Shona love poem
Mugirazi
Chimiro chako mugirazi
Ndiyo nhetembo yandinodisisa
Asika, chimbidza nokuti chinotiza
Ndikuudze kekupedzisira kuti "ndinokuda"!
→ 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.
Kalanga poem