Zimbabwean society is generally very patriarchal. While there are some minority tribal groups that are matrilocal and matrilineal, men generally hold more decision-making power. Within the family, the oldest male (usually the father) is the patriarch and is expected to be the breadwinner for the entire household.

What is the social structure in Zimbabwe?

The Shona form the majority of the population – approximately 80%. They traditionally have a strong regional clan structure, with six main groups: the Manyika, the Ndau, the Zezuru, the Karanga, the Korekore and the Rozvi. These groups are formed on the basis of linguistic and cultural similarities.

Why is the Great Zimbabwe important?

With an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Great Zimbabwe was the heart of a thriving trading empire from the 11th to the 15th centuries.

What made Great Zimbabwe powerful?

With an economy based on cattle husbandry, crop cultivation, and the trade of gold on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Great Zimbabwe was the heart of a thriving trading empire from the 11th to the 15th centuries. The word zimbabwe, the countrys namesake, is a Shona (Bantu) word meaning “stone houses.”