Totems origins and lineages

Shona Zvidawo & Totems

The Shona-speaking peoples of Zimbabwe use several cultural
markers to identify a person and to show their origin. The most
important cultural marker is one's totem (usually in the form of an
animal).
Honorific names are how adult (male) Zimbabweans address one
another, either in person or in correspondence (and not by their given
family names). For example, PM Morgan Tsvangirai is addressed in
person as *Save*, and not *Morgan* or *Morgan Tsvangirai*. You
might have read of *Gushungo* in passages about Zimbabwe. The
*Gushungo* they are referring to is President Robert Mugabe. The
respectful and proper way to address President Mugabe in person is
by his lineage honorific name of Gushungo, and not *Bob* or
*Robert*.

Moyo VaRozvi is a Zimbabwean totem/mutupo/isibongo. The totem

has a very long history among the indigenous societies which include
the Shona, the Ndebele, Tonga, Venda, Kalanga, among others. Every
totem has a branch which distinguishes it from the others. In Shona,
these small branches are referred to as chidawo in Shona. In this
particular instance, VaRozvi is the chidawo for the totem.
The Rozvi people who belong to this totemic group are historically
known to have been the ruling elite in the giant Rozvi Empire in
colonial Zimbabwe. The people are found in all corners of the country
but they are more dominant in the Midlands Province and Masvingo.
Moyo VaRozvi, which belongs to the main Moyo category has its
taboos which include refraining from eating specific internal organs
from certain animals. It has for long been used as a form of identity;
identifying people belonging to that totem with a unique social,
economic, or historical background and past. It was thus a common
unifying factor which bound together individuals, families and clans.
Some of the moyo types are
Moyo akatakwa,mugonderwa,mushoriwa,mutyurikwa,shayamombe,
sithole,wadyegora,wakaipa,nematombo
Tsoko
The most popular totem is the Monkey / Baboon (Solo, Tsoko, Shoko,
Ncube). These people are widely scattered from Hwedza,
Matabeleland, Mashonaland provinces and everywhere. They're
considered the most intelligent, clever and wisest. Their intellectual
prowess makes them smart and cunning. They're called Bvudzijena
(whitehead), makwiramiti (tree climbers), mukanya (the galloping
steps of a baboon while going up the mountain. Their females brags
about being beautiful and intelligent. The men are women lovers too,
good hunters, great fighters and very jealous of their family
wellbeing. One of the notable great man is Professor Welshman
Ncube.
Shumba
Shumba Samaita is a Zimbabwean totem/mutupo/isibongo. The
totem has a very long history among the indigenous societies which
include the Shona, the Ndebele, Tonga, Venda, Kalanga, among
others. Every totem has a branch which distinguishes it from the
others. In Shona, these small branches are referred to as chidawo in
Shona and in Ndebele. In this particular instance, Samaita is the
chidawo for the totem.
Shumba Samaita, which belongs to the main Shumba cluster has a
close relationship with the animal lion found in Zimbabwe and its
taboos include refraining from lion meat. It has for long been used as
a form of identity; identifying people of a particular totem with a
unique social, economic, or historical background and past. It was
thus a common unifying factor which bound together individuals,
families and clans.
The first and more popular totem is the LION (lion, sibanda,
abanda). This totem represents very strong and competitive people
owing to the mighty of the animal which is considered the king of all
fauna. There are various types of the Lion ie (chidawu) or
classification of lions for example Lion of Jichidza (a certain type of
noisy and nocturnal bird found in Jichidza area near the Great
Zimbabwe ruins), Lion of Chirumhanzu an area demarcating
Midlands and Masvingo provinces (from this totem comes great
politicians particularly the President of Zimbabwe His Excellence
Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa). Lion of the Garwe / crocodile,
Lion Murambwi meaning the rejected one, Lion of the Zebra etc all
these totems were divided by lustful forefathers who wanted to evade
incest and marry their siblings, but they're all from one great ancestry
father Nehoreka the mighty king who migrated from Tanganyika ie
Tanzania. These lion people are characterized by greedy, they crave
for meat more than anything, they're also aggressive, great hunters,
fearless and fierce fighters even their women possess similar
attributes. The males have insatiable appetites for multiple women,
they have lots of testosterone levels prompting them to want women
and fighting always.
Tembo- mazvimbakupa
Mazvimbakupa is a name that refers to generosity and being
charitable . The name carries the message that the bearer is one who
has a strong urge to give. While in other dialects of Shona kuzvimba
means to swell, in the Korekore dialect and other forms of old Shona,
the word kuzvimba means to have a strong yearning or desire. This
name is a clan praise name of those of the Tembo-Samaita totem.
Their totemic animal is mbizi (the zebra). The other variant name of
this is Zvimbakugova (Swelling with the desire to share/distribute). It
really means having a strong yearning or urge to distribute. While the
name may at the beginning of the clan have been used to refer to a
progenitor of the Tembo-Samaita who had a lot of wealth, it is not
surprising that today, some of the people who have this same praise
name may have names like Mautsahuku (fowl herder),
Mushayabhachi (One without a coat), or any other such name that
may reflect extreme poverty. Those who use the name Mazvimbakupa
today largely use it with full knowledge that they do not lack
materially and financially. Some of them may also use it in reference
to the abundance of love that they claim to have for their women, so
they declare that they yearn to share that love with them.
Although names like Mazvimbakupa and Nyamupangedengu are
boasts of what the name bearers claim that they can do, there are other
names among the Shona that put emphasis on the importance of
working hard. Even though among the Shona there are trade different
specialists, almost every family is involved in subsistence agriculture.
There are however, some people who are lazy and are not interested
in cultivating their pieces of land. Such people have not been spared
in the naming culture of the Shona but have had nicknames, which are
additional names that the society has bestowed on them for purposes
precisely identifying their shortcomings. Some of the names that are
given include the following: Karadzandima, Kasiyandima,
Karimanzira, Kagurabadza and Mutyamaenza.
Dziva
The Dziva (pool) totem christened the Save owing to the mighty Save
river arguably the biggest stream in the interior of Zimbabwe with
great pools, crocodiles, hippopotamus, fish and other innumerable
ecological species. These people come from areas along the Save
river which include Hwedza, Buhera, Chivu and most parts of the
southern Manicaland, Eastern Masvingo including Chipinge,
Birchnough, Nikita and Checheche. They believe that eating fish is
forbidden among them, however cultural dilution today is leading
many to undermine those traditional statutes. Anything that comes
from water was not to be eaten, but various theories today has left
many believing that a certain type of sea fish should not be eaten
possibly the shark or whale which they call “jekausiye” meaning cut
enough portion for your family and leave the rest. It is part of
Zimbabwean mythology that the great sea fish was discovered by
ancestors on the banks of the great river which they were told to cut
portions for their families leaving it alive to find it unscathed the next
day. The Dziva totem also produces great politicians particularly the
late former Prime Minister Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai of the
biggest opposition party Movement for Democratic Change in
Zimbabwe.
Shiri
The Shiri / Nyoni (Fish Eagle) which is known as Hungwe or the
Zimbabwe bird is a national emblem. Also called Shirichena (white
bird) is a common totem of people who hail from the vicinity of the
City Masvingo. It is sometimes called Mauruka (flying above) or
Chasura chatibwege (the one that puffs or farts it's dung in the
air). This totem comprises of people who are well known for unity,
they are not good individual fighters but crowd an enemy
instead. They're less brave, but believe in numbers. Their men are
usually polygamous, believing in having many children as labor and
security. They work very hard, but are not academically smart most of
them.
Gumbo
The Gumbo totem (cattle leg), they come from Gutu area in
Masvingo, they're the chiefs there and are believed to be the pioneers
of the Gutu settlement Northeast City of Masvingo. They do not eat
flesh from the trotters or legs of animals especially cattle as it is their
totem. The name Chitovanedzewoman / meaning poaching from
others simply tells how lustful they're. They are always after other
people's women so are their females who boasts of their good looks
and charming to lure other women's lovers. Their population is not so
big but scattered around.
Gushungo
The (Gushungo) totem meaning the genitalia as many believe, but it
however has a few people. The Gushungo people are very intelligent,
possess unparalleled wisdom. In academics they're second to none
with a great comprehensive acumen. Their history is little known with
only former President, first Prime Minister, Secretary and
Commander in Chief of Zimbabwe His Excellency President Robert
Gabriel Mugabe. A great statesman and undoubtedly the most wise
and educated African. This totem represents people with great
generosity, unity and nationalist feeling. The Gushungo people come
from Mashonaland West around Chinhoyi, Chegutu, Norton and
Zvimba.
Moto
There is also a totem named after the Fire. It is called Moto / chiveso
that's simply translate to fire. These people are mainly Shangani from
the Lowveld areas of Chiredzi, Triangle and Beitbridge. These areas
lie under Masvingo Province on it's south close to the Limpopo
frontiers. The people call themselves the Tshovani people. They're
often well built. They produce good fighters with powerful
bodies. Fairly intelligent and hardworking. Great hunters are known
to come from this group too. Their women are not that beautiful
though but can make good mothers although they're infidelity.
Ngara
The Porcupine / Hedgehog (Ngara) totem is widely regarded as one of
the most common totem. They're known as the King's In-law
(Mukwasha waMambo). The origin of this name is largely debatable,
but some alluded that their ancestor Zimuto who lived near Great
Zimbabwe married the princess of Great Zimbabwe hence the origin
of the name. They mystically prides themselves as the ones who shot
the rock and it gushed blood by their spikes. They'are also shortened
(WaMambo) meaning the King's In-law. The males are very
hardworking, intelligent and docile. Their women are somewhat shy
and can make good wives.

Source: Facebook, News of the south

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