Zimbabwean Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, home to Victoria Falls and the ancient stone city of Great Zimbabwe, which gave the country its name. English, Shona and Ndebele are among its official languages. Many Zimbabweans came to Britain from the late 1990s onwards, often to work in healthcare.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 1,719 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Zimbabwean; 3,092 people living in the city had been born in Zimbabwe; and 347 residents gave Shona as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Zimbabwean nurses, care workers, social workers and teachers are a vital part of Birmingham's hospitals, care homes and schools. Zimbabwean professionals also work in finance, IT, engineering and business, and the community is known for its strong commitment to education.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Zimbabwean community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Sadza, a thick maize porridge, served with meat or vegetables, is the heart of Zimbabwean cooking. Churches are central to community life, and the mbira, a thumb piano, is part of a rich musical tradition. Independence Day on 18 April brings the community together.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Zimbabwean community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.