Paper 2 · Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Which of the following is an importance of totems in indigenous Zimbabwean communities, according to Heritage Studies?
AThey remove the need for any other form of identity within the community.
BThey discourage cooperation between people of different ethnic groups.
CThey safeguard against incest by regulating who may marry whom.
DThey allow marriage between any two people regardless of family lineage.
Explanation: Totems are important because they act as a measure of identity, safeguard against incest by regulating marriage, cement relationships, promote solidarity, and bring people of different ethnic groups together, not because they permit marriage without regard to lineage or discourage cross-ethnic cooperation.
Derived from ZIMSEC Heritage Studies Paper 2, Nov 2019, Q8