User:Dumdumnick/sandbox

Culture
The people of Zimbabwe are called Zimbabweans. They can find their heritage back to Bantu speaking migrants who travelled to Africa some thousand years ago. There are two main ethnic groups; Shona and Ndebele. The Shona is the dominant ethnic group, making about 80 percent of the population.

Language
The languages spoken are English, Shona, and Sindbele. English is the official language.

Arts
Music and arts are important to the Zimbabwean culture. Traditional music is still played using local instruments. The art is of crafting; pottery, bakery, textiles, jewelry, and carving are some examples. Stone sculpting is also an artwork practiced.

Dance is also important in the Zimbabwean culture. Dance and music was part of rites of passage, and thus custom is still practiced to this day.

Religion and Beliefs
Christianity is practiced, but traditional beliefs are still held: ancestors, prophecies, and divination (communication with spirits) are some of these. For example, the Shona believe in two spirits; Shaved spirits and Vadzimu spirits. In The House of Discarded Dreams, Vimbai's grandmother appears to her as ghost, or a vadzimu.

Just as in Christianity, Zimbabweans have a monotheistic faith, where they believe in one supreme being. Mwari is their supreme creator.

Folklore
Zimbabweans also believe in smaller gods. For example, Nyami Nyami is the Zambezi river god. They also tell stories of the wazimamoto, a white man who stole people's blood. This legend was created from the colonial oppression of Africa. In the African's perspective, the wazimamoto, sought to destroy their culture, or steal their "cultural blood". Vimbai says that the victims of the "wazimamoto" are horse shoe crabs, because their blood was being stolen (Sedia 15).