Southern Africa

Shona Religion

Shona — Zimbabwe

Supreme Creator

Mwari

Also: Musikavanhu, Nyadenga

Core Beliefs
  • • Single supreme creator, omnipotent but remote
  • • Ancestor veneration (Vadzimu) as guardians and intermediaries
  • • Territorial/clan spirits (Mhondoro) of founding ancestors
  • • Alien spirits (Mashave) associated with specific skills
  • • Aggrieved spirits (Ngozi) seeking retribution
  • • Spirit possession through mediums (Svikiro)
  • • Bira ceremony with mbira music for spirit communication
  • • Unhu/Ubuntu philosophy of interconnectedness
Key Figures

Mwari — Supreme creator

Divination System

Hakata dice by N'anga healers

Priesthood

Svikiro (spirit mediums), N'anga (healers/diviners)