The Mambwe People

Population, Background, and Language

Living in between the countries of Tanzania and Zambia, the Mambwe people have a population of a little less than 300,000 people. Since they live along a junction of routes, Mambwe people have been exposed to many different forms of culture, especially trade.
This is partially due to British law including them into a "world-wide economic and political system." (http://dice.missouri.edu/docs/niger-congo/Mambwe.pdf) Their tribe has since been referred to by 'Westerners' as not true people but instead a collection of run-away slaves.They are also often grouped and known as "Bemba" which is a near by tribe.

History of the Mambwe include long lasting disputes and wars with the Bemba. Bemba have raided, started wars, and made slaves of the Mamwe people. They have considered the Lungu, who share their western border, an ally against the Bemba. In fact, the Mambwe and Lungu people share a common language, although their are many dialects spoken. Their language is commonly referred to by geographic location. If spoken by Mambwe and Lungu people it's called Mambwe-Lungu. Likewise, if spoken by the Fipa, it's known as Fipa-Mambwe.

Marriage and Kinship

In Mambwe families, if the parents of a man have not pre-arranged a marriage for him, he will seek a wife himself. Interestingly, though, marriages can also be formed when two individuals are attracted to each other.
The man uses a friend called a 'love messenger' who goes to the girl's parents with a gift and tries arranging the marriage, but the decision cannot be immediately made. The parents must discuss it with Uncles and Aunts, for the families thrive together as a larger extended unit.

The Mambwe people have a system of distinguishing  males and females by their last names: Males have last names starting with the letters "Si" and females have last names starting with the letters "Na".

Gender Roles

The Mambwe men are involved in a system of migrant labor. Although their primary source of sustenance is agricultural, active men are now accustomed to going out and looking for work by European accounts in mines or other fields. Women who display such independence (to seek work) are considered immoral in their community. If a married woman wants to go into town she must carry with her a marriage license. There are times when women look for husbands in town so that they are not bound to just the fields.



Nutrition and Diet

The Mambwe diet consists mainly of carbohydrates and protein.The primary crops of the Mambwe people are corn (maize), millet, sorghum,sweet potatoes,pumpkin, and bananas. While coffee, tobacco, cotton, and sugarcane are their main cash crops. The people also use sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle for bride wealth. A staple food in the Mambwe diet is ugali. It is eaten several times a day, and is made from maize meal stirred in boiling water until it becomes a thick and smooth porridge; it is typically consume with green vegetables such as Okra. Another staple in the Mambwe diet is the finger millet which is also made into porridge. This millet is prepared by the women who grind it into a flour and then it is eaten hot.They buy sugars, bread, and butter to eat with their tea (known as "tea time").