Mwari

Mwari is a term used in the Shona language of Zimbabwe to refer to the supreme deity in the traditional religion of the Shona people. The concept of Mwari is central to the spiritual and cultural practices of the Shona, who believe in a single, all-powerful creator god. Mwari is often associated with natural phenomena such as rain, thunder, and lightning, which are seen as manifestations of the deity's power and presence. The name "Mwari" can be translated to Hebrew as מְוָרִי (pronounced "Mevári"), although this translation is not commonly used. In other relevant languages, Mwari is known as Mwari in Chewa and Mwari in Ndebele. The worship of Mwari is deeply intertwined with the natural world and ancestral veneration, reflecting the Shona people's reverence for the interconnectedness of all things. Key contextual information includes the role of Mwari in Shona oral traditions, where the deity is often depicted as a benevolent but sometimes punitive figure who communicates through spirits and ancestral intermediaries. The Mwari cult, centered around the sacred hills of the Eastern Highlands, has been a significant cultural and religious institution in the region for centuries.