![]() ![]() Once a woman gets married, she can be addressed by the praise name of her husband in addition to her own totem. On the other hand, a man will be addressed by way of the totem or the praise name. A woman will be addressed by way of the totem into which she is born, but not the praise name. A child will adopt the totem of the father. ![]() The usage of totems, praise names and clan poems varies between men and women. Usage of the mutupo, chidao and detembo varies between men and women 'maita basa gwaiĪmbuya Tirivangani recalled how she would always recite the clan poem for her little girl of the Gwai totem 4. She remembers only a segment of the gwai woman clan poem which she proceeded to recite in unison with the now grown-up little girl who was also present. As soon as my colleague identified himself by his totem, realizing they share the same totem and clan praise name, she was very much delighted and said her formal greeting while referring to him as her father and remarking, ‘we are the same people.’ĭuring our conversation, ambuya Tirivangani recalled how she would always recite the clan poem for her little girl of the Gwai totem after the little girl performed her errands or chores around the house. I paid a visit to ambuya Tirivangani, accompanied by a colleague of the Moyo totem under the Chirandu praise name. They also describe or make reference to the totemic animal or object, highlighting its commendable features or characteristics. It is also worth noting that most praise poems speak to the history of the clan. When referred to by their mutupo or chidao, most Shona people will have a feeling of deep pleasure aroused in them. Reciting praise poems conveys a cultural message to cultivate a particular value from childhood. As praise naturally tends to build self-esteem, it seems this in a way was intended to create a sense of identity and worth in an individual. Nhetembo dzemadzinza, which are recited in line with mitupo and zvidao are in essence an expression of compliment recited as a reward for commendable acts. Identifying someone by their mutupo or chidao, or reciting their detembo creates a sense of identity and worth in them I have heard others say mbwetete, totem of the Gushungo clan, refers to the female reproductive organ. For instance the totem of the Beta clan is a flying termite known in ChiShona as ishwa. While the most common Shona totems are from four-legged animals or parts of the body, there are others outside these categories. The table does not include all the clans of the Shona, and also there could be sub-clans that are not listed. * According to one of my readers, the totem of the Gwai from Manicaland is kamba (tortoise) and not sheep. Most mitupo are linked to a number of zvidao, suggesting existence of sub-clans within a clan. A sub-clan is identified by the chidao, and a mutupo could be linked to more than one chidao. ![]() Those of the Gwai totem are forbidden from eating mutton 2. Since a totem represents members of the same clan, marriage between people of the same totem would be regarded as some form of incest. Generally, people who have the same totem cannot get married. Others have suggested kudya mutupo refers to incest. It is believed that if one eats their totem meat all their teeth will fall off. Eating of the totem, kudya mutupo is forbidden. Kudya mutupo – eating the meat or products from your mutupo animal, is forbiddenĪ symbol of identity, totems serve as a safeguard against incest. The practice remains widespread and those that still recognise it take pride in ‘wearing’ their praise names.īelow are 6 interesting things you should know about the Shona totem system. Today totems, praise names and clan poems are still a huge identifier among the Shona people. The clans are represented by the various totems. The Shona are a cultural group native to Zimbabwe that became divided into a number of clans. The mutupo system is an important source of ancestral and family history in Zimbabwe. Detembo redzinza (plural is nhetembo dzemadzinza) is the praise poem of a clan.Chidao/ Chidawo (plural is zvidao/ zvidawo) refers to a praise name identifying a sub-clan.Mutupo (plural is mitupo) is the word for totem.This post was last updated on 16 February 2023. ![]()
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