Kamuku

The Kamuku are an ethnic group located primarily in northwestern Tanzania, particularly within the area of Mwanza and Matongo wards in the Ushetu District. They are part of the broader Umbwe linguistic grouping of the Cushitic-speaking peoples of East Africa. Approximately 50,000 to 60,000 speakers of the Kamuku language are estimated to reside in this region, though census figures may understate their true number because of intermarriage and migration into urban centers.

The Kamuku language belongs to the Southern Cushitic branch and is closely related to languages such as Mbugu and Makua. It is a tonal language and employs a noun class system typical of Cushitic languages. Several dialects exist within Kamuku communities, reflecting historical settlement patterns along the Bongo Mountains and surrounding plains. In recent years there has been a movement to standardise the writing system, adopting the Latin alphabet supplemented by diacritics that indicate tone and vowel length, although literacy remains low among younger members of the community.

Traditionally, the Kamuku have organised themselves into clans led by a kepala (chief) and his council of elders. Their socio-economic system is based on agropastoralism; they farm millet, maize and sorghum while also keeping cattle, goats and sheep for both subsistence and as sources of wealth. Ritual practices often involve elaborate incantations and the worship of ancestral spirits, who are believed to influence harvesting and health.

Between the 1970s and 1990s Kamuku communities experienced significant pressures from modernization and land reforms. Many members migrated to nearby municipalities, bringing with them a blending of modern education and technology while retaining customary governance structures. The century‑old traditions are now being documented by anthropologists and linguists who aim to preserve Kamuku cultural heritage and ensure that younger generations maintain linguistic fluency.