Kingdom of Butua

Kingdom of Butua Butua
c. 1450–1683
Status	Kingdom
Capital	Khami
Common languages	iKalanga
Religion	Belief in Mwari
Government	Monarchy
Mambo
History
• Abandonment of Zimbabwe	c. 1450
• Conquest by Rozwi Empire	1683
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Zimbabwe Rozwi Empire

The Kingdom of Butua or Butwa (c. 1450–1683) was a pre-colonial African state located in what is now southwestern Zimbabwe. Butua was renowned as the source of gold for Arab and Portuguese traders. The region was first mentioned in Portuguese records in 1512.

The kingdom was governed by the Torwa dynasty until 1683 from its capital at Khami. Its people were ancestors of the Bakalanga. In 1683, the kingdom was conquered by the Rozwi Empire.

The foundations of the Khami Ruins show a striking resemblance to the pattern of masonry at the base of the Zimbabwe Ruins. Hence the Kalanga are thought to have built Khami, Lusvingo, Mapungugwe and other ruins scattered across western Zimbabwe and east Botswana.

Gallery

• 
  The ruins of Khami, capital of the Butua Kingdom.
• 
  Steps leading into the ancient city of Khami
• 
  The outer wall of Khami

See also

• Torwa dynasty
• Rozwi Empire
• Naletale

References

• Gwinn, Robert; Norton, Peter; Goetz, Philip (1989). The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. p. 689. ISBN 0-85229-493-X.
• Shillington, Kevin (2004). Encyclopedia of African History, Vol. 1. London: Routledge. pp. 1912 Pages. ISBN 1-57958-245-1.