Shona people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 15.6 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Zimbabwe | 13 million (2019) |
| Mozambique | 2.3 million |
| South Africa | 1–2 million (2020) |
| Zambia | 30,200 |
| United Kingdom | 200,000 (2011) |
| Languages | |
| Native Shona languages (mainly Shona) Also English (in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zambia) • Portuguese (in Mozambique) | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Shona traditional religion (Chivanhu) (Mwari) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kalanga; Venda; Nambya; Tsonga | |
| Person | MuShona |
|---|---|
| People | Mashona |
| Language | chiShona |
| Country | Zimbabwe, Mozambique |
The Shona people (/ˈʃoʊnə/), also/formerly known as the Karanga, are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily living in Zimbabwe where they form the majority of the population, as well as Mozambique, South Africa, and worldwide diaspora. There are six major Shona language/dialect clusters: Manyika, Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, Kalanga, and Ndau. The Shona make up at least 70% of the population in Zimbabwe with the Ndebele forming a minority(20%). They speak the Shona language, called chiShona. They migrated from the Congo River basin towards the end of the first millenium and settled in the present day Zimbabwe, where they established a great civilization.