Dziva · fish
Dziva is the fish. The word means a pool, and the Shayamombe poem says plainly that the Dziva is the fish (Dziva iri hove); Duramazwi reChiShona gives Dziva as the totem of people who keep away from water or from fish. It is kept by the Dziva Shayamombe clan, greeted by the Save, the great river.
The Shayamombe poem stays close to the water. It greets the clan as Mandinginda, the fish in the pool, says the pool is the fish, thanks those who are in the water and greets the clan by the great Save river, at Majenya, Nyaurungu, Goto and Urambi. Its praise names include Nyakuzvidzwa, Nhemahuru, Murambatsvina, Marasamasa and Sambiri, and it names Nhobvu, who came from Dzokota, as keeping the Dziva.
A Shona dictionary adds other names used by Dziva people: Sambiri, Mlambo, Jena and Dzivaguru, the last given as a praise name of those whose totem is fish. The name Shayamombe is not the Dziva clan's alone: a Moyo clan carries it too, and the Mhara poem greets its people as Mashayamombe.
Dziva mutupo wevanhu vanoera mvura kana kuti hove. Detembo reShayamombe rinoti hove iri mudziva, richikudza vari mumvura nevari kurwizi Save. Vanorumbidzwa seMandinginda, Nyakuzvidzwa, Nhemahuru naMurambatsvina. Duramazwi rinopa mamwe mazita, seSambiri naMlambo.
The fish. Dziva means a pool, and the Shayamombe poem says the Dziva is the fish (Dziva iri hove); Duramazwi reChiShona gives Dziva as the totem of people who keep away from water or fish.
The Shayamombe poem calls the clan Shayamombe, Mandinginda, Nyakuzvidzwa, Nhemahuru, Murambatsvina, Marasamasa and Sambiri, and men are also greeted as Musaigwa and Save. A Shona dictionary adds Mlambo, Jena and Dzivaguru as names used by Dziva people. Women are greeted as Masiziba.
Dziva Shayamombe.
Traditionally, people of the same mutupo and chidawo do not marry: they are counted as one family. Between different Dziva clans some families allow it, often after a ceremony that cuts the kinship (kucheka ukama).
Pick your totem and clan once. The app greets you by your praise name after that.
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