Zimbabwe

Term applied by Shona speakers in Zimbabwe (country) to many stone-built enclosures located in the plateau between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers of southern Africa. It would be the court or house of a chief (mambo) and built on a hill. More than 150 are known, including the major site near Fort Victoria, Great Zimbabwe.

Contrary to popular usage, which applies the name to a single site, this term, which is believed to be derived from the Shona, is correctly applied to many stone-built enclosures located in the plateau country between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers of southern Africa. The major site near Fort Victoria is correctly designated the Great Zimbabwe.