Shona a Literature Past Papers 2026

IB Shona a Literature is a Group 1 Studies in Language and Literature subject offered to students whose first language or heritage language is Shona. Shona is spoken by approximately 15 million in Zimbabwe (official language) and parts of Mozambique. Shona oral literature is rich in ngano (folktales), praise poetry, and oral histories of the Zimbabwe Plateau kingdoms. Written Shona literature developed from missionary schooling in the early 20th century; contemporary Shona writing engages with post-independence Zimbabwe's political and social realities. Students who sit this course bring a deep cultural connection to the language, and examiners expect engagement with the literary and cultural context of Shona-language texts.

The IB Shona a Literature curriculum requires students to study a range of texts — poetry, prose, and drama — drawn from the Shona literary tradition. Distinguished voices such as Solomon Mutswairo, Charles Mungoshi, Shimmer Chinodya are representative of the kinds of authors and works that may be studied. Past papers for this subject include Paper 1 (textual commentary) and Paper 2 (comparative literary essay).