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What Does “Korokoza” Mean?

Confusing slang in
Korokoza
noun / verb · African slang
translates to
Plain English out

Informal or illegal small-scale gold mining — and by extension, any hustle done outside the system.

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The full meaning

Korokoza refers to artisanal or small-scale gold mining, often done informally outside official channels. Korokozas (the miners) dig and pan for gold in riverbeds and abandoned mines. In wider slang it can describe any hustle or informal economic activity done outside formal systems — grinding hard to find gold where others see nothing.

Where “korokoza” comes from

A Zimbabwean Shona term that became widely known internationally through coverage of Zimbabwe's gold mining economy. The word captures a whole way of life: resourceful, risky, independent, and outside the formal economy. It appears in Zimbabwean music and news regularly.

How it’s actually used

Used literally for gold mining activity and figuratively for any hard, unofficial hustle. Saying someone is 'out here korokoza-ing' means they are grinding by any means necessary.

His uncle has been korokoza-ing along the river for years, made decent money.
No formal job, just korokoza and hustle — that's how he built his house.
The korokozas found a good vein last week, whole village is talking.
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✔ For parents & teachers

The activity itself carries legal complexity since informal mining is regulated differently across Zimbabwe. The word is culturally important and carries no offensive meaning.

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Last updated: 2026-07-25. Slang evolves fast, we review definitions regularly.