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)
Sacred Texts & Traditions
- • Bira ceremony songs
- • Mbira musical traditions
Related Traditions
Scholarly References