Nyumbanitu
Nyumbanitu is a forest near the village of Mlevela, Mdandu ward in Wanging'ombe district of Tanzania's Njombe Region. It is at a distance of 15 km (9.3 mi) from Njombe Town.
It is notable as one of only three habitats for the rare Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis)[1] and important site for the mythology for the local Bena people.[2]
The caves inside the forest served as a hiding places during wars between the local Bena and their Hehe neighbours during the 19th century and also during the Maji-Maji uprising against German rule in 1905–1906.[3]
Until now it is used for worship and sacrifice by traditionalists.[4]
A number of legends is connected to the forest.
Footnotes[edit]
- ^ Xenoperdix udzungwensis, IUCN redlist, lookup April 2018
- ^ Stanley Elias, Inside Nyumbanitu
- ^ Stanley Elias, Inside Nyumbanitu
- ^ Tumaini Msowoya, Msitu wa Nyumbanitu
References[edit]
- Msitu wa Nyumbanitu wenye simulizi za Maajabu, Tumaini Msowoya in Mwananchi newspaper, 29 August 2016, lookup April 2018
- Xenoperdix udzungwensis, IUCN redlist, lookup April 2018]
- Stanley Elias, Inside Nyumbanitu: Reinterpretation of forest embedded folklores of Wabena in Njombe; published in: Journal of humanities and cultures studies, Vol.3, No.1, 22 January 2018 (NYUMBANITU TRADITIONAL FOREST REINTERPRETATION OF FOREST EMBEDDED FOLKLORES OF WABENA IN NJOMBE)