ZIMSEC O Level · Family and Religious Studies · Form 1, Form 2, Form 3
African Traditional Religion (ATR) is the indigenous religion of African people, passed down orally through generations.
Beliefs
- Belief in one Supreme Being (Mwari, Nyadenga, Musikavanhu; uMlimu, uNkulunkulu), the creator.
- Ancestral spirits (vadzimu, amadlozi) protect and guide their families and intercede with God.
- Territorial (clan) spirits (mhondoro) care for the land, rain and the community.
- Spirit mediums (masvikiro) communicate the wishes of spirits.
Practices
- Rituals and ceremonies: rain-making ceremonies (mukwerera), bringing home the spirit of the dead (kurova guva/umbuyiso), thanksgiving for harvests.
- Sacred places: shrines in hills, caves and groves, such as the Njelele shrine in the Matobo Hills.
- Taboos (zviera, imilayo) guide behaviour and protect the environment.
- Totems (mitupo/izibongo) identify clans and promote respect and conservation.
Values
Respect for elders, community solidarity (Unhu/Ubuntu), hospitality, and care for the environment.
Exam tip: Use the correct local terms with English meanings – it shows understanding.
Check yourself
- Name the Supreme Being in ATR in one Zimbabwean language.
- What is the role of ancestral spirits?
- Give two functions of taboos.
Show answers
- e.g. Mwari or Musikavanhu (Shona); uMlimu or uNkulunkulu (Ndebele).
- They protect and guide the family and act as intermediaries between the living and God.
- Any two: guide moral behaviour, protect the environment, maintain order and respect, preserve resources.
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