Shambaa people
Wasambaa | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 664,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Tanzania
| |
| Languages | |
| Shambaa and Swahili | |
| Religion | |
| Majority Islam, Minority Christianity and African Traditional Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bondei, Zigua, Digo, Shiraz and other peoples |
| Person | Msambaa |
|---|---|
| People | Wasambaa |
| Language | Kisambaa |
The Shambaa people, also called the Sambaa, Shambala, Sambala or Sambara (Wasambaa, in Swahili), are an ethnic group. The Sambaa people are related to the Bondei people. Their ancestral home is on the Usambara Mountains of Lushoto District, Korogwe District and Bumbuli District. They are native to the valleys and eastern Usambara Mountains of Korogwe District, Korogwe Urban District and western Muheza District of northern Tanga Region of Tanzania. The word Shamba means "farm", and these people live in one of the most fertile Tanzanian regions. Shambaai in Kisambaa means "where the banana's thrive". In 2001, the Shambaa population was estimated to number 664,000.