Shona

Shona traditional religion is monotheistic, having belief in the one God called Mwari. The word Mwari may have roots in the Bantu Mu-ari, which literally means that which is self-existent. Other expressions of God are Nyadenga, which means “Owner of Heavens,” and Musiki, which means “the Creator.” This name depicts a separation or distance of the people from God. Furthermore, the Shona maintain that Mwari is the originator of wisdom and knower of all things having no limitation. All phenomena are thus attributed to the Creator, Mwari.

The MaShona are both patrimonial and patriarchal. This holds in the Shona tradition with regard to the religious reality of the people. The spirits that are closest and most concerned the with the daily life and welfare of the community are one's own ancestors of the father's line, termed midzimu (singular) or vadzimu (plural). One's ancestral spirits would all have the same clan name organized along a patrimonial order. The Sekuru, or grandfather on the father's side, for instance, as well as the deceased sister of the Sekuru, and so on, are concerned with the welfare of their descendants, male or female.

These spirits of the ancestors are ritually cleansed after their deaths by a process called cbinura. This ritual cleansing occurs in order for the community to enjoy the benefits of their ancestors having closer proximity to Mwari, and thus vadzimu are more effective in acting on the people's behalf. Subsequendy, descendants enjoy the benefits of their patrimonial vadzimu because the vadzimu intercede on behalf of their people.

The vadzimu are said to live in the air and are called mbepo, and are thus always in the midst of their people. They are characterized by not desiring food or sex, but are honored at ceremonies with beer prepared and presented by persons appropriate to the circumstance of the ceremony. Protection from evil spirits as well as granting peace, prosperity, and posterity are functions of the vadzimu. Events of misfortune or illnesses are intended to encourage those affected to seek a spirit medium to find the cause of the predicament and to make amends as recommended by the spirit medium or svikiro.

The spirits of deceased royalty or greatly revered holy men and women are considered lion spirits or mbondoro (singular or plural). The spirits are said to take the form of lions as they roam in the wilderness. Their concerns in the spirit world extend to all those within their territory. As with vadzimu, the mhondoro find voice by inhabiting svikiro. The spirit medium is selected by the spirit and through ritual mediums is confirmed by senior svikiro. The needs and concerns of the community are addressed by the appropriate svikiro. Matters of national importance are addressed by the mhondoro spirit mediums, whereas matters of a personal or immediate nature are directed to the vadzimu spirit mediums.