Mashavi (Shona belief in alien spirits)

Pasi pasati parobgwa nenyundo, chitendero netsika dzechivanhu zvisati zvavhenganisiwa nechiKristu, vaShona vaitenda zvirokwazvo munezvomweya, zvichibatanidzira mashavi. Mazuvano, kune vamwe vachiri kutenda kuti mashavi ariko. 

Shavi mweya wakarashika unonogara pamunhu, wotanga kumushandura hunhu hwake. Shoko rokuti “shavi” rinobva pakushava, zvichireva kutsvaka. Shavi mweya unotsvaka pokugara. Kazhinji mweya uyu unenge uri womunhu akafira kure nokumusha kwake, kana kuti munhu akafa mutumbi wake ukasawanikwa. Mweya uyu unenge usina kudzosewa mumusha pakafa munhu wacho. Naizvozvo mweya uyu unenge usina kugadzikana, wombeya nenyika uchitsvaka pokugara. 

Mushakabvu VaGordon Chavhunduka (vaimbova mukuru mukuru weZINATHA) vakambotsanangura kuti pachivanhu, mweya womunhu akafa unoita gore usati wasiyana nomutumbi kuti uchindoshongana nomweya wamadzitateguru wayo. Naizvozvo tsika dzakaita sokupisa mutumbi (cremation) dzinodzivisa mweya kufamba zvakanaka, zvichihokonzera mashavi kana kuti ngozi (ngozi ndichabgwereketa nezvayo umwe musi). 

PachiShona, vamwe vanoti munhu woga woga une mashavi mazhinji akamugara aanokoshesa muchivande, mashavi awa achimubetsera kugona zvakasiyana siyana muupenyu. Hunyanzvi pakuvhima, kuridza mbira, kurima, kutsava, kuridza ngoma, nezvimwevo zvakadero, kunofungigwa kuti kunokonzegwa namashavi. Dzimwe nhambo, mweya wehama yepedo inozibgwa unokwanisa kugara pamunhu mumhuri iyoyo. Kana shavi racho uri mweya womunhu akanga asina vana, mweya uyu unonogara pavatogwa, vakaita sevavakidzani. 

Kune mhando zhinji dzamashavi. Mamwe mashavi akanaka, kasi mamwe akaipavo.

Mashavi akanaka:

Shavi rokuvhima (hunting spirit)

Shavi renjuzu, mweya wokurapa nokushopera (mermaid spirit)

Shavi rechirumbi, mweya woutsanana nokurongeka (spirit of a deceased European)

Shavi reChirozvi, mweya wokurapa (spirit of a deceased Rozvi tribal person)

Shavi jukwa, mweya wokurapa nokutsava (spirit of dance)

Mashavi akaipa:

Shavi rokuba (spirit of stealing)

Shavi rokuhura (spirit of prostitution)

Shavi rokuroya (spirit of witchery)

Shavi rebveni, mweya wokukwakuka nokuba (spirit of a baboon)

Shavi rechipunha, mweya wokufifinyika senzenza (spirit of a deceased child)

Shavi rourombe, mweya wokukwangwaya (unproductive spirit)

Mibvunzo:

• Nekufararira kwaita zvizvagwa zveZimbabwe, dzimwe nhambo tinowigwa nendufu takarivara. Hazvishamisi kuvona sezviri nani kupisa mitumbi yevadiwa vedu (pane kuitumira kumusha) kuti zvitiitire nyore kuzorodza mufi nokukasira. Hino nezvakataugwa izvo zvokuti kupisa mutumbi hakutendegwi pachiShona, munoti kudiiko? Zvohumwi kana kupisa kuriiko kunorerutsa basa kunesu vasara? 

• Dzimwe nhambo ndinovona sokuti kupumha mashavi pamumhu kumutendedza kuita zvisina basa pasina zvaanoiqhwa (not taking responsibility for their actions) kana kuti kusada kuisa huremu pabasa guru rinenge raiqhwa nevamwe (refusal to accept/acknowledge or downplaying other people’s hard work by attributing it to a spirit). Munoti kudiivo nemafungiro awa?

• Mashavi munoti ariko zvomene here imi? Makaavonepi?

• Fungwa yokuti vanhu vose vane mashavi akavagara, hatingati ndiwo atinoti maaddictionshere pachirumbi?

by Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure