Language: The Nyamwezi people are found in Tanzania and their main language is called Kinyamwezi. Almost all Nyamwezi speak Kiswahili and English. They also speak Kisukuma, the language of the Sukuma people.
Economy: Crops include cotton, rice, maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, peanuts, beans, chickpeas, and sunflowers.
Culture: The Nyamwezi people
emphasize being at peace with everyone even with the neighboring tribes. This is
the reason why Nyamwezi people are found everywhere in Tanzania and why there
are so many different cultures in the Nyamwezi's place of settlement.
Traditional clothes such as khangas (vitenge in kiswahili) for women and
kanzus
(a white robe) for Muslim men are common.
Religion: The majority of the Nyamwezi people are Christian, but other religions include Islam and traditional beliefs. Traditional beliefs are based on the relationship with the ancestors and maintaining the Nyamwezi traditions. All these were fulfilled by performing rituals, which include animal sacrifices and other traditional ceremonies.
History: The Nyamwezi came
into Tanzania in the 1600s and settled in west-central part of the country,
called Unyamwezi. They were originally nomadic farmers, but because of the
infertile soils they became traders. They used ivory, slaves, salt, copper, and
wax to barter with Arabs and Indians along the East African coast.
Traditionally, men were the head of the household. Women and young girls were
responsible for housework, while men were responsible for building the house and
clearing the fields, as boys herded livestock. Children were taught how to hunt,
farm, cook, and clean by elders and parents.
Children made their own toys like wire cars and soccer balls made from polythene
bags and adults brewed beer for parties for fun.
The Nyamwezi empire was ruled by a mtemi (king)
known as Mirambo. He ruled from 1860 until his death in 1884. The Nyamwezi
Empire broke up after his death.
The traditional wear of the Nyamwezi was a bark cloth and their traditional food
was ugali (posho, corn, millet or sorghum meal).
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not
claim expertise on the Nyamwezi.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to
emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
Sources
Encyclopedia Britannica:
Nyamwezi. Electronic Document,
http://www.experiencefestival.
Map and Guide to Tanzania:
Nyamwezi. Electronic Document,
http://www.ntz.info/gen/
World Cultures:
Tajikistan to Zimbabwe: Nyamwezi. Electronic Document,
http://www.everyculture.com/
Written by Esther Nalubwama, 2009