Children playing - Barry Lungu

Great Zimbabwe - unbelievably beautiful ruins     Constructed from 9th centruy onwards, the city known as Great Zimbabwe today, was a medieval city in the south-eastern hills of ZImbabwe.  It lie...

Stone Sculptures in Zimbabwe - Shona sculptors   In 1991, Celia Winter-Irving published a book on Stone Sculpture in Zimbabwe.  It was published by Roblaw Publishers in Harare Zimbabwe - According t...

Stones and inspiration.   The sculptors have their ideas of what they would like to carve!   Does the form of the stone inspire them?   Where do the stones come from?    The stones are all lo...

Maintenance of sculptures sculpted in Zimbabwe   Keeping the pieces indoors, normally requires only a soft wet towel to clean the dust off.  The polish remains for a long time.  For small pieces sho...

Stones used by Sculptors of ZImbabwe    The following notes provide brief background information on some of the stones used by the sculptors of Zimbabwe.     Serpentine Serpentine stone co...

Mapiti - our collection   When we began Mapiti we started with the sculptures of Sam Kuve (Sampson Kuvenguhwa).  We wanted to bring Sam's works of art to life.  To do this we decided to build a smal...

Some of the Shona Kings and spiriual leaders   The Shona people, who are indigenous to present-day Zimbabwe and parts of southern Zambia, have a rich history that includes a number of powerful...

Lobengula - leader of the Ndebele   Lobengula, also known as Lobhengula Khumalo, was the second and last king of the Ndebele people, also known as the Matabele, in present-day Zimbabwe. He was...

Mzilikzai - leader of the Ndebele People   Mzilikazi, also known as Mzilikazi Khumalo, was a leader of the Ndebele people, also known as the Matabele, in the early 19th century. He is best kno...

Chaka- leader of the Zulu people   Chaka, who was a leader of the Zulu people in South Africa in the early 19th century, is known for having created a powerful and well-trained military force ...

Ndebele or Matabele People   The Ndebele people, also known as the Matabele people, are an ethnic group that primarily lives in the southern region of Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and Sout...

Shona Culture    The Shona people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Zimbabwe and make up around 80% of the population. The Shona culture is known ...

Shona Mythology Shona mythology is an important part of the culture and belief system of the Shona people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Zimbabwe. The mythology is centered around the tra...

Witch-doctor-Sangomas-Ngangas   In traditional Shona culture, witch doctors, also known as "sangomas" or "ngangas", play an important role in the community. They are believed to have spiritual...

Traditional Music and Dance                  African traditional music is an experience that is meant to be felt rather than just heard. It's an art form that requires the assimilation of...

The Mbira - a traditional African musical instrument.   The Mbira is a traditional African musical instrument that is also known as a thumb piano. It is played with the thumb and forefinger of...

Drums in the Shona and Ndebele culture Drums play an important role in the traditional culture of both the Shona and Ndebele people of Zimbabwe. They are used in a variety of rituals and ceremonies, ...

Family values in Shona Culture   Family is highly valued and considered as the center of life in Shona culture. The Shona people place a strong emphasis on extended family relationships and ...

Importance of work in Shona society   Shona culture places a high value on the importance of work, which is considered a fundamental aspect of life. Work is seen as a means of creating value...

What is ubuntu?   The concept of ubuntu is a philosophical and cultural belief that is widely embraced in many African societies, including among the Zulu and Xhosa people in South Afr...

Great importance of food and meal times   Food and meal times play an important role in Shona culture. Sharing a meal is seen as a time to bond with family and friends, and meals are often acc...

Courting - Shona Culture   Courting is an important aspect of Shona culture, as it is seen as a way to build relationships and establish connections that can lead to marriage. Shona people pla...

What is Lobolo     Lobolo is a traditional African custom where a man pays a certain amount of money or property to the family of his bride-to-be as a symbol of his commitment ...

Children and the influence of Lobolo    In African culture, the rights of custody and guardianship over children of a marriage belong to the man who paid the lobolo, regardless of who ...

Showing respect in Zimbabwe In Shona culture, it is not uncommon for people to go barefoot, particularly in rural areas. Going barefoot is often seen as a sign of respect and humility, as it is...

The purpose of drinking alcohol in sensible amounts.   Drinking alcohol has several purposes in Shona culture, both in social and ceremonial contexts. In social settings, alcohol is often cons...

The meaning of an Angel in Shona culture   In Shona culture, an angel is a spiritual being believed to be a messenger of the gods and protector of human beings. This belief is common in many culture...

Father, mother and child In Shona culture, the family unit, especially the relationship between a father, mother, and child, is highly valued and holds great importance. The family is seen as t...

Friends are important!  In Shona culture, friends are highly valued and play a significant role in daily life. Friendships are often seen as a source of support, companionship, and comfort, and peopl...

 The queen in Shona culture In Shona culture, the queen holds a significant place as the consort of the king and is considered to be an important symbol of power, prestige, and cultural herit...

The importance and influence of singing in Shona Culture   Singing is an important aspect of Shona culture and plays a significant role in expressing their traditions, beliefs, and values. Singing i...

Secrets and the importance in Shona Culture   In Shona culture, as in many African cultures, the concept of privacy and the importance of keeping secrets may differ from Western cultural norms. In s...

The importance of rest and leisure in Shona culture   Rest and leisure are considered important aspects of life in Shona culture. In traditional Shona society, people were deeply connected to the la...

In traditional Shona culture, transportation of goods was primarily done by human labor, using methods such as carrying items on the head or on the back. In some cases, pack animals such as donk...

The Shona people of Zimbabwe and surrounding areas valued hunting as a means of subsistence and as a cultural tradition. Hunting provided them with food, clothing, and materials for tools and shelter....

What the balancing rocks in Zimbabwe mean to the people of Zimbabwe   The balancing rocks, known as "Matombo" in the Shona language, are an important cultural symbol in Zimbabwe and hold spiritual a...

Dancing competitions and their importance for Shona Women   Dancing competitions play an important role in the cultural and social lives of Shona women. These events provide a platform for Shona wom...

The son and his importance in Shona culture The Shona people are a Bantu ethnic group native to Zimbabwe and some parts of Mozambique. In Shona culture, the position of a son in the family is...

What is the relevance of bad dreams for the Shona?     Shona is a Bantu ethnic group in Zimbabwe, and their traditional beliefs and practices include a rich cultural and spiritual her...

The purpose of the Dung Beatle   Dung beetles play a crucial role in cleaning up elephant dung by burying it underground. When an elephant defecates, dung beetles are attracted to the fresh feces an...

Do giraffes have more vertebrae than other animals?   Yes, giraffes have more vertebrae in their necks than most other animals. Giraffes have seven vertebrae in their necks, which are elongated and ...

 Understanding the animals you are going to see in the Bush in ZImbabwe Most people are interested to see the big 5.  All wild animals are dangerous, but obviously plant eaters are normally more like...

Birds!   Birds are a group of warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates that belong to the class Aves. They are characterized by several distinctive features, including: Feathers for flight Lig...

Fish! Fish are a group of cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates that belong to the superclass Pisces. They are characterized by several distinctive features, including: A streamlined body shape f...

What are the main differences between humans and animals?    Humans are classified as mammals. Mammals are a class of vertebrates that have certain characteristics, including: Warm-bloode...

Can Zebras be domesticated   Yes it is possible but omesticating zebras is more difficult than domesticating horses because zebras have a wild nature and are more difficult to train and hand...