The Zezuru have many similarities to Kalanga group, as they both are Shona and often times live together.
They are located in Zimbabwe: Latitude: -17.80 longitude: 31.10, Landlocked, “climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March), terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau”
The population of Zezuru is about 3,200,000. Zezuru live among other groups that fall into Shona as well so it is difficult to measure how much of a particular village is Zezuru.
“The Shona are a cluster of peoples who have lived for about 2,000 years in a region of the southern Africa Plateau.
Shona speaking migrants of the late 1800s also live in Zambia, in the Zambezi valley, in Chieftainess Chiawa's area. The Shona are the
builders of Great Zimbabwe. Which is the largest stone Structure of pre-colonial Africa south of the equator.”
Christianity has been integrated into the Shona religion due to
missionaries Schools incorporate English literacy as well.
The main carbohydrate staple(s): “A coarse flour made from maize. Also known as mielie-meal is a staple food in southern and sub-
Saharan Africa” .
The main protein-lipid sources: “Another name for the grain sorghum. Because it is highly drought-resistant, and has enough protein to
sustain a population in times of famine, it is an important crop in many tropical and sub-tropical regions”
Zezuru women are eligible for marriage at age 18, after which they are encouraged to start their family
Because a son may “inherit” his father’s wives upon his death, typically size of family varies and
varies during a person’s life dramatically. For example, a son could marry his father’s five widows in addition to his current wives.
“An average Zezuru girl is shown her future husband when she is just 12. "Our old say a child must be
shown a husband aged 12 so she can know the husband and when she is around 18 she gets married”.
While divorce is possible within the court systems, it is strongly discouraged.
“They are a communal people, who raise large families because
the men take many wives. ‘There is no law that limits the number of wives a man may have. You are free to marry any number of
women, so long as you take care of them’”
“Also known as the roora, a form of dowry paid to the bride’s family. Livestock was
almost always the payment: cattle if the family could afford it, and sheep or goats if they couldn’t. Often the brideprice for a daughter
would pay for the marriage of a son, and thus enforce close bonds between those siblings, whose matrimonial fates were closely
linked. Because of the brideprice if a girl found herself in a terrible marriage, it was hard for her to leave; her family would be forced
to repay the brideprice, which often they had already spent.”
Many children often inherit their parents’ occupation. For example, children of musicians are typically taught to
play at an early age and are around it more often, ending in the same occupation as their parents. The same is true for healers.
Upon the death of their father, sons are encouraged to marry any of his late father’s wives
except his natural mother.
People are encouraged to stay within their society but because so many different Shona groups
live together in one community the cultures integrate.
The elder men are
involved in raising the boys and the elder women raise the girls, they teach their role in their community and families and teach them
obedience.
Mothers hold the primary
role in childbearing however men do participate, especially if the child is male.
“Often the brideprice for a daughter would pay for the marriage of a son, and
thus enforce close bonds between those siblings, whose matrimonial fates were closely linked. Because of the brideprice if a girl found
herself in a terrible marriage, it was hard for her to leave; her family would be forced to repay the brideprice, which often they had
already spent.”
Women are taught discipline at a young age, “women do not challenge the authority of men”
There is very little information on extramarital
relationships. I believe this is due to the fact that polygamous marriages are socially acceptable so there is very little reason to engage in
extramarital or extramarital relationships ultimately become an additional marriage.
If mother dies the husband’s other wives help raise the children.
If a father dies, the oldest son may marry any of his late father’s wives except his natural mother.
In the formalmarriage ceremony the bride’s dowry pays for a formal ceremony.
“In Shona, women are addressed by their
relationship to a male family member. Mai is the term for ‘mother of’” .
People are encouraged to stay
within their society but because so many different Shona groups live together in one community the cultures integrate.
Both the woman’s parents and her husband-to-be’s parents
mutually arrange a marriage, the elder also have influence over the arrangement.
Male siblings typically rank higher than female, marriage status and social status also decide sibling
classifications.
As one article states, Shona often live in large groups comprised of Zezuru, Kalanga,
Ndebele, Sotho and Shangana therefore it is difficult to establish an exact number of Zezuru in a particular residential area.
Members of the society may appeal to the court. These courts also consist of Zezuru, Kalanga, Ndebele, Sotho, etc.
In Zezuru culture, women may meet their husbands at age 12 but they are not able to
marry until 18 and remain predominately within a circle of women until their marriage.
Girls spend time with elderly women and rarely interact with the opposite sex during childhood. At
age 18 they may marry and join their husband to create a family.
People live together as families rather than separated by sex.
5.10 Sleep in hammocks or on ground or elsewhere? Unclear, however sleep is extremely important. Dreams are analyzed and believed
to be signs from the spirits (7p2)
Food used as trade within the community.
Extremely religious, devote their seventh day entirely to the spirits .
“Healers generally maintain that they derive their powers from their association with a shave
spirit”
“Tobacco as a crop was introduced to Zimbabwe in the early 17th century and quickly became incorporated into African
society. Snuff is a form of tobacco that has been finely ground and is meant for inhaling”.
“Zezuru believe that dreams mediate between the spirits and the living and make connections between the present and
the past. The spirits are believed to use the dreams of the healers to achieve their purposes. Through dreams they can call, inform, guide,
permit, correct, and shape healers, as well as reach the community and direct the actions of its members. The spirits of witches or lost
souls can use dreams for nefarious ends: they can cause harm, demand retribution, or scare the dreamer.”
Mwali is God as is in most Shona groups.
Mbira music the traditional Zimbabwean instrument of the Zezuru tribes.
During offerings to Mwali, a large group of women perform the dance as well as bring the offerings into the
hills. They are led by an individual male figure.
Zezuru religion has been revived into a combination of both typical Mwali worship and Christian beliefs.
: “In Zezuru society, it is believed that at death a man's personality becomes a spirit that plays a
fundamental part in the social affairs of living men. The makombwe, or heroes, who are believed to have lived on earth north of the
Zambezi River before the founding of Zezuru society, have special powers of healing, prophecy, and rain-making, whereas the vadzimu,
or ancestor spirits, are more directly concerned with the day-to-day affairs of their descendants. The heroes and the ancestors represent
the bastions of morality, whereas the shave spirits, which are believed to originate from outside Zezuru society, are responsible for
individual talents and for individual differences between people.”
The dead are believed to live on among the community.
“In Shona, women are addressed by their relationship to a male family member. Mai is the term for ‘mother
of’” .
Worship of the ancestors by praying to their spirits.
Scarification is a common practice. Piercings as well as scarification is common ways to express oneself.
The haircut: “Long bears and clear-shaven heads for identity”
Scarification is conducted in many African tribes that also perform ceremonies for Mwali. It appears that scarification
along a young woman’s abdomen is most prominent because it emphasizes her role as a child bearer.
Jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets are popular for women. Additionally, stretching
of the labia is performed while the girl is still young.
There are two different ceremonies for when a boy becomes a man and a girl becomes a woman after
menstruation. During this time, scarification, body paint and other adornment are performed.
Women emphasize their child bearing through adorning their abdomen and other feminine features.
Missionary has had a strong effect, Christianity is a popular religion and it has also been integrated in the already
present religious pratices for Mwali.
Sources: