BUTUA

also spelled Butwa, former African kingdom in what is now southwestern Zimbabwe. Though called Guruhuswa in Shona tradition, the region was first mentioned in Portuguese records as Butua in 1512. The Togwa dynasty governed the kingdom until 1683, when it was conquered and absorbed by the changamire (or ruler) of the powerful Rozwi kingdom. Butua was renowned as the source of gold for Arab and Portuguese traders.