Discover the Soul of Shona Culture

Meaning:

You should not look someone who is bereaved (in mourning) in the eye,” signifying respect for their grief and sorrow; it’s about understanding boundaries and showing empathy during times of loss in Shona culture.

Literal Meaning: “The one who has lost (someone) should not be looked in the face/eye”.

Deeper Insight:

It’s a deep-seated rule in Shona tradition during funerals and mourning periods, emphasizing sensitivity, privacy, and avoiding adding to their pain by staring directly at them, which might seem intrusive or challenging.

Aiva Madziva Ava Mazambuko

Meaning:

What used to be a river is now a ford/crossing place,” signifying a major change in circumstances, where something once powerful or grand (a deep river) becomes diminished and easily crossed (a shallow ford), illustrating decline in status, wealth, or power. It’s used to describe how situations, people, or resources can transform from significant to mundane or even lost.

Deeper Insight:

Change of Fortune: A person who was once wealthy or important might become poor or insignificant, much like a mighty river drying to a small stream.

Loss of Power/Status: It reflects the impermanence of power; what was once a strong force (like a raging river) can become weak and easily overcome (a simple ford).

Transformation of Hardship: Conversely, it can also mean something difficult (a deep river) has become easy (a ford), though it more commonly refers to decline.

This proverb is similar to:

1. Bvupa jena rakabva munyama.

2. Dzaiva nhungo dzava mbariro.

3. Kwava kusakara kweowo kuita serisakambodyiwa nyama.

4. Chinokura chinokotama musoro wegudo chava chinokoro.

Akuruma Nzeve Ndewako

Meaning:

The one who bites or pulls your ear is yours,” which translates to the idea that those who give you honest criticism or tough love, even if it hurts, are the ones who truly care about you and are on your side, rather than being enemies or jealous people. It’s about accepting feedback for your own good, understanding it comes from a place of love.

Literal Meaning: “The one who bites your ear is yours” (or “belongs to you”).

Deeper Insight:

Figurative Meaning: True friends or loved ones will tell you hard truths for your benefit, even if it’s uncomfortable.

In Context: If a close friend warns you against a bad decision, others might see it as harsh, but this proverb suggests it’s an act of care, like “tough love”.

Meaning:

That which has skin and flesh is not equal to that which has nothing,” essentially saying that having something, even if imperfect or less than ideal (like a little bit of meat on the bone), is far better than having absolutely nothing at all. It emphasizes the value of having something over nothing (like bare bone or a mere shadow of something), often used to encourage appreciation for what one has, even if it’s not perfect.

Deeper Insight:

Proverbs with a similar meaning:

1. Ndongwe inyama hazvienzani nenhikiti. 

2. Apunyaira Haashayi Misodzi. (If you try, it eventually pays off).

Ateya Mariva Murutsva Haatyi Kusviba Magaro

Meaning:

Someone determined to achieve their goal will do what’s necessary, even if it’s messy; literally, “One who sets traps in burnt grass fears not getting their apron dirty,” signifying taking risks or facing consequences for success. It’s about facing challenges and dirty work to succeed, highlighting perseverance and action over hesitation.

Deeper Insight:

Literal Translation: “One who sets traps in burnt grass fears not getting their apron dirty.” Meaning: A person must accept the consequences and do the hard, sometimes messy, work required to achieve their objectives. Application: It’s a motivational phrase encouraging action, resilience, and not being deterred by potential difficulties or “dirty” aspects of a task

Azvuva Sanzu Azvuva Nemarara Aro

Meaning:

Sometimes written as “Akweva sanzu akweva namashizha aro”) is a Shona proverb meaning “One who has pulled a branch along has pulled along its leaves as well”. 

The proverb is used to convey that if you accept something, you must also accept all the consequences, responsibilities, or baggage that come with it.

Deeper Insight:

Common applications of this proverb include:

Decisions: More broadly, it is a cautionary statement about the importance of considering the full implications before making a significant decision. 

Inheritance/Family: It is often used in the context of marriage or family, implying that if you marry someone who has children from a previous relationship, you are responsible for the children as well.

Ashamba Haanokorerwi

Meaning:

The proverb literally translates to, “One who has washed is not helped to food (or does not have stiff porridge broken off for him). The extended meaning and the lesson it teaches is:

A cultured or respectable person is entitled to proper respect.

Deeper Insight:

People should take the consequences and responsibilities of their actions; someone who has done their part (like washing their hands to prepare for a meal, a sign of being ready and cultured) should be treated with appropriate consideration and not be made to wait or be treated as if they haven’t done what is expected.

Meaning:

“one who is hated stinks” or “if you hate someone, you will find fault in everything they do”. It is equivalent to the English idiom, “Call a dog a bad name and hang him,” implying that a person disliked by others will be blamed or criticized regardless of their actual actions

Deeper Insight:

It describes a situation where bias or prejudice causes people to find fault in someone, even if that person is innocent or acting correctly. Once someone is disliked, they are perceived negatively by association, similar to having a bad reputation forced upon them.

Akanga Nyimo Avangarara

Meaning:

If you begin a task that is harshly criticized or difficult, you cannot give up halfway. You must follow through with conviction.

Deeper Insight:

Application: It is used to encourage persistence in difficult situations or when someone is facing scrutiny for a bold choice, urging them to finish what they started.

Ageza Haanokorerwi

Meaning:

Literal Meaning: If a person has already washed their hands and prepared to eat, they do not need someone else to help them break off pieces of sadza (staple food) and feed them.

Deeper Insight:

A cultured or mature person is entitled to proper respect and their freedom. A person who is capable, independent, or has prepared themselves for a task should be allowed to do it themselves without unnecessary assistance. It is often used to emphasize treating individuals with dignity and recognizing their capability.

Meaning:

Every little contribution counts or that even small actions have significance,” often used to highlight that seemingly minor efforts add up or that someone involved in a small part of a larger effort is still part of the whole struggle.

Deeper Insight:

Literal Translation: “One who has pinched has fought”.

Figurative Meaning: It emphasizes that small contributions, like a pinch, are a form of fighting or participation, meaning no effort is too small to matter.