Mhembwe rudzi inozvara ina kazhumu (mwana ane kazhumu)
The Duiker is a kind that only has a lamb/fawn that has a head crest.
Tsanagudzo
Mwana anofanana navabereki vake
What the Words Say
The Duiker is a kind that only has a lamb/fawn that has a head crest.
What It Means
People produce children with similar looks and traits to them. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Cultural Context
The duiker is a small antelope found only in Africa and was one of the easier antelopes to hunt for our ancestors. The name "duiker" actually comes from afrikaans meaning to dive because of the way it dives into the under-bush for cover when frightened. Even though there are 21 spices the one distinctive feature of the common duiker is a beautiful head crest (erectile tuft on the crown). This pattern of raised fur is synonymous with duikers. It is this rare feature on the duiker that was taken to represent the unmistakable similarity of parent and child.
How It's Used
Children rarely fail to resemble one of the parents and will usually borrow traits (positive or negative) from the parents. While there are a number of shona proverbs with a "like father, like son" meaning, this one seems more particular to appearance and "like mother, like daughter" would be more apt as it refers to the ewe/doe (female duiker). Hence its application is most appropriate when referring at the appearance or traits of the child with that of the mother.