Mambo (title)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mambo (pl. Madzimambo) is a Bantu title roughly equivalent to "king" or "emperor".[1]: 18 [2]: 348 It is most closely associated with the precolonial Shona states, such as the Rozvi and Mutapa empires. Madzimambo often also fulfilled religious duties as sacred kings.[3]: 135 In the Mutapa Empire, chiefs subordinate to the emperor sometimes desired to be referred to as madzimambo, though the title was reserved for the emperor.[1]: 18 In the Maravi Empire, mambo became a title for junior leaders.[4][page needed]
Nowadays, in Shona mambo can be used as a respectful form of address.[5]: 637