The Nyiha are an ethnic and linguistic group
based in southwestern 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.
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.
The Nyiha are mainly located in Mbozi
District of Mbeya Region.
Geography and Climate: The land where they
live is dry, flat savanna.
Population: 250,000
Cultural Information: Traditionally weavers, iron workers,
hunters, and some own cattle, goats and poultry. The Nyiha grow cash crops of
maize, millet and coffee. There are some big coffee farms in the area which
were operated by foreigners about 50 years ago.
Some of these first coffee farmers translated
agricultural books into the Nyiha language.
Alternate language names: Ishinyiha, Shinyiha,
Nyika, Nyixa, Kinyiha
Language Group Information: There are quite a few Nyiha who have
higher education and see the need of having the language developed. The farmers
are very excited when they hear about the project and can hardly imagine that
there is help available for their mother tongue.
People from many other people groups are now
also living in the traditional Nyiha homeland. This mix of people has
encouraged even faster language change than in other parts of the country.
There are other groups called Nyiha (or Nyika)
in Rukwa Region of Tanzania and in the far north of Malawi, as well as a group
of Nyika on the Zambia-Malawi border, who all originated from the Nyiha of
Mbozi District, Tanzania.
Their languages are now different from the one
in the Mbeya-Iringa Cluster Project, but it may be possible to later adapt
Scriptures from this Tanzanian Nyiha into the other Nyiha and Nyika languages.
History: There are some big coffee farms in
the area, which were operated by foreigners about 50 years ago. Some of these
first coffee farmers translated agricultural books into the Nyiha language.
Early missionaries translated the New
Testament as well, but due to the language having changed a lot during the last
100 years, the current generation does not read or write Nyiha.
The New Testament was published in 1913 and is
no longer available. Several decades ago a group of Nyiha migrated to the
mountains east of Sumbawanga, another south to Malawi around Kameme, and yet
another group farther south to where they still live in the area around
Chisenga, Malawi to Mulakatembo, Zambia.
During a Nyiha dialect survey it was found
that although these peoples see themselves as very much connected to Nyiha of
Mbozi District, Tanzania, their language has changed enough that they will have
some difficulty reading the new Scriptures .
There is a strong desire within these other
Nyiha groups to have the Bible in their language though. The Nyiha in Kameme
even have hand-written copies of the 1913 Nyiha New Testament that they still
use in church!
Origins of Tanzania Nyiha people and their
culture.
Their ethno-linguistic group is most commonly
said to have its origins in western Cameroon, although how it's possible to be
so certain over migrations that date back over four millennia, I really don't
know.
What is certain is that, these People
certainly came from the region of central Africa, from where they and/or their
culture began expanding to other parts of sub-Saharan Africa around 2000 BC.
The cause of these migrations are believed to
have been the result of an increasingly settled agricultural lifestyle:
although needing little land (far less than herding cattle would), land had to
be fertile and well-watered for cultivation to be a viable alternative.
Population pressure in central Africa may
therefore have prompted the first migrations.
Several successive waves of migrations over
the following millennia followed on the tracks of the first.
They were neither planned nor instantaneous,
put took place gradually over hundreds and thousands of years, allowing plenty
of time for these people and their culture to spread and be influenced by other
cultures it came across, either through assimilation or - more rarely, it seems
- conquest.
Traditional Music of Tanzania Nyiha people
Traditionally, music was the most widely
practiced art in their community. At any time of the day or night, some music
was being made. Music was not made for its own sake.
Music was functional. It was used for
ceremonial, religious, political, or incidental purposes.
Music was performed during funerals, to praise
the departed, to console the bereaved, to keep people awake at night, to
express pain and agony, and was also used during cleansing and chasing away of
spirits.
Music was also played during ceremonies like
beer parties ,welcoming back the warriors from a war, during a wrestling match
,during courtship, etc.
Work songs also existed. These were performed
both during communal work like building, weeding, etc. and individual work like
pounding of cereals, or winnowing.
Music was also used for ritual purposes like
chasing away evil spirits who visit the village at night, in rain making, and
during divinations and healing.
Their music was shaped by the total way of
life, lifestyles, and life patterns of individuals of this community.
Because of that, the music had characteristics
which distinguished it from the music of other communities.
This can be seen, heard, and felt in their
melodies, rhythms, mode of presentation and dancing styles, movements, and
formations.
The melodies in their music were lyrical, with
a lot of vocal ornamentations. These ornaments came out clearly, especially
when the music carried an important message.
Their rhythms were characterized by a lot of
syncopation and acrusic beginning. These songs were usually presented in
solo-response style, although some were solo performances.
The most common forms of solo performances
were chants. These chants were recitatives with irregular rhythms and phrases,
which carried serious messages.
Another unique characteristic in their music
is the introduction of yet another chant at the middle of a musical
performance.
The singing stops, the pitch of the musical
instruments go down and the dance becomes less vigorous as an individual takes
up the performance is self praise
Family life and Marriage Customs of Tanzania
Nyiha people.
Marriage was traditionally considered to be
the most significant event in the lives of both men and women.
It was thought inappropriate for anyone to
remain unmarried. Large families ensured adequate numbers of workers.
The system of polygamy (multiple wives)
guaranteed that all people married.
The significance of bride wealth is
increasing, even among educated Africans.
Members of the groom's family initiate a
process of negotiation with the bride's family that may unfold over many years.
Negotiations can be intense, and for this
reason a "go-between," who is neutral to the interests of each
family, is used.
Most Africans believe that divorce cannot
occur after bride wealth has been exchanged and children are born.
Even if separation happens, the couple is
still ideally considered to be married. Failure to have children, however, is
thought to be the fault of the bride and, for this, she will be divorced or
replaced by another wife.
Cattle are the primary item given in bride
wealth. In determining the value of a prospective bride, her family takes into
account her health, appearance, and, nowadays, her level of formal education.
Failure of men to raise a high bride wealth
prompts many of them to propose elopement, a practice that is on the rise
today.
Young people in East Africa still tend to
marry within their own ethnic groups. Tribal elders frequently caution against
"intertribal marriages."
The more distant the ethnic group in space and
customs from the within, the greater the cautionary warnings.
Traditional Dressing and Clothing Etiquette of
Tanzania Nyiha people.
, these people wore minimal clothing. Animal
hides were used to cover private parts, but there was no stigma (shame)
associated with nudity.
Nowadays, clothing styles are largely Western
in origin. They vary according to a person's social class and lifestyle
preferences.
It is not uncommon to see people in remote
rural areas fashionably dressed according to some of the latest tastes.
People in cities tend to wear clothing that is
cosmopolitan by rural standards and similar to the clothing worn in New York or
Paris.
In rural areas, most people dress according to
their work routines.
For example, women wear loose-fitting dresses
made of solid or printed cotton fabric while farming or attending market.
Wearing sandals or going barefoot are typical while working.
Men wear jeans as work pants while farming.
During the rainy season, the roads can become very muddy; consequently, boots
and umbrellas are especially prized by both men and women.
These days, there is a strong market in
second-hand clothing, making slacks, dresses, coats, undergarments, sweaters,
shoes, handbags, belts, and other items available to even poorer families.
These people enjoy dressing up for funerals
and weddings and are considered throughout east Africa to be very fashionable.
Etiquette of Tanzania Nyiha people
Tanzanians are proud of their disciplined
upbringing. The ability to keep control of one's temper and emotions in public
is highly valued.
Young men and women in rural areas are not
supposed to show mutual affection in public in daylight, although this rule is
often broken in urban centers. Boys and men, however, are commonly seen in
public holding hands as a sign of friendship.
I n many rural areas, women are not supposed
to smoke, talk in a raised voice, or cross their legs while sitting or
standing.
Traditionally, elders are honored and
respected by the rest of the community, although youth are increasingly
challenging such customs as arranged marriages.
Although the use of silverware is increasing,
traditional customs prescribe eating all foods, including rice and meat sauces,
with the right hand.
Children who attempt to eat with their left
hands are disciplined appropriately at very early ages.
This custom is related to the perceived
symbolic purity of the right hand, compared to the left hand which is often
used for cleaning after using the toilet.
Traditional Food and Cuisines of Tanzania
Nyiha people.
primary crops are maize (corn), millet, and
sorghum. Coffee, tobacco, cotton, and sugarcane are important cash crops.
Important animals include sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle, which are used
for bride wealth.
Fish from Lakes and their streams are
important, especially talapia. Many foods are purchased, including sugar,
bread, and butter, which are consumed with tea on a daily basis, a custom known
as "tea time" and derived from the British colonial era, which ended
in 1963.
The staple food eaten several times a day is
ugali. This is made from maize meal stirred in boiling water until it becomes a
thick and smooth porridge. Ugali is always eaten with an accompaniment such as
meat or stew.
Greens (sukumawiki) are also frequently eaten
with ugali. Maize, popular throughout Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda is frequently
sold for money.
This has led many families to sell their maize
when financially pressed for money. For this reason, there is a periodic famine
throughout East Africa that occurs every year during the long, dry season prior
to harvest.
Cultural heritage of Tanzania Nyiha people.
These people consider their entire traditional
way of life to be an important community resource.
There is a great deal of disagreement over
what should be preserved and what should change. Customs centering on marriage
and gender relations are hotly debated.
Songs are popular today as in the past.
Musicians praise and lament political, generational, economic, and cultural
contradictions in contemporary life.
Luo devote much time to listening to music,
and regularly purchase records, tapes, and CDs. Christian church music is also
a form of entertainment.
Traditional Employment of Tanzania Nyiha people.
The most notable fact about their economy is
that women play the primary role in farming. Before the introduction of the
modern money economy, the garden was the centerpiece of the women's world of
work.
Industrious women could earn considerable
wealth by exchanging their garden produce for animals, handicrafts, pots, and
baskets.
A young girl is expected to help her mother
and her mother's co-wives in farming land owned by her father, brothers, and
paternal uncles. Even though a girl may go to school and rise to a prominent
position in society, there is often still a strong association with the land
and digging.
Men are preoccupied with livestock and spend a
great deal of time in "social labor" concerned with placing their
cattle in good contexts, such as bride wealth exchanges, trading partnerships,
and commercial sales. In the modern economy, cattle and goats have a monetary
value as well. Men have control over animals and cash crops.
Child Rearing and Education with Tanzania
Nyiha people.
Until the age of five or so for boys, and
until adolescence for girls, children have the most contact with their mothers,
sisters, and other female relatives.
Both boys and girls attend school if the
parents can afford the fees. If there is not sufficient money for both to
attend, the boy is usually favored, and the girl remains home to help her
mother until she gets married and moves away.
Students are supposed to respect their
teachers, and corporal punishment is still practiced in Tanzanian schools
although at a less extent.
Among some ethnic groups, puberty ceremonies
for boys and girls are practiced. Marking the transition to adulthood, such
elaborate ceremonies may involve circumcision of boys and several kinds of
genital surgery on girls.
Unsterile surgical procedures performed on
girls may have severe health consequences.
Higher Education.
As fees for schooling have risen, families are
finding it difficult to send their children to secondary schools.
The wealthy send their older children to
boarding schools both within and outside the country, although they worry that
the materialistic influences of the modern world and lack of family supervision
will negatively influence their children.
Cultural perception on Death and the Afterlife
of Tanzania Nyiha people.
Death is a part of daily life for an African.
In regions hit hard by the AIDS epidemic, families are often not able to afford
the time or resources to follow traditional mourning and burial customs, which
differ by religion and ethnic group.
Among many ethnic groups, the
"ancestors" assume an extremely important role. Ancestor spirits are
remembered through various rituals and are believed to exert me significant
influence on daily life.
For example, at drinking occasions, so people
pour a small libation of beer onto the ground in respect of the ancestors. In
other cases, a small vessel of beer is left in a special location as an
offering to the ancestors.
In still other cases, sacrifices of a chicken
or goat, for example, are made to the ancestors in ceremonies that vary
according to ethnicity.
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