Matengo Highlands
Encyclopedia
The Matengo Highlands are located in the western part of the mountainous area of Mbinga District
, Ruvuma Region
in southern Tanzania
. They are home to the Matengo people. Kindimba
is the historical center of the highlands. It is located on highland's western side, approximately 15 km west of Mbinga. Its subvillages include Kindimba, Kitanda (or Kitunda), Mkanya, Mutugu, Ndembo, Torongi, Walarzi (or Waranzi). In 2006, the total Kindimba population was 2440. Other towns and villages include Litembo
and Lipumba
.
. There are steep slopes starting at 1300 m (4,265.1 ft).
The annual temperature averages 18 °C. The rainy season runs from November through May. Average rainfall is approximately 1000 mm, though it may have ranged from 1500–1700 mm in some years. Mbamba Bay
lies at the foot of the highlands.
Along with the Livingstone Mountains, the Matengo Highlands act as catchments of Lake Nyasa
.
unit (kilau) is retained only for the purpose of naming the family siblings. The present administrative set up in the villages of the Matengo Highland now consists of a “Village Chairman” with a complement of members to administer the village under the control of the local government authorities and the central government.
, with the Matengo constituting 60 % of the population with a population density of 34 people/km², as of 2000. The pit cultivation practice is a unique farming system on the highlands' steep slopes referred to as ngolo. Under this system of cultivation, the local community has benefited with increased agricultural production. The system has also promoted environmental sustainability. Under this practice, tied ridges are created in the agricultural fields for in-situ composting, which also enables run off retention in the pits between the ridges. The pits are generally about a yard in diameter and a foot deep. Composting is created in the pits by mixing the loosened soil with cut grass, and then plant seeds in the light. These also help in stabilizing the soil in the hill slopes and mixing in grass and old plants enriches it. It is reported that the yield from this practice is generally better than the traditional flat land cultivation practice, and this trend continues over a long period. However, the limiting factors noted in this practice are non availability of labour force to work on the fields and inadequate supply of composting fertilizers. This practice developed since the 18th century has also been acclaimed as an effective soil conservation measure. This cultivation practice usually starts in March following the rainy season. However, specifically in the Matnego Highlands, where the Matengo population density was reported to be 120/km², there was pressure on land use which has resulted in people migrating from the highlands to the woodlands in the northeastern region for cultivation.
trees, dominated by Caesalpinioideae
. The indigenous vegetation is primarily evergreen montane
forest.
Coffee was introduced to the highlands in 1926. Coffea arabica
from the Kilimanjaro Region
was introduced to the region and its cultivation spread to the highlands; and it is the major cash crop in the highlands.
Mbinga
Mbinga is one of the 5 districts of the Ruvuma Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Iringa Region, to the East by the Songea Rural and Songea Urban Districts, to the South by Mozambique and to the West by Lake Nyasa....
, Ruvuma Region
Ruvuma Region
Ruvuma is a region in Tanzania. It is named after the Ruvuma River which forms most of its southern boundary with Mozambique. It is also bordered to the North by the Morogoro Region, to the Northeast by the Lindi Region, to the East by the Mtwara Region and to the Northwest by the Iringa Region. ...
in southern Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. They are home to the Matengo people. Kindimba
Kindimba
Kindimba is a village in Mbinga district in the Iringa Region of the Tanzanian Southern Highlands.It is the historical centre of the Matengo Highlands and of the Matengo people. It is located on highland's western side, approximately 15 km west of Mbinga.In 2006, the total Kindimba population was...
is the historical center of the highlands. It is located on highland's western side, approximately 15 km west of Mbinga. Its subvillages include Kindimba, Kitanda (or Kitunda), Mkanya, Mutugu, Ndembo, Torongi, Walarzi (or Waranzi). In 2006, the total Kindimba population was 2440. Other towns and villages include Litembo
Litembo
Litembo is a village in Mbinga district in the Iringa Region of the Tanzanian Southern Highlands. It is located in the Matengo Highlands and is inhabited by the Matengo people.Litembo is located to the southwest of the town of Mbinga.It contains the Litembo Diocesan Hospital.-Hiostory:The Matengo...
and Lipumba
Lipumba
Lipumba is a village in Mbinga district in the Iringa Region of the Tanzanian Southern Highlands. It is located in the Matengo Highlands and is inhabited by the Matengo people.Lipumba is located to the northeast of the town of Mbinga and lies off the A19 road which connects it to Songea in the...
.
Geography
Mbinga District covers an area of 11396 km² (4,400 sq mi), about 18% of the land area of the Ruvuma Region and about 1% of the land mass of Tanzania. The elevation in the highlands ranges from 900 m (2,952.8 ft) to 2000 m (6,561.7 ft) above sea levelAbove mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. There are steep slopes starting at 1300 m (4,265.1 ft).
The annual temperature averages 18 °C. The rainy season runs from November through May. Average rainfall is approximately 1000 mm, though it may have ranged from 1500–1700 mm in some years. Mbamba Bay
Mbamba Bay
Mbamba Bay is a town in western Tanzania, lying on the eastern shore of Lake Malawi. Elevation 471m.- Port :Mbamba Bay has an indentation in the otherwise straight profile of the lake and may be a potential port.- Transport :...
lies at the foot of the highlands.
Along with the Livingstone Mountains, the Matengo Highlands act as catchments of Lake Nyasa
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
.
Administration
The “Socio geographic units” of the Matengo originally consisted of a political organization, which was “non-hierarchical, comprising a collectivity of sovereign matrilineal groups of equivalent status and diverse origins. Each such patrilineal group (kilau) represented the descendants of a common grandfather, who during his life time had been the unquestioned leader (matukolu or bambo) of the group.” Thus, the socio-political set up in the village consisted of a headman and elders. However, after the Ngonis' invaded Matengo territory, the Matengos' political hierarchy also evolved into an administrative system comprising a paramount chief followed by three chiefs, senior headman and two levels of headman, in the descending order of their importance in the hierarchy. During the colonial administration, this set up was strengthened. However, subsequent to independence of Tanzania in 1961, the patronymicPatronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
unit (kilau) is retained only for the purpose of naming the family siblings. The present administrative set up in the villages of the Matengo Highland now consists of a “Village Chairman” with a complement of members to administer the village under the control of the local government authorities and the central government.
Agricultural practice
Matengo Highlands (an evergreen montane forest) has a unique system of cultivation known as the “pit cultivation system” also called the “Ngara System” practiced by the local Matengo ethnic group in Mbinga district; other three ethnic groups in the district comprise the Ngoni, the Manda and NyasaNyasa
Nyasa, also spelled Nyassa or Niassa, is a common word for "lake" in the languages spoken around what is now known as Lake Malawi. In the colonial period that lake was called Lake Nyasa and Malawi was named Nyasaland....
, with the Matengo constituting 60 % of the population with a population density of 34 people/km², as of 2000. The pit cultivation practice is a unique farming system on the highlands' steep slopes referred to as ngolo. Under this system of cultivation, the local community has benefited with increased agricultural production. The system has also promoted environmental sustainability. Under this practice, tied ridges are created in the agricultural fields for in-situ composting, which also enables run off retention in the pits between the ridges. The pits are generally about a yard in diameter and a foot deep. Composting is created in the pits by mixing the loosened soil with cut grass, and then plant seeds in the light. These also help in stabilizing the soil in the hill slopes and mixing in grass and old plants enriches it. It is reported that the yield from this practice is generally better than the traditional flat land cultivation practice, and this trend continues over a long period. However, the limiting factors noted in this practice are non availability of labour force to work on the fields and inadequate supply of composting fertilizers. This practice developed since the 18th century has also been acclaimed as an effective soil conservation measure. This cultivation practice usually starts in March following the rainy season. However, specifically in the Matnego Highlands, where the Matengo population density was reported to be 120/km², there was pressure on land use which has resulted in people migrating from the highlands to the woodlands in the northeastern region for cultivation.
Flora and fauna
Elevations lower than 1400 m (4,593.2 ft) are characterized by open woodlands of miomboMiombo
Miombo is the Swahili word for Brachystegia, a genus of tree comprising a large number of species. Miombo woodland is classified in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome...
trees, dominated by Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Its name is formed from the generic name Caesalpinia....
. The indigenous vegetation is primarily evergreen montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forest.
Coffee was introduced to the highlands in 1926. Coffea arabica
Coffea arabica
Coffea arabica is a species of Coffea originally indigenous to the mountains of Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, hence its name, and also from the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee"...
from the Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro is one of the 26 regions in Tanzania. The capital of the region is Moshi. Kilimanjaro region is home to Mount Kilimanjaro.Kilimanjaro Region is bordered to the North and East by Kenya, to the South by the Tanga Region, to the Southwest by the Manyara Region, and to the West by the...
was introduced to the region and its cultivation spread to the highlands; and it is the major cash crop in the highlands.