Datoga

Datoga, also spelled Datogo or Datooga, are an ethnic group in Tanzania. They live mainly in the north-central part of the country, in the Rift Valley region around Lake Eyasi and in parts of Manyara and Arusha Regions. Estimates of population vary, but they number in the tens of thousands.

Datoga livelihoods are traditionally pastoralist and agricultural. Cattle, goats, and sheep are kept, and crops such as sorghum and maize are cultivated in good years. A distinctive Datoga craft is ironworking; skilled smiths produce tools, weapons, and household items, and some smiths engage in trade with neighboring communities.

Social life centers on kin-based clans and age-set systems that govern rites of passage, marriage, and daily responsibilities. Men commonly undertake seasonal herd movements and may travel long distances as part of pastoral work, while women manage the household and food preparation.

Datoga communities have long interacted with neighboring groups, notably the Maasai, and exchange goods, marriages, and cultural influences. The Datoga traditionally practiced their own belief system, but today many are Christian or Muslim, often alongside traditional practices.

Like many rural groups in Tanzania, the Datoga face contemporary challenges such as land pressures, access to education, and changes in pastoral livelihoods. Despite these changes, Datoga culture—particularly music, beadwork, and ironwork—remains a defining aspect of their identity for many communities and is visible in regional cultural tourism.