Shangwe Music for Spiritual Rituals: A Symbolical Enactment

Abstract Anthropological scholars have discussed various myths. The Shangwecommunity is a ‘web’ of mythological symbols that are orally active but without documentation. It was intention of this ethnography to explore cultural and biblical symbols embedded in the Shangwemythology in GokweNorth District in the Midlands Province in Zimbabwe. The results revealed that Nevanasanctified hut housed mythic snakes of various colours and lengths. Only five people had the traditional authorisation to enter the hut using the western door, just as there are five virgins in the Bible. Chiefs, just like the wise men who came from the east in search of the newly born Jesus, have the religious right to sit next to the eastern door which is ever closed. A certain man had the traditional role to stop the rain when it was too much to sustain plant growth. Some of the myths are comparable with certain songs of the Shangweand other cultures. Folktales and song texts reflect cultural heritage. The objectives of this article were two-fold. First, it sought to identify, compare, and discuss traditional and biblical symbolism embedded in four Shangwemyths. Second, it intended to examine song texts connected to certain Shangwemythology.