Bungu in Tanzania

People Name:	Bungu
Country:	Tanzania
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	113,000
World Population:	113,000
Primary Language:	Bungu
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	80.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Portions
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	Bantu, Central-Tanzania
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

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.