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Women of Great Zimbabwe: Power and Daily Life in the Stone Kingdom
Description
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked roles of women in the society of Great Zimbabwe. From the spiritual authority of the Mwari cult's female mediums, known as svikiro, to the economic power of women in cattle and craft production, we piece together archaeological and ethnographic evidence. We discuss the daily lives of women in the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex, and the rural areas, examining their contributions to agriculture, trade, and the symbolic economy of soapstone and gold. We also consider what remains unknown due to the biases of early European accounts, and how oral traditions and modern archaeology are reshaping our understanding. The episode touches on the matrilineal aspects of Shona society, the role of women in royal succession, and the gendered division of labor that sustained the kingdom's wealth.