International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue VI, June 2019|ISSN 2454-6186 www.rsisinternational.org Page 412 Imparting Unhu/Ubuntu and Spirituality through Shona Novels: A Case for Masvingo Urban Schools Viriri E & Marashe J Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Abstract: - This paper examined the various spiritual values of unhu reflected in Patrick Chakaipa and Charles Mungoshi’s novels Pfumo Reropa and Kunyarara Hakusi Kutaura? respectively. It mainly focused on the extent to which Shona literature, novels, in particular, can be used to promote in learners the religious beliefs and practices which have succumbed to acculturation. This qualitative study employed textual analysis by researchers and teachers and interviews with teachers. Afrocentricity and unhu conceptualisation informed the study. It was established that the two novels which fall into the old and new world respectively, contain important lessons with regard to cultural values that characterise the Shona religious life. Virtues established include respect for spirits and God, deep respect for religious beliefs and practices, participation in religious practices and application of moral lessons learnt from those practices. Findings indicated that not only novels on pre-colonial life experiences portray the traditional religious values but those set in the neo-colonial are also custodians of the community ideals. The study, therefore, concluded Shona novels can be used in the promotion of unhu spiritual values among Shona learners. It, however, recommends careful selection of novels into the syllabus so that the religious aspect of life is fully taken care of. Keywords: Unhu/Ubuntu, spirituality, cultural values, derogatory terms, moral lessons, old/new world novels I. INTRODUCTION he African traditional religious landscape is one cultural area that suffered heavily by the introduction of foreign Christian beliefs and doctrines. Africans have been lured into believing that their indigenous religion is heathen(evil). In fact, early researchers of African Traditional Religion (ATR) described that religion using derogatory terms such as fetish, barbaric, animism, ancestor worship and several others. The net effect of such descriptors was such that the African people were hoodwinked to think that their religion is not worthy to believe, hence, pursuing the foreign belief systems, culture and practices became the norm. The Shona, just like other Africans tend to forget that their traditional values characterise and define them as people. In traditional Shona societies, daily practices were guided by indigenous religious beliefs. Because they cherished the same religious values, the Shona people lived as a family bound by their religious beliefs and practices. These religious beliefs and practices enabled them to live peacefully and harmoniously. As core values of the Shona society, these were passed from generation to generation through the traditional education system which focused on the production of graduates with unhu. With unhu people exudes such behaviours as kindness, friendliness, humility, respectful and altruistic (Hapanyengwi-Chemhuru et al, 2016:100). Adults used oral literature as the main subject in imparting such content which was central in their day to day living. This paper focuses on the teaching of the same spiritual values through literature, the novel in particular, which is taught in the formal school. The novels Pfumo Reropa and Kunyarara Hakusi Kutaura? will be used to prove that the Shona written literature has religious values worthy teaching in schools and these values can be successfully taught through fiction. As will be demonstrated below, the religious unhu values, percolate and influence the people in their everyday life and activities, and in their various sectors of life, social, economic as well as political. Without this religion, African people are undefinable because it is their religion which shapes the people‟s world outlook and therefore which gives meaning to their philosophy of life (Makaudze, 1998: 59). This implies that religious principles are part and parcel of the whole fabric of the African people‟s daily life. Therefore, to the African people, there is a hair-thin line between the sacred and the profane. Each and every sphere of their lives is defined through religion. Makaudze‟s assertion also implies that religious beliefs shape the unhu/ubuntu philosophy, the Africans‟ view of life or as Hapanyengwi-Chemhuru et al, 2016:106, citing Louw (2001:1) writes, “… the spiritual foundation of African societies”. Pfumo Reropa In Pfumo Reropa (1961), Chakaipa presents Chief Ndyire, a greedy and covetous man, who takes his subjects‟ beautiful wives by force. His greediness precipitates murders and counter-murders in the story. Inthe beginning, Ndyire covets Munhamo, Shizha‟s wife, and destroys t he whole Nhindiri village, except for women and Tanganeropa who is spared because of his mother who threatens to take her life if Ndyire‟s army kills her son. The Nhindiri women are shared among Ndyire and his counsellors. Tanganeropa, the surviving son, grows under the custody of Chief Ndyire as his mother is given to Ndyire. Munhamo finds favour in the eyes of Ndyire‟s senior wife (vahosi) who teaches her the secrets T