Origins of the name "Massawe"

Basically Massawe has no meaning, but represent the society of pastoralists, traditional healers, agriculturalists etc. There are different sources, some information explains that Massawe were the legal specialists to Mangi (Chief) and they were experts in environments, particularly on rainfalls.

As opposed to other developed nations, Tanzania has more that 100 tribes, reflecting an average of the same number of Mother Languages throughout the nation. However, with the influence of Mwalimu Nyerere, Kiswahili was therefore promoted to unite people from their different tongue as formal medium of communication along with English Language. Massawe are Chagga people; and it is a name of one of the clans in Tanzania, found in the northern part of the country and on the slopes of Mountain Kilimanjaro in the Kilimanjaro region of the country.

Massawe people are now days located in different parts of the country and even in the outside world searching for better lives, serving other people, communities and organizations.

It is believed that, their emigration is due to land tenure system of which small peaces of land they inherit from their parents throughout generations made it difficult for them to remain in their motherland due to land scarcity.

This scenario also affects other clans like Munishi, Chami, Mushi, and Makishe, located in the Kilimanjaro region. It is also believed that when it was raining, and when snows felled on the grounds they were termed as “Massaawe”, reflecting a huge sound developed while snows were felling down.On the same note, as the said community of people were very prosperous, famous and very strong in trade, warfare, intellectuals, animal keepers, and traditional healers; as such, the head of the area (the Mangi) named them Massaawe, reflecting on the powerful voice of snows when felled down!

To date, the term has been shorten from “Massaawe” to “Massawe”, may be because of pronunciation problems or other reasons; studies does not indicate anything on its reality. In the present time, some people whom have happened to like the name, have decided to name their children Massawe, knowing or unknowingly that it was meant to be one of the Clans’ names from northern parts of Tanzania.

For more on the Chagga Tribe of Kilimanjaro

Region visit Alex George Massawe's blog: CLICK HERE