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Ndira (January) |
– The month of January is called Ndira in Shona. Named
after black beetle of the same name. Often people refer to January
as “mwedzi weNdira”, or month of the Ndira beetle. |
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Kukadzi (February) |
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Kurume (March) |
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Kubvumbi (April) |
– Kubvumbi means month of showers. Normally in Zimbabwe
rains are characterized by heavy down-pours and thunderstorms. It
is at the end of the rain season that soft rain showers arrive in
April. |
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Chivabvu (May) |
- Named after the last green maize, chivabvu, before season end. |
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Chikumi (June) |
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Chikunguru (July) |
– Named after the nhunguru wild fruit from the munhunguru
tree. Its redness, which blends in with the colors of the budding
musasa and mutondo trees underscore this dominant color in the month
of July. |
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Nyamavhuvhu (August) |
– Literally means “the windy one”. Windiest
month of year just before the first rain. |
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Gunyana (September) |
– September is a slow month – long after the harvest
season several months shy of the first rains. This is a period of
relaxation. People seat around, on the ground often folding/crossing
their legs. |
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Gumiguru (October) |
– The tenth month, from gumi, the Shona word for ten. |
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Mbudzi (November) |
– Often called “Mwedzi weMbudzi”, or month of
the goat. This is the month when most goats are pregnant. Wilbert
Sadomba, in “Using taboos and Proverbs as Oral Archives
of Indigenous Knowledge” eloquently describes this month
as follows,
“Women are regarded with the sanctity of nature because
they possess power of regeneration through their fecundity. This
is reflected in a number of values, beliefs and taboos. November
is known as Mwedzi wembudzi, the month of the goat. November marks
the period of regeneration of both, flora and fauna following
the first rains. With abundance of food, herbivores of all kinds
start to reproduce and November is the peak period for this process
of regeneration. This observation led to the development of the
taboo that forbids marriage during the month of November. The
taboo was developed to avoid accidental killing of pregnant animals
for marriage or other ceremonies. The punishment suffered by people
who marry in November is unreasonable breakdown of the marriage
or some such calamity as failure to have children”.
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Zvita (December) |
– Zvita in Shona means "thanks". December is
therefore a month of reflection and thanksgiving to the ancestors.
Many activities, socially forbidden in the month of November can
now be executed. Marriages can occur and beast can be slaughtered
for the occasion, ceremonies to welcome back spirits and memorial
services for the deceased are conducted in a festive atmosphere.
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