Fieldsite in Tanzania

Location

There are two fieldsites within Tanzania:

1. Lindi Region, Nachingwea District, Kilima Rondo Ward
The Rondo Plateau is located in Southern Tanzania on the main road between the coastal town of Lindi and the District center town of Nachingwea. The fieldwork would be at the St. Cyprian’s Theological College, Rondo Plateau.There are seminarians at different stages of training, with their wives and children, and three members of staff. There is also a Junior Seminary on the same site following a secondary school syllabus. They have their own headmaster with four other teachers. Altogether there are over one hundred people living on the campus.

2. Mtwara Region, Masasi District, Masasi Ward
Masasi is located in Southern Tanzania just north of the Revuma river and west of the coastal town of Mtwara.

Population

Kilima Rondo – approximately 3,878
Masasi – approximately 440,987

Language

Swahili is the official language of Tanzania. English is the second official language and the Tanzania's commercial language as well as the main teaching language for all scientific subjects in secondary schools and higher education institutions. Arabic is widely spoken in the coastal areas, particularly in Zanzibar.

Group Identity / Ethnicity

Masasi District's main tribe is the Makua which may have come already in the 15th century. The natives of Masasi migrated from Mozambique, entire clans with their chiefs and clan governments.

Economic Activities

Production of cassava, sorghum and maize, pigeon peas, cowpeas, bambara nuts, and beans, groundnuts, sesame, simsim, sunflower, castor bean, coconut and oil palm. However cashew is the only major cash crop contributing to the District economy. Masasi District produces 29% of the total cashew nut production of Mtwara Region. There is a small but thriving palm cross industry in Masasi Town that exports palm crosses internationally.

Education

2 years of pre-primary education, 7 years of primary education, 4 years of junior secondary (compulsory to this point), 2 years of senior secondary, and up to 3 or more years of higher education.

Religion

According to some sources about 40-45% of the population practice Christianity, about 35-40% practice Islam. The rest follow traditional beliefs, most of which centre around ancestor worship. This is misleading, as it is many other African countries, because often being a Christian or Muslim is not exclusive which results in a sort of blending of traditions. The divide between Christian and Muslim groups is largely geographic. Most Christians live on the mainland, where missionary stations and schools reach deep into the continent. Islam is the major religion of the coastal areas but is also practiced further inland along the old caravan routes. In Lindi and Mtwara regions this distinction applies. Mtwara is a Muslim center while the Diocese of Masasi which encompasses both regions is centered in the inland town of Masasi.

Health Care

There are a total of 58 health facilities in the District of which 45 are government institutions, 10 are run by voluntary agencies, and 3 are private. In addition to Mkomaindo District Hospital there is also a Mission Hospital at Ndanda about 25 miles from Masasi Town.