Question

Describe the social organization of the Shona people in the pre-colonial period.

Answer 1

• Mwene Mutapa was head of the religion and was therefore a divine king
• Shona religion was based on the Mwari cult and Mwari was believed to be the supreme creator
• The community had several priests who led the rest of the people in the worship of Mwari 
• Priests were believed to possess spiritual powers which they could use to ward off diseases, epidemics ,wars and in rainmaking
• They believed in different types of spirits such as family spirits(Vadzimu), Clan spirits(Mhondoro) and national spirits(Chamiruka)
• The Shona had a kinship system which was patrilineal(inheritance through the father
• The community was divided into clans and clan names were coined from animal names such monkey, Leopard and elephant
• They were a largely polygamous community where a man could marry many wives
• They also practiced exogamy where marriage between related clans (paternal or maternal clan) was prohibited
• They were relatively civilized owing to the fact that they lived in stone buildings