Explore Sukuma Tribe In Bujora Museum Mwanza Tanzania
Explore Sukuma Tribe In Bujora Museum Mwanza Tanzania : Sukuma tribe is the largest Bantu tribe from southern shores of Lake Victoria in Tanzania basically situated from districts of Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Geita regions of Tanzania. Its local language is called Sukuma which belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family. Over years it has been affiliated with Nyamwezi tribe as they share same tradition and even its local language accent. The line of succession, inheritance and descent to control resources are usually patrilineal. The Sukuma live in compact villages with more than one homesteads and when a family member requires to Marry a bride price is required, with cattle the preferred medium of exchange.
Labor division is done based on gender, sex and age cross-cutting all seasons of the year, Men do perform hard works whereas women do family chores. They engage in agriculture and domestic animal keeping as their income generating activities. The majority of the Sukuma communities are subsistence farmers and cattle herder found living in rural areas, cultivating cash and food crops like maize, cassava, rice, millet, peanuts, beans, cotton and tobacco. Such lifestyle has motivated them to spread in many regions of Tanzania mainland such as Rukwa and Katavi to seek for fertile land and green pasture.
Sukuma tribe has a wide range of history as it has mingled with different African norms and tradition, visiting at Bujora Museum will give you a good experience in exploring Sukuma culture from age (Iron Age) era to science and technology era. It is said to be the collection of Sukuma tradition since its inception by Canadian missionaries in 1952. It is located at the north-eastern village of kisesa ward in Magu district, 13 kilometers from Mwanza city Centre.
Bujora Museum promotes and celebrates Sukuma culture within the community. It is attractive Museum of Sukuma tribe showing how they used to live in the ages of Iron Age. Their kinship leaders, elders and division of labours and their economic activities of the time as explained above. A visit at Bujora Museum gives you a half day tour to explore everything found at the environment including the traditional Sukuma Dance which surprise you with individuals who dance with snakes.
The Sukuma Museum and Cultural Center (SMCC) is very great important to the Sukuma people and Tanzania at large, as it helps to provide cultural, spiritual, and intellectual and a community interaction to both the indigenous and the foreigners. This also plays a significant role in promoting the creativity of the real Sukuma culture, which is the original culture unaffected by globalization. The culture valued and preserved by Sukuma Museum and Cultural Center includes Sukuma art, cultural dance, ritual practices, cultural ceremonies, and the most important being their native Sukuma language. This Museum was not only the first formal cultural institution to officially represent the Sukuma society, but it was also appreciated as the seed which later developed and advanced to Bujora Cultural Center. This center is responsible for all the traditional and cultural aspects related to the Sukuma. This is to say that Bujora Cultural Center is responsible for overseeing all the Sukuma Research Committees, all the official Sukuma dance cultural groups, Sukuma Museums and all the Sukuma archives. This is just part of the evidences to show the significance of this cultural center to Sukuma’s society.
Whether you are a natural world enthusiast, a culture explore, a nature photographer, or a primary-time safari-goer, Mwanza has something special to provide. Exploring this hidden gem will depart you with unforgettable memories, a deeper appreciation for Tanzania’s wealthy natural and traditional world. This comes hand in hand with enough experience of tranquility that comes from connecting with the herbal global.
