Ndamba
Encyclopedia
The Ndamba is an ethnic
and linguistic group based in south-central Tanzania
whose population was 79,000 in 1987. It is found in South Central, the Iringa Region
, northeast of Bena, southeast of Hehe, west of Pogolo and southwest of Mbunga.
similarity of 69% with Mbunga and 56% with Pogolo. Speakers also use Swahili
. Although it has been reported that Ndamba and Mbunga are two different tribes, the reality is that they are one tribe and the difference between them is purely dialetic. All three are Rufiji–Ruvuma languages
of the Bantu family.
In recent years some Ndambas have volunteered to write a dictionary
on Chindamba. The first standard Ndamba Dictionary was written by Agathon Kipandula in 2008. The writer is a language researcher who is an employee of the Bank of Tanzania
.
, Msagati, Chisano, Chita, Merera, Malinyi, Igawa, Ngombo, Mchombe, Mngeta, Lwipa, Mbingu, Mofu, and other parts of Kilombero
and Ulanga
district areas, and derived from Pogoro. A small group, it was initiated by its own chief and spread through the southern part of the Morogoro Region
. Their first Chief was known as Mbuyi Undole I who also registered the tribe in the Government registered as a tribe in 1901
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
and linguistic group based in south-central 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...
whose population was 79,000 in 1987. It is found in South Central, the Iringa Region
Iringa Region
Iringa is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Iringa. The total area is , of which land area is 56,864 km sq and water area is 2,070 km² ....
, northeast of Bena, southeast of Hehe, west of Pogolo and southwest of Mbunga.
Language
The Chindamba language has a lexicalLexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
similarity of 69% with Mbunga and 56% with Pogolo. Speakers also use Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
. Although it has been reported that Ndamba and Mbunga are two different tribes, the reality is that they are one tribe and the difference between them is purely dialetic. All three are Rufiji–Ruvuma languages
Rufiji–Ruvuma languages
The Rufiji–Ruvuma languages are a group of Bantu languages established by Gloria Waite and subsequent researchers: N10 , P10 , P20.The languages, or clusters, along with their Guthrie identifications are:...
of the Bantu family.
In recent years some Ndambas have volunteered to write a dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
on Chindamba. The first standard Ndamba Dictionary was written by Agathon Kipandula in 2008. The writer is a language researcher who is an employee of the Bank of Tanzania
Bank of Tanzania
The Bank of Tanzania is the central bank of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is responsible for issuing the national currency, the Tanzanian shilling....
.
Origin
The tribe is based in MlimbaMlimba
- Transport :Mlimba is served by a station on the Tanzania Railways Corporation. At the station the line leaves the plains and enters mountainous territory.A proposed railway junctions off at this station according to Railway Gazette International....
, Msagati, Chisano, Chita, Merera, Malinyi, Igawa, Ngombo, Mchombe, Mngeta, Lwipa, Mbingu, Mofu, and other parts of Kilombero
Kilombero
Kilombero is the name of a river and a district in Morogoro Region, south-western Tanzania.The district is situated in a vast floodplain, between the Kilombero river in the south-east and the Udzungwa-Mountains in the north-west...
and Ulanga
Ulanga
Ulanga is the name of a river and one of the 6 districts of the Morogoro Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North and West by the Kilombero District, to the East by the Lindi Region and to the South by the Ruvuma Region....
district areas, and derived from Pogoro. A small group, it was initiated by its own chief and spread through the southern part of the Morogoro Region
Morogoro Region
Morogoro Region is one of the regions of Tanzania. Its capital is Morogoro. It is bordered to the North by the Tanga Region, to the East by the Pwani and Lindi Regions, to the South by the Ruvuma Region and to the West by the Iringa and Dodoma Regions....
. Their first Chief was known as Mbuyi Undole I who also registered the tribe in the Government registered as a tribe in 1901