The Rozvi Empire: Great Zimbabwe's Last Defenders

Great Zimbabwe: The Lost African Kingdom of Stone — Fexingo History · Apr 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In the aftermath of Great Zimbabwe's decline and the rise of the Mutapa Empire, a new Shona state emerged from the south: the Rozvi. Under the leadership of Changamire Dombo, the Rozvi not only challenged Portuguese dominance on the Zimbabwe plateau but also established a powerful empire that preserved the cultural and architectural traditions of Great Zimbabwe. This episode explores how Changamire Dombo, originally a general under the Mutapa, rebelled and carved out his own kingdom, pushing the Portuguese out of the interior and creating a state that lasted for over a century. We delve…