-known instrument the mbira which is also popular in many other African countries. An annual Zimbabwe Music Festival is held each year in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. People from all over the world attend...
Zimbabwean legends