Identification. Zimbabwe is named after Great Zimbabwe, the
twelfth- to fifteenth-century stone-built capital of the Rozwi
Shona dynasty. The name is thought to derive from dzimba dza
mabwe ("great stone houses") or dzimba waye ("esteemed houses").
Cultural and religious traditions among the Shona, Ndebele and
smaller groups of Tonga, Shangaan and Venda have similarities in
regard to marriage practices and the belief in supernatural
ancestors. All those groups called on the support of the spirit
world in the struggle for independence, which was achieved in
1980. European culture and values indelibly shaped the urban and
rural landscapes, particularly in terms of the use of space, and
the structure and practice of government. Black Zimbabweans have
assimilated more white Zimbabwean culture than vice versa. In
these distinct cultures, which generally are referred to as
African and European, the most obvious differences are economic.
While the white minority lost political power after
Independence, it has retain