Great Zimbabwe's Lost City: The Fall of the Torwa Dynasty

Great Zimbabwe: The Lost African Kingdom of Stone — Fexingo History · May 4, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In the 15th century, as Great Zimbabwe declined, a new kingdom rose in the southwest: the Torwa state, centered at Khami. This episode explores the Torwa dynasty's rise, their distinctive architecture, and their eventual absorption by the Rozvi under Changamire Dombo. Lucas and Luna discuss the archaeological evidence at Khami—the platform walls, the chevron patterns, the terraced hills—and what it reveals about Torwa's political and economic power. They delve into the role of the Mwari cult in legitimizing Torwa rule, the shifting trade routes from the Indian Ocean, and the…