En Afrika, umshado ungaphezu nje kokubungaza uthando phakathi kwabantu ababili. Kuyinyunyana eyinkimbinkimbi engahlanganisi abashadile kuphela, kodwa nemindeni yabo, imiphakathi yabo kanye nokhokho babo. Le mikhosi igxile kakhulu emasikweni nasemikhubeni, futhi iwukubonakaliswa okugqamile nokumibalabala kokuhlukahluka kwamasiko ezwekazi.
Umshado ngamunye wase-Afrika uhlukile, unemikhuba yawo, izimpawu nezincazelo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi 'uSisqo' wamaZulu aseNingizimu Afrika, 'uMelsi' wama-Amhara ase-Ethiopia, noma 'uFatihah' wamaFulani aseNtshonalanga Afrika, umcimbi ngamunye uxoxa indaba yothando, inhlonipho kanye nokuba khona.