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HISTORICALLY
SPEAKING ZIMBABWE PATCH PROGRAM 1. Zimbabwe, previously known as Rhodesia, is located in south of the African continent. It is about the size of California. View an outline of a Zimbabwe country map and its Capital. Identify Zimbabwe’s flag. 2. The three official languages in Zimbabwe are English, Shona, and Ndebele. The Shona speaking residents have lived in Zimbabwe since the early 1600’s and are about 65% of the population. The Ndebele language was said to originated from the Zulu in the 1800’s and are about 15% of the population. Learn to count or say phrases in Shona or Ndebele. 3. In Zimbabwe the Mibira music is played on an instrument that is also called a mbira. It is a dried gourd with a block of wood in side that has thin metal keys attached to it. The sounds echo out of it to make it seem louder. Other instruments are the marimba, similar to a xylophone, drums, and shakers. Rainmaking ceremonies and spiritual and cultural dances are a great form of entertainment. Watch a dance OR listen to music OR sing a song OR learn more information about a dance or instrument from Zimbabwe. Click on this link to view the Mbira instrument and a Traditional dance of Zimbabwe [8:05 min]. 4. Corn is very important in Zimbabwe and is included in many dishes. Some other foods they eat are sweet potato cookies, papayas, guavas, ladyfinger, and sadza, porridge. Try a recipe, food, or drink from Zimbabwe. 5. The people of Zimbabwe celebrate a large variety of festivals and holidays. The rainmaking festivals usually start around September to bring hope for the following year. Learn more about the festivals or holidays in Zimbabwe, go to a festival, participate in one, OR complete a craft that represents a festival. Examples include: Independence Day, Worker’s Day, Boxing Day, Christmas, Hero’s Day, Africa Day, and New Year’s Day. 6. In Zimbabwe, they have a countryside village where residents can get around everyday without using a car. If they need to go to the city they take a bus. Their houses are made out mud, sticks, bricks and have a thatch roof. They grow food in their fields, walk to the local store, and women gather the crops from the garden carrying a basket on her head. Some of the husbands work in the city so the women have to take care of the house and children until he returns. Create a house out of clay and sticks OR color a picture of the countryside OR try to carry a basket on your head OR learn more about the countryside area in Zimbabwe. 7. Folk tales are passed down for many years through the generations. The story usually has a message of how something originated or explaining customs. Read OR listen to a folk tale. ? Refer to the Folk Tales and Fables section in the back of this manual. 8. The largest nature reserves in Africa, Hwange National Park, is located in Zimbabwe. They also have rare animals that are protected and the largest number of elephants in Africa are located in Zimbabwe. Aloe trees grow in the dry areas and are used for medical purposes. Choose [3] animals, trees, OR plants from Zimbabwe to learn more about. Examples include: cheetahs, leopards, hippos, elephants, striped cheetah, nyala antelope, zebra, giraffe, and lions. 9. Victoria Falls, is one of the seven natural wonders of the world being over 150 million years old. Other sites to learn more about in Zimbabwe are the ancient caves, the ruins of the great Zimbabwe, remains of 11th century Shona City, mana pools, and other national parks. Choose a landmark or area to learn more about. 10. The Ndebele create beautiful jewelry and clothing with tiny glass beads and can be found in the street markets for purchase. The Shona are known for their stone carving in black soapstone. Other items that are created are paintings of African animals, skirts, large beaded colorful jewelry, baskets, blankets, and shoes. Create a craft or project using a traditional a skill OR jewelry OR observe someone creating a handicraft from Zimbabwe. 11. During holidays and festivals the Zimbabwens wear the traditional clothing. Different areas of Zimbabwe wear different clothing colors or patterns but the national dress for women is a short sleeve, wraparound skirt, head wrap, earrings and necklace for women. Other areas may wear a beaded dress instead of a skirt and top. Draw a picture of the clothing, dress up in Zimbabwe themed clothing, create an accessory, complete our paper dolls OR view traditional clothing through books or the internet or our country manual. 12. Few people that live in Zimbabwe have Television so the children play games outside. One of the popular games is tsoro, that dates back hundreds of years. The players take turns moving their stones clockwise around the wooden board. Learn a traditional game OR play a game that symbolizes Zimbabwe. Some examples include: kudoda or nhodo, mahumbwe, ndoma, hockey, or tsoro.
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