Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Great Zimbabwe Mambo Gara and the Danga Reform of 1288
Season 3
Episode 122
Published 1 week, 2 days ago
Description
In the late 13th century, Great Zimbabwe's ruler Mambo Gara implemented a sweeping reform of the danga — the royal cattle herds that were the economic backbone of the kingdom. This episode explores how the muraya (herd managers) were retrained, how the svikiro (spirit mediums) consecrated the cattle, and how this policy strengthened Mambo Gara's control over the vaShona people. We also discuss the role of the mhondoro (ancestral spirits) in legitimizing the reform, the impact on trade with Sofala and Kilwa, and the lasting legacy of this centralized herding system.