Bungu in Tanzania
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Map Source:
Anonymous
|
| People Name: | Bungu |
| Country: | Tanzania |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 116,000 |
| World Population: | 116,000 |
| Primary Language: | Bungu |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 80.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Portions |
| Ministry Resources: | No |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | No |
| People Cluster: | Bantu, Central-Tanzania |
| Affinity Bloc: | Sub-Saharan Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Bungu are a Bantu speaking group of people living among the hills, plains, and ridge-like escarpments to the southeast of Lake Rukwa in the Great Rift Valley. Their villages are surrounded by vast expanses of deciduous forest.
The people live in mud brick homes with thatched roofs. Some farm and others fish. The main cash crop is cotton. In the more mountainous villages, they also grow and cure tobacco. For food, they plant rice, corn, millet, and cassava. Many of them also raise goats, cows, pigs, and chickens. The Lake upon which the fishermen depend is reported to be increasing in size, yet becoming more shallow, due to erosion. As a result, the fish are also becoming more scarce. Such work also has its hazards, as the number of crocodiles has been increasing.
The Roman Catholic Church has been in the Bungu area since 1901. Almost all the Bungu are adherents to Christianity in the form of Catholicism, yet to a large degree this is only cultural or nominal. Many still cling to the traditional religion, although most are reluctant to speak of it. Witchcraft is also reported to be widely practiced.