The Wild Cat (bonga/gola)is a very rare totem with few people mainly from Matabeleland South areas and southwest Midlands provinces. The people are very nocturnal, but males are fairly intelligent.
I am have a Bonga totem and we are mainly found in Manicaland. We mainly speak Maungwe a very minority Shona language that doesnt even exist in ChiKANdaMaZeKo. Both men and women are just called Bonga. But when in Matebeleland they call us Sibanda, hence MaSibanda for women. We are the Bonga (Hwenje-Chihwa). Hwenje as in hwenje hwedziva and Chihwa because people used to think the wildcat looked like a chimbwa especially during the night.
As for me, most of my great uncles and papa worked in Matebeleland, hence my growing up in that area too but originally we from Manicaland.
Bonga Chihwa is a fairly common Manyika totem. To my knowledge they originate exclusively from Manicaland and some are across the border in Mozambique in Manyika province. Deep in Manicaland - "kumanyika" (penhalonga, Nyanga, Nyamaropa etc) the totem represents a wild cat. When you come towards Maungwe area (Rusape) it becomes a wild dog (sigauke) and in Mutambara (garwe) . I believe it is the same people though. A lot of them worked in "Bruwayo" as cooks for some reason but obviously this is in more colonial recent times
This is so true, my dad was a cook and we are originally from Rusape, Mtungagore, although grew up in Byo. Would you care to share more on this history, especially if you know about vanaBvuma. Thanks.
Tell us more about the bonga totem
ReplyDeleteYeeees
ReplyDeleteI am have a Bonga totem and we are mainly found in Manicaland. We mainly speak Maungwe a very minority Shona language that doesnt even exist in ChiKANdaMaZeKo. Both men and women are just called Bonga. But when in Matebeleland they call us Sibanda, hence MaSibanda for women. We are the Bonga (Hwenje-Chihwa). Hwenje as in hwenje hwedziva and Chihwa because people used to think the wildcat looked like a chimbwa especially during the night.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, most of my great uncles and papa worked in Matebeleland, hence my growing up in that area too but originally we from Manicaland.
Hi do you know the full detembo?
DeleteCan you share the detembo bonga hwenje
DeleteBONGA CHIHWA
DeleteMwaita BONGA CHIHWA
Mwaita Sigauke
Bonga Chihwa
Mwaita Mutambara
Mwaita waGarwe
Mutupo wetakagurirana
Matikaha ngekuone tsimba
Kuone munhu tinodedera
Mwaita Bumhi Muera Imbwa
Wanodya ichifamba
Chaonha pasi hawadyi
Dehwe rehosi tusa wanthu
Karimera mutate
Zvaitwa Ngonyamu
Bonga hwenje
DeleteMaita bonga
Maita hwenje
Maita chihwa
Varimumashiri mashiri amutwira vadyivezvi gumbakumba ngambanga kwarusape vakarambakugara mumisha nekudakugara musango vadyivezvimbishi
Maita chihwa
Zvaonekwa hwenje
Chihwa are only found in Manicaland province.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone…is Bonga different from Chihwa?? If yes why is it called Bonga Chihwa as if it’s one thing
ReplyDeleteBonga chihwa yakabva pa vana vatete vekwa bonga hwenje vana ivavo ndovakabva vanzi bonga chihwa
DeleteBonga chihwa yakabva pavana vatete vekwa bonga hwenje karekare
DeleteBonga Chihwa is a fairly common Manyika totem. To my knowledge they originate exclusively from Manicaland and some are across the border in Mozambique in Manyika province. Deep in Manicaland - "kumanyika" (penhalonga, Nyanga, Nyamaropa etc) the totem represents a wild cat. When you come towards Maungwe area (Rusape) it becomes a wild dog (sigauke) and in Mutambara (garwe) . I believe it is the same people though. A lot of them worked in "Bruwayo" as cooks for some reason but obviously this is in more colonial recent times
ReplyDeleteThis is so true, my dad was a cook and we are originally from Rusape, Mtungagore, although grew up in Byo. Would you care to share more on this history, especially if you know about vanaBvuma. Thanks.
DeleteThis was a good breakdown
DeleteThe same totem vanonzi vaera Shumba also, what's the connection neShumba
DeleteThank you I am Bonga Hwenje and was wandering if we are different from Bonga Chihwa?
DeleteI am bonga hwenje we are different from bonga chihwa nekuti bonga chihwa yakabva pa vana vatete vekwa bonga hwenje
DeleteBonga chihwa vanoera imbwa yemusango then Bonga hwenje vanoera katsi yemusango
ReplyDeleteBonga chihwa yakabva pa vana vatete vekwa bonga hwenje vana ivavo ndovakanzi bonga chihwa
Wow interesting pane hama dzangu pano it’s rare kuona Ana bonga tinenge tiri vashoma lol
ReplyDeleteShumba yaiva imwechete Karen Karen Munoz muzimbabwe maigara mabushman about akazotizira Kalahari.vanashumba vachibva guruswa tanzania vaiva vacation wander wekutanga ndinohoreka akasara pamutoko. Kozouya muzukuru mwana watete anovamadziva avakuzviti Bonga chihwa .tobva tapfura zvishoma panashumba mutasa imhuri imwechete iyoyo ndovanozvidaidza kuti nyamuzihwa vamwe vachonozvita vanasamaita mbizi. Baba yevese ndimutambara sigauke are panedziva pachimanimani
ReplyDelete