The Sukuma Tribe

Tanzania’s largest tribal group is the Sukuma, a Bantu group of around 5.5 million people that lives in the north of the country and around the southern shores of Lake Victoria. The name “Sukuma” actually means “north” and is used in reference to the “people of the north”. While the majority live in rural areas, some also inhabit cities, particularly Mwanza and Shinyanga where they’ve adapted to modern life.
Traditionally, the Sukuma worshipped the spirits of their ancestors, believing that they contribute to the health of living family members, however, many now practice Christianity. They’re a predominantly matriarchal society, although polygamy is still a standard practice amongst many Sukuma.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
They are from the second largest andsecond most populous continent seven point sixteen trillion
dollars in measurable wealth, one billionpeople, over three thousand tribes, fifty
four sovereign states, one people.This is dear story. These are the

(00:32):
tribes of Africa, the Sokoma tribe. Tanzania's largest tribal group is a Sokuma,

(01:14):
a Bantu group of around five andfive million people that lives in the
north of the country and around thesouthern shores of Lake Victoria. The name
Sokuma actually means north and is useda reference to the people of the north.
While the majority leaving rural areas,some are also inhabited cities, particularly
in Wanza and Shinyanga, who werethey have adapted to modern life. Traditionally,

(01:38):
the Sokurma worshiped the spirits of theancestors, believing that they contributed the
health of leaving family members. However, many now practice Christianity. They are
predominantly Matrageic society, although polygamy isstill a standard practice amongst many Skuma.
Sokuma have a mixed economy based largelyand sub systems agriculture, though many also

(02:01):
keep cattle millet sgoman khan and thestable crops. Cotton was added as a
cash crop in recent times. TheSokuma so are renowned for the use of
plants and animals in traditional medicine,believing that they're more effective than Western medicines.
The Sokuma divided into two distinct groups, the Kimakia and the Kisumayo,

(02:22):
both of which speak the Skuma languageas well as Sahli. They're closely related
to Yamwezi, with whom they leavegeographically close to and share some cultural similarities.
Dancing and singing the important parts ofSokuma culture and celebration