Nyiha people

The Nyiha are an ethnic and linguistic group based in Mbeya Region, Tanzania and northeastern Zambia. In 1993 the Nyiha population was estimated to number 626,000, of which 306,000 were in Tanzania and 320,000 were in Zambia.^[1]

The Nyiha are scattered widely through East Africa but are found mostly in clusters near the corridor of land between lakes Nyasa, Rukwa and Tanganyika, around Mbozi, and in the general area of the Lyagalile district of Ufipa.

Culture

In 1915, the Nyiha consisted of fewer than 10,000 people, but by 1957 their population had risen to over 55,000 people. They were divided into eleven or twelve unrelated chiefdoms, with the chiefs being referred to as Mwene.

The Nyiha had reputations not only as warriors, but also as elephant hunters. Blacksmiths, who had considerable status in the society, created hoes, axes, and knives, and also wire for jewelry and traps. Over the course of time, however, the smiths lost their considerable prestige as iron from Germany became cheaper.

Cotton weaving was common, as was pottery-making by women. Mat- and basket-making, iron-working by the men, and collecting salt from the Lake Rukwa area for barter were all means of their livelihood, although they thought of themselves as being primarily communal hunters. Despite all of these activities, however, their main means of livelihood was the agricultural cultivation of finger millet, facilitated by the slash and burn method.

Notes

References

• Arnold, Bernd; Steuer und Lohnarbeit im Südwesten von Deutsch Ostafrika
• Bauer, Andreus; Emperial Rugaruga ("Raise the Flag of War")
• Becker, Perbandt, Richelmann & Schmidt, Steuber. Hermann von Wissmann, Deutschlands Grösster Africaner
• Brock, Beverly; The Nyiha of Mbozi
• Willis, Roy G.; The Fipa and Related Peoples
• Weule, Karl; Deutsches Kolonial Lexicon, Band IIIs. 673

Ethnic groups in Tanzania
Akie Akiek Alagwa Arusha Asa Barabaig Bembe Bena Bende Bondei Bungu Burunge Chaga Datooga Dhaiso Doe Fipa Gogo Gorowa Ha Hadza Hangaza Haya Hehe Hutu Ikizu Ikoma Iramba Iraqw Isanzu Jiji Jita Kabwa Kagura Kaguru Kami Kara Kerewe Kimbu Kinga Kisankasa Kisi Koningo Konongo Kuria Kutu Kw'adza Kwavi Kwaya Kwere Kwifa Lambya Luguru Lungu Luo Machinga Magoma Makonde Makua Makwe Malila Mambwe Manda Manyema Maasai Matengo Matumbi Maviha Mbugwe Mbunga Mpoto Mwanga Mwera Ndali Ndamba Ndendeule Ndengereko Ndonde Nena Ngasa Ngindo Ngoni Ngulu Ngurimi Nindi Nyakyusa Nyamwezi Nyanyembe Nyasa Nyiha Okiek Pare Rangi Rufiji Rungwa Rwa Safwa Sagara Sandawe Sangu Segeju Shambaa Shirazi Shubi Sizaki Sonjo Suba Sumbwa Sukuma Swahili Taveta Tongwe Tumbuka Turu Vidunda Vinza Wahinda Wameru Wanda Wanji Ware White Tanzanians Yao Zanaki Zaramo Zinza Zyoba

Ethnic groups in Zambia
Bemba Bwile Chewa Chokwe Ishindi-Lunda Kafwe Twa Kanongesha-Lunda Kunda Lamba Lambya Lovale Lozi Lukanga Twa Lunda Lungu Mambwe Mbunda Mwanga Ndwandwe Ngoni Nkoya Nsenga Nyiha Senga Subiya Tokaleya Tonga Tumbuka White Zambians Yombe