Respect and hand clapping- Fundamental parts of the Shona Culture- By Clem C.

Respect, is one of the core elements of the Shona culture of Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. Mutual respect exists and binds the society together and this dates from way back. The Shona people are a patriarchal society. Children and women adopt their fathers' last names. There is a whole lot to this but for the purposes of this article I shall dwell mainly on respect. In a typical society, every adult is regarded as a parental figure, that is, they have the privilege to reprimand misbehaving youths in any way they deem necessary. They can beat, stop a fight or administer any form of punishment to preserve the wellness of the society. Elders, every adult is supposed to set an example to the younger members of the society, thus can not afford to be caught misbehaving. For anyone to be listened to, one has to maintain a clean record and if they do they have to make sure they do not get seen or leave any trails whatsoever, or else, they lose all the respect they have.

Whenever approaching a homestead, one is supposed to clap their hands to notify the residents of the home their arrival. Usually the clapping is accompanied by salutations of the man of the home, usually by calling out his totem repeatedly and going on in a sort of praise poetry. The man, if present would respond usually after identifying the approaching visitor by granting them access to their home and thus, one proceeds. After their arrival, a new set of clapping hands begins in exchange of greetings, the visitor or the family head, depending on who is older, the younger party asks about the health of the older one till everyone present has been asked and responded. Then usually, food is brought out, normally, if on a hot day, cool drinks in the form of the traditional mahewu (a traditional brew), if on a hot or warm day. Children would not be allowed to linger in the presence of the elders and after greeting the visitor, they would retreat to wherever they would be out of earshot of the conversations of the adults.

Whenever a son in-law meets with his in laws, he has to look to the ground and if in their way, get out and clap respectfully and whatever he does, their eyes never have to meet (kidding). People clap when showing gratitude. After someone performs an act of kindness to someone, the beneficiary claps while thanking them. Usually when the benefactor hands a gift to a beneficiary, the latter claps before taking the gifts. This, every child is taught to do when growing up. If a child does not clap when receiving anything from a parent or any other person, they are not given. They may cry, rant or rave because they do not know, but with time, they get to know that, a person is supposed to clap hands when receiving something. After eating, people are supposed to thank the food preparer usually by clapping their hands together.

In schools, when a classmate gets an answer correct, the teacher usually has the other kids applaud for them by way of clapping. Clapping is also important in song and dance, being part of songs, dance or otherwise. In churches, at weddings, parties and even funerals. Men and women have different ways of clapping. A man hand clap is comprises men cupping their hands and beating them against each other lengthwise, producing a shallow sound. Women on the other hands, cup their hands and clap sideways, usually their clapping, if in salutation, is following by bowing at the knee. Sometimes, they go down on both knees and do their clapping while on this position. When asking to be excused, it is the same thing except that the clapping duration is lesser than when greeting and all that.

At traditional courts or meetings of people like village elders or kingdom chiefs, to approach the bench, one would have to go through a session of clapping, usually saluting everyone according to rank till they present their case, at which time they cease clapping. It is also done during family meetings, usually the greetings are done before raising an important issue to be discussed, that is people greet while clapping and the case proceedings begin. Shona people greet pretty much often like any other society does in every part of the world I know. In the morning, children are supposed to greet their parents and elder siblings by asking how they are feeling, Mamuka sei?, translated 'Good morning', to which the elder responds, 'Tamuka mamukawo', meaning 'Good morning, how are you?, to which the enquirer responds, 'Tamuka', which is 'I'm well'. Greetings again are supposed to be exchanged in the afternoon, greetings have to be exchanged again, 'Masikati/Maswera sei?', meaning, 'Good afternoon/ How are you faring this afternoon?'. To this, the greeter claps and the respondent does not clap, except if they are being greeted by another adult. The response is 'Taswera maswerawo', which is 'I'm well, how about you?' The evening greeting is 'Manheru', sometimes, this phrase goes along with the afternoon greeting, that is if the greeter and the greeted had not met during the day.

Clapping is an exciting way of showing respect among people of the Shona culture, and I remember, my friends who are Ndebele (another language spoken in the country) make fun of Shona people who greet by way of beating their hands together. I find this respectful, of course, they also shake hands when greeting.