Before the 16th century, the kitchen was the center of life, but it looked very different from the modern setups we see today. There were no stoves; everything happened over an open fire, known as moto.
The Tools: Mothers and grandmothers used large, handmade clay pots (hari) for boiling and simmering stews. To turn grains into flour, they used a duri (a large wooden mortar) and a mutswi (a heavy wooden pestle). This rhythmic pounding was the soundtrack of every village.
The Original Grains: Before corn arrived, the Shona cultivated drought-resistant grains like sorghum (mapfunde) and millets (zviyo and mhunga). These were crushed and cooked into thick, hearty porridges.
Foraging for Survival: The diet was supplemented by nature. This included wild leafy greens (muriwo), wild mushrooms (hohwa), water-storing yams (madhumbe), and highly nutritious insects like mopane worms (madora).
A Note on Protein: Because cattle and goats were symbols of wealth and used for bride-price (roora), meat was rare. Protein mostly came from wild game, small birds, termites, and river fish.
The Great Shift: The “Corn Revolution”
In the 1600s, Portuguese traders and explorers arrived, bringing with them a “Columbian Exchange” that changed Shona cooking forever.
The Rise of Maize: Corn (chibage) was introduced to the region. Because it was easier to pound and offered higher yields than traditional millets, it was rapidly adopted.
The Peanut Influence: Traders also brought peanuts (nzungu). This became a cornerstone of Shona flavor, used to create rich, nutty pastes and sauces like dovi (peanut butter stew).
Colonial Influence: Bread, Tea, and Modernity
During the colonial era, British customs left a mark on the daily Zimbabwean diet.
Breakfast Staples: Sweet, milky tea and white bread became common, especially in urban areas.
New Techniques: The British influence introduced canning and modern baking, shifting some traditional kitchen practices.
Modern Shona Cuisine: Staples You Must Know
Today, the legacy of these centuries is visible in every Zimbabwean kitchen. If you visit, you will likely encounter:
Sadza: The modern iteration of ancient porridge. Made from finely ground white maize meal (upfu) and water, it is cooked into a dense, stiff consistency and eaten at almost every meal.
Relish (Muriwo ne Nyama): Sadza is never eaten alone. It is paired with a “relish”—usually stewed beef, chicken, or pork, or sautéed greens like rape or pumpkin leaves, often enriched with a spoonful of peanut butter.
Traditional Drinks: Fermented grain beverages like maheu (non-alcoholic) and traditional beers (chibuku) are still brewed to celebrate harvests and communal gatherings.
Cultural Etiquette
Shona food is more than sustenance; it is a display of values.
Communal Dining: Families sit in a circle, and everyone eats from a shared bowl. This fosters fairness, unity, and connection.
The Right Hand (Rudyi): You roll a portion of sadza into a ball and use it to scoop your meat or veggies. It is culturally taboo to use the left hand for eating.
Totems (Mitupo): Ancestry is sacred. The Shona traditionally do not eat the meat of the animal that represents their clan’s totem—a sign of deep respect for their family identity.
1. Is Sadza just cornmeal mush? Think of it as the ultimate comfort food. It’s cooked until stiff enough to form into a ball with your hand. Its mild flavor makes it the perfect “spoon” for savory stews and greens.
2. Why can’t you eat your totem animal? In Shona culture, your totem (mutupo) represents your ancestors. Eating that animal is considered disrespectful to your heritage—it’s like eating a family member.
3. Are insects really a standard food? Yes! Mopane worms (madora) are a delicacy. They are packed with protein and, when dried and cooked with onions and tomatoes, have a nutty, chewy texture that is highly prized.
4. Why is it rude to eat with the left hand? In many Southern African cultures, the left hand is reserved for personal hygiene. The right hand is used for eating to maintain cleanliness and show respect for the communal bowl.
5. Is traditional Shona food very spicy? Generally, no. Shona cuisine relies on natural, earthy flavors. You won’t find heavy chili heat; instead, the focus is on the richness of peanuts, the freshness of garden greens, and the depth of well-cooked meats.
What about you? Have you ever tried sadza or dovi, or perhaps you have a cultural food tradition that feels like a “culinary anchor” in your own life?
If you spend time with Shona people, one question you may hear often is: “What is your totem?” This is not just small talk. It is a question about identity, history, and belonging.
Totems, known as mitupo in Shona, are one of the most important parts of Shona culture. They connect people to their ancestors, guide social behavior, and help define family relationships. Even today, in both rural and urban life, mitupo continue to shape how people relate to each other.
But where did this system come from, and why has it lasted for so long?
The Ancient Origins of Mitupo
The exact time when mitupo began is not known. This is because the system existed long before written history. Like many African traditions, it was passed down through oral storytelling from one generation to the next.
However, historians believe that totems may have developed during the Early Iron Age (around 300–1000 CE) or even earlier. This was during the time when the ancestors of the Shona people were settling in southern Africa.
The Shona are part of the larger Bantu-speaking family, and many Bantu cultures across Africa use similar totem systems. This suggests that mitupo may have come with early migrations and then developed further over time in Zimbabwe.
How Migration Shaped Totems
Around 2000 years ago, Bantu-speaking groups migrated from Central and West Africa into southern Africa. As they settled, they built farming communities, raised livestock, and formed structured societies.
With growing populations came the need for:
Identity
Order
Social rules
This is where mitupo became essential.
Totems helped people understand who they were, who they could marry, and how they were connected to others. In simple terms, mitupo became a social system that held communities together.
Why Totems Were Created
Totems were not random. They were created to serve clear and practical purposes in society.
1. To Control Marriage
One of the most important roles of mitupo is to regulate marriage. In Shona culture, people are not allowed to marry someone with the same totem.
This rule, called exogamy, helps prevent close relatives from marrying each other. It also encourages relationships between different families and clans, strengthening unity.
Even if two people have never met before, sharing the same totem means they are considered family.
2. To Honor Ancestors
Mitupo are deeply connected to ancestral worship, which is central in Shona culture.
Each totem is linked to a founding ancestor. These ancestors are believed to guide and protect their descendants.
Because of this, totems are treated with great respect. They are not just symbols—they represent a living connection between the past and the present.
3. To Organize Society
Totems also help organize society into clans and family groups.
Each clan has:
Its own totem
Its own history
Its own identity
This makes it easier to understand relationships and maintain order within the community.
Who Created the Totem System?
There is no single person who created mitupo. The system developed slowly over many generations.
As different groups settled in different areas, they formed clans. Each clan adopted a totem, often based on animals or symbolic meanings.
Some common Shona totems include:
Shumba (Lion) – strength and leadership
Nzou (Elephant) – power and wisdom
Mhofu (Eland) – gentleness and grace
These were not random choices. They reflected qualities that each clan valued or identified with.
Totems in the Great Zimbabwe Era
By the time of the Great Zimbabwe civilization (11th–15th centuries), mitupo were already well established.
Great Zimbabwe was a powerful and organized society. It had strong leadership, trade networks, and social systems. Totems played an important role in maintaining this structure.
During this time, mitupo helped with:
Identity – showing which clan someone belonged to
Social order – helping define roles in society
Marriage rules – preventing incest
Unity – connecting different families across the kingdom
This shows that the totem system was not only cultural but also political and social.
Totems and Everyday Identity
Even today, mitupo are part of daily life.
Each totem is linked to a praise name, called a chidao. These are used in greetings, ceremonies, and formal situations.
For example:
Shava (Eland) is often associated with Mhofu
Moyo (Heart) is associated with Ndizvo
Using someone’s totem or praise name is a sign of respect. It shows that you recognize their ancestry and identity.
Cultural Rules and Respect
Totems also guide behavior.
People are expected to respect their totem and avoid actions that may dishonor it. In some cases, this includes not eating the animal linked to their totem.
There are also strong cultural expectations around:
Respecting elders
Greeting properly
Understanding family connections
All of these are influenced, directly or indirectly, by the totem system.
Why Mitupo Still Matter Today
In a fast-changing world, mitupo continue to give people a sense of identity and belonging.
They remind people of:
Where they come from
Who their ancestors are
How they are connected to others
For many Shona people, knowing your totem is just as important as knowing your surname.
Even younger generations, growing up in cities or abroad, often return to their totems as a way of reconnecting with their roots.
Final Thoughts
Mitupo are more than cultural symbols. They are a system that has shaped Shona society for centuries.
Even though we do not know exactly when they began, their purpose is clear. They were created to:
Organize society
Regulate marriage
Strengthen relationships
Honor ancestors
Today, they remain a powerful link between the past and the present.
In the end, mitupo are not just about identity—they are about connection. Connection to family, to history, and to something much bigger than oneself.
Zimbabwe is a beautiful country. It is famous for the mighty Victoria Falls, amazing wildlife, and some of the friendliest people in the world. When you visit Zimbabwe, you will feel welcomed. People will smile at you, help you, and invite you into their homes.
However, every country has its own culture. Culture is the way people live, think, and act. If you are a foreigner visiting Zimbabwe or meeting Zimbabweans for the first time, you might see them do things that seem strange to you. You might get confused. This is completely normal! What is polite in one country can be rude in another country.
To help you understand this beautiful culture, we have made a list. Here are 15 things Zimbabweans do that often confuse foreigners, why they do them, and how you should react.
1. Refusing Food When They Are Actually Hungry
If you invite a Zimbabwean to your house and offer them food or a drink, their first answer will almost always be, “No, thank you.” As a foreigner, you might think, “Okay, they are not hungry,” and put the food away. This is a big mistake!
In Zimbabwean culture, it is considered greedy to say “yes” the first time someone offers you food. Children are taught from a very young age that they must politely decline at first. They want to show that they are well-mannered and not just visiting you for your food.
What you should do: You must offer the food a second or even a third time. You can say, “Are you sure? It is just a small snack.” Usually, after the second or third time, they will smile and accept. If they refuse three times, then they are truly full!
2. Greeting Elders Properly (It is More Than Just “Hello”)
In many Western countries, you can greet an older person by simply waving and saying, “Hi!” In Zimbabwe, doing this will shock people. Greeting elders is a very serious and respectful process.
When greeting an older person, a Zimbabwean will often avoid direct eye contact because staring at an elder is seen as challenging their authority. They will also use physical gestures. Men and boys will often clap their hands with hollowed palms.
Women and girls will clap with their hands crossed, and they will bend their knees in a small curtsey (called kutyora muzura). Sometimes, women will even kneel on the floor to greet an elder who is sitting down.
What you should do: As a foreigner, you are not always expected to kneel. However, you should lower your head, avoid staring deeply into the elder’s eyes, and try clapping your hands a few times while saying, “Makadii?” (How are you?). They will highly respect your effort.
3. The Strict Rules of Respect and Titles
In places like America or Europe, you might call your boss or your friend’s parents by their first names, like “John” or “Mary.” In Zimbabwe, calling an older person by their first name is extremely disrespectful.
Zimbabweans use a strict system of respect titles. Everyone is treated like family. If someone is older than you, you must use a title.
Mukoma: Older brother.
Sisi: Older sister.
Baba: Father (used for any older man).
Amai: Mother (used for any older woman).
Even if a man is just the person selling vegetables on the street, if he looks old enough to be your father, you call him “Baba.”
What you should do: Listen to how other people talk. Never use the first name of someone older than you unless they specifically beg you to. Use “Baba” and “Amai” to show that you have good manners.
4. The Three-Part Handshake
When men greet each other in Zimbabwe, a simple up-and-down handshake is not enough. They use a special, three-part African handshake.
First, they shake hands normally. Second, they slide their hands up and grab each other’s thumbs. Third, they slide back down to the normal handshake position. Sometimes, it ends with a loud snap of the fingers. It looks like a secret code, but it is just the normal way to say hello.
What you should do: Watch closely when people shake your hand. Let your hand be loose and follow their lead. After a few tries, you will be grabbing thumbs like a local!
5. Answering “How Are You?” With a Condition
In English, if someone asks, “How are you?” you say, “I am fine, thanks.” In the Shona language (the most widely spoken language in Zimbabwe), the greeting is much more communal.
Someone will ask, “Makadii?” (How are you?). The proper answer is, “Ndiripo kana muripo.” In simple English, this translates to: “I am fine, if you are fine.”
This shows the deep sense of community in Zimbabwe. A person is saying, “My happiness depends on your happiness. I cannot be truly fine if you are not fine.” It is a beautiful way to show care for another person.
6. Eating Sadza With Their Hands
Sadza is the staple food of Zimbabwe. It is a thick, white porridge made from ground maize (corn) meal. It is eaten for lunch and dinner, usually with green vegetables and meat stew.
Foreigners are often confused when they see Zimbabweans eating this hot, sticky food with their bare hands instead of forks and knives. Eating with your hands is the traditional and most delicious way to enjoy sadza!
Before the meal, someone will bring around a bowl of warm water and a towel for everyone to wash their hands. Then, you roll a small ball of sadza in your hand, make a small dent in it with your thumb, and use it to scoop up the stew and vegetables.
What you should do: Never use your left hand to eat! The right hand is the only acceptable hand for eating. Wash your hands in the provided bowl, and try eating with your fingers. The food actually tastes better this way!
7. Pointing With Their Lips
If you ask a Zimbabwean for directions, or ask them where an object is, do not expect them to point with their index finger. Pointing your finger at something, especially at a person, is considered aggressive and rude.
Instead, a Zimbabwean will often point using their lips. They will stick their lips out in a “pout” and lift their chin slightly in the direction they want you to look. To a foreigner, it might look like they are preparing to give a kiss, but they are simply showing you the way!
8. Hissing to Get Someone’s Attention
Imagine you are in a restaurant, and you hear a sharp “Tss! Tss!” sound. In many Western cultures, making a hissing sound at someone is rude. You would usually say, “Excuse me!”
In Zimbabwe, making a “Tss” sound is a completely normal and polite way to get someone’s attention. People use it to call waiters, to get a friend’s attention across a noisy street, or to stop a minibus taxi. It is sharp, it cuts through the noise, and it works perfectly.
What you should do: Do not be offended if someone hisses at you to get your attention. They are not treating you like an animal; they just want you to look their way.
9. “Now” vs. “Now Now” vs. “Just Now”
Time works differently in Zimbabwe. If a foreigner is waiting for a plumber, and the plumber says, “I am coming now,” the foreigner expects the plumber to arrive in five minutes. Three hours later, the plumber is still not there.
Zimbabweans have different categories of time:
Now: This means “sometime today.” It could be in one hour, or it could be in six hours.
Just now: This means “in the near future.” Maybe in 30 minutes, maybe in two hours.
Now now: If someone repeats the word, it means immediate urgency. “I am coming now now” means they are actually on their way and will be there in five minutes.
What you should do: Learn to be patient. Life moves at a slower, more relaxed pace in Zimbabwe. Always clarify by asking, “Do you mean now now?”
10. Drinking Hot Tea on a Boiling Hot Day
Zimbabwe has a very hot climate, especially in October and November. You would think people only want to drink cold water or ice-cold juice. But if you visit a Zimbabwean home at 10:00 AM or 4:00 PM, they will serve you boiling hot tea.
This is a mix of British colonial history and local culture. “Tea time” is a sacred ritual. Families sit together, drink strong tea with lots of milk and sugar, and eat thick slices of bread with margarine. The heat outside does not matter. The tea warms the body, but the ritual warms the soul.
11. Overfeeding Guests (The Clean Plate Trap)
In some cultures, finishing all the food on your plate means, “That was delicious, thank you!” In Zimbabwe, finishing all the food on your plate means, “I am still very hungry, please give me more!”
Zimbabwean hosts are very generous. They want to make sure you are completely full. If you eat everything, they will immediately put another large scoop of sadza and meat onto your plate. If you finish that, they will give you more. They will not let you leave their house hungry.
What you should do: When you are full, you must leave a small amount of food on your plate. This small piece of leftover food is a polite signal to the host that you have had enough to eat and your stomach is completely satisfied.
12. Having No “Cousins”
Family structures in Zimbabwe are very broad and deep. The English language has words like “cousin,” “aunt,” and “uncle.” Zimbabweans translate their family trees differently.
In traditional culture, your mother’s sister is not your aunt; she is also your “Mother” (Mainini for younger sister, Maiguru for older sister). Your father’s brother is not your uncle; he is also your “Father” (Babamunini or Babamukuru).
Because of this, the children of your mother’s sister or father’s brother are not your cousins—they are your brothers and sisters. If a Zimbabwean introduces someone by saying, “This is my brother,” they might be referring to what a foreigner would call a cousin. Family is everything, and the circle is kept very close.
13. Receiving Things With Two Hands
If you hand a Zimbabwean a gift, a pen, or even a cup of tea, they will not just reach out and grab it with one hand. Reaching for something with one hand is seen as careless and ungrateful.
Instead, they will use both hands to receive the item. Sometimes, they will reach out with their right hand to take the item, and place their left hand under their right elbow or forearm. This gesture shows deep appreciation, respect, and gratitude.
What you should do: Try to give and receive items with two hands, or support your right arm with your left hand. It is a small gesture that will make you look very polite and respectful to the local people.
14. Smiling or Laughing When Giving Bad News
This is a behavior that confuses foreigners the most. Sometimes, a Zimbabwean might smile or give a nervous laugh when telling you something sad, embarrassing, or stressful. For example, they might smile while saying, “I am so sorry, but I broke your favorite cup,” or “The bus broke down and we are stuck.”
Foreigners might think the person does not care, or thinks the bad news is funny. This is not true! In Zimbabwean culture, smiling or laughing during a stressful moment is a coping mechanism. It is a way to ease the tension, show humility, and stop the other person from getting too angry or upset. They are trying to soften the blow of the bad news.
15. The Long, Elaborate Greetings
If you bump into a friend in a supermarket in a Western country, you might say, “Hey! Great to see you. Gotta run, bye!”
In Zimbabwe, you cannot rush a greeting. A greeting is a whole conversation. You must stop what you are doing. First, you ask how they are. Then, you must ask about their family. “How is your wife? How are the children? How is work? How is the health of your parents back in the rural areas?”
Only after asking all these questions can you move on to the actual reason you are talking to them. Rushing a greeting shows that you do not care about the person’s life.
My Final Thoughts
Traveling to a new country is always an adventure. The scenery and the animals are wonderful, but the true beauty of Zimbabwe is in its people and its culture.
Yes, the culture can be confusing at first. You might wonder why someone is hissing at you, why they won’t take the food you offered, or why they are calling you “Father” when you are not related. But once you understand the reasons behind these actions, you will see that Zimbabwean culture is built on deep respect, strong community, and a wonderful sense of togetherness.
When you visit Zimbabwe, keep an open mind. Watch what the local people do. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you try to learn their ways—if you use both hands, call elders by their proper titles, and remember to leave a little bit of food on your plate—you will not just be a foreigner anymore. You will be a welcomed friend.
