• English word totem in the Shona Dictionary
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mutupo
/mutupó/

• noun , class(3)
• dialects/origins: Karanga, Manyika, Zezuru

English translation

totem

Animals, or (animal) body organs believed to be sacred to family, clan, or lineage.

Totems should not be consciously consumed by a member of the clan. Sexual relations between persons of the same totems is forbidden, since they share a common ancestor.

Totems also serve as an account of a lineage's history and character. For example, the Moyo (heart) totem people are known for the Rozvi Empire they built, their kindness, and bravery.

List of Shona Totems:

Totem	Male Praise name	Female Praise name
Bepe (Lung)
Dziva / Mbedzi (Pool)	Chidzivachepo	Masiziva
	Dzivaguru
	Mlambo
Chuma (Tortoise)		Machuma
Hove (Fish)	Muzvidziwa	MaSiziba
	Gurajena
	Dziva
	Pakuru
Gumbo (Leg)	Chitova	Magumbo
	Madyarapanze
Hwai / Gwai (Sheep)	Chuma	Machuma
	Gumbi
Mbizi / Tembo (Zebra)	Dhuve	Madhuve
	Mazvimbakupa
	Samaita
Mhara (Antelope)	Chikonamombe	Mashayamombe
Mhofu (Eland)	Mhofu ye Mukono	Mapofu
	Mufakose
	Nhuka
	Musiyamwa
	Sekemutema
	Shava
Moyo (Heart)	Chirandu	Mamoyo
	Murozvi mukuru
	Dhewa
	Moyondizvo
	Sinyoro	Vachinjanja
Mvuu (Hippopotamus)	Sambiri
Ngara / Nungu / Chikandamiseve / Chikandamina (Porcupine)	Chivasa	Maposa
	Zimuto
Nhewa / Ingwe (Leopard)	Simboti	Marozva
Nhire / Gwizo / Chimaherani (Spring hare)	Mugombi	Vanhenga
	Matutu	Mandlera
	Muwariwa
	Vhenya
Nyati (Buffalo)
Nzou / Zhou (Elephant)	Samanyanga	Chihoro
	Mhukahuru	Musanha
Shato (Python)
Shiri / Hungwe (Fish Eagle)	Nyoni	Manyoni
	Chasura
	Hungwe
	Mawuruka
Shumba (Lion)	Nyamuzihwa	Masivanda
	Murambwi
	Muzeketwa
Tsiwo (Male genetalia)	Gushungo	Mangwenya
Tsoko variant: shoko, soko (Monkey)	Madyirapanze	Mancube
	Murehwa
	Mukanya
	Makwiramiti
	Ncube
Twiza / Ndudza (Giraffe)	Nondo

** The table is not complete. Please contact us to add more totems to the table. You can also expand our definition. Thank you.