The origins of the word are found in the 16th century when Chief Changa ruled the Munhumutapa Empire covering present day Zimbabwe and most of Southern Africa. Chief Changa was a prolific commodity trader highly respected by his Arab trade partners they gave him the title of an Emir meaning ruler. Chief Changa thus became Changa Emir of the Munhumutapa Empire to the Arabs. Changa Emir became the symbol of African majesty that his successors began to be referred to as “Changamiri”. The word Changamire is now accepted in the Zimbabwean Shona language to mean a king or a ruler. A Changamire is the pinnacle of Zimbabwean Shona royalty describing an ensconced yet present kingship steeped in wisdom.