Shona love poem

Mugirazi

Chimiro chako mugirazi

Ndiyo nhetembo yandinodisisa

Asika, chimbidza nokuti chinotiza

Ndikuudze kekupedzisira kuti "ndinokuda"!

Translated into Chishona by Tapiwa
Audio voice Pauline Zingwe
Shona love poem

Book of poetry "La Glace"
Original version
French poem

Shona language

My love poem is now in shona (Bazezuru, Wazezuru, Zezuru, Bazuzura, Chikaranga, Chizezuru, Goba, Gova, Korikori, Makorekore, Mazizuru, Northern Shona, Gowa, Karanga, Korekore, Shangwe, Swina, Vazezuru, Wakorikori, Autonym : Chishona) language.

There are 7 million speakers in Zimbabwe where it is an official language, in Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia. So a lot of people would be able to understand my little poem. The standard shona is based on the zezuru dialect and is spoken by 80% of Zimbabweans.

Shona is a Bantu language, one of the important languages of southern Africa, which has had important literature since 1950. The main dialects are Karanga, Korekore, Manyika, and Zezuru. It's a tonal language.

Zezuru is the basis of the standard language. Ndau and Kalanga, which are very close, are nevertheless considered as languages apart.

The Shonas

Zimbabwe formerly Southern Rhodesia is a country rich in minerals.

The Shonas or Chonas would be the descendants of people who traded gold and ivory, divided into several groups!

Essentially farmers, they lived in dispersed hamlets (kraals), corresponding to a segment of localized patrilineage. The authority was exercised by a hereditary chief assisted by the heads of families.

Formerly matrilineal, they are today patrilineal and patrilocal. The Shonas were organized in a state with a divine king surrounded by taboos.

Neighboring languages
Kalanga poem
Poem translated into shona (554 languages)