Mafia Island or Chole Shamba is an island of The Mafia Archipelago located in Mafia District in the southern Pwani Region of Tanzania across the Mafia Channel. The island is the third largest in Tanzanian ocean territory, but is not administratively included within the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, which has been politically separate since 1890. Mafia Island forms the largest part of Mafia District, one of the six administrative districts in the Pwani Region. As the Mafia Archipelago's main island, it's sometimes called Chole Shamba, meaning Chole farmlands in Swahili. This is in opposition to the historic settlement of Chole Mjini on Chole Island inside Mafia Bay. The island's population is over 65,000. The economy is based on fishing, subsistence agriculture and the market in Kilindoni. The island attracts some tourists, mainly scuba divers, birdwatchers, game fishermen, and people seeking relaxation.
Matuumbi, also known as Kimatuumbi and Kimatumbi, is a language spoken in Tanzania in the Kipatimu region of the Kilwa District, south of the Rufiji river. It is a Bantu language, P13 in Guthrie's classification. Kimatuumbi is closely related to the Ngindo, Rufiji and Ndengereko languages. It is spoken by about 70,000 people, according to the Ethnologue.
Kilwa Kisiwani is an island, national historic site, and hamlet community located in the township of Kilwa Masoko, the district seat of Kilwa District in the Tanzanian region of Lindi in southern Tanzania. Kilwa Kisiwani is the largest of the nine hamlets in the town of Kilwa Masoko and is also the least populated hamlet in the township with fewer than 1,000 residents.
Rufiji is one of the six districts of the Pwani Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by the Kisarawe and Mkuranga Districts, to the east by the Indian Ocean, to the south by the Kilwa District, Lindi Region and to the west by the Morogoro Region. The district capital is the town of Utete on the southern banks of the Rufiji River.
Kilwa District is one of six administrative districts of Lindi Region in Tanzania. The District covers an area of 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of the nation state of East Timor. Kilwa district is bordered to the north by Rufiji District in Pwani Region, to the east by the Indian Ocean, to the south by the Lindi District, Nachingwea District together with Ruangwa District, and to the west by the Liwale District. The district borders every other district in Lindi Region except Lindi Municipal District. The district seat (capital) is the town of Kilwa Masoko. The district is named after the medieval Swahili city state of Kilwa Kisiwani. According to the 2012 census, the district has a total population of 190,744. By 2022, the population had increased to 297,676.
Pwani Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The word "Pwani" in Swahili means the "coast". The regional capital is the town of Kibaha. The Region borders the Tanga Region to the north, Morogoro Region to the west, Lindi Region to the south, and surrounds Dar es Salaam Region to the east. The Indian Ocean also borders the region to its northeast and southeast. The region is home to Mafia Island, the Rufiji delta and Saadani National Park. The region is home to Bagamoyo town, a historical Swahili settlement, and the first colonial capital of German East Africa. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,098,668, which was slightly lower than the pre-census projection of 1,110,917. From 2002 to 2012, the region's 2.2 percent average annual population growth rate was the seventeenth-highest in the country. It was also the 21st most densely populated region with 34 people per square kilometre., According to the 2022 census the population had nearly doubled to 2,024,947. the region is slightly larger than Belgium.
Lindi Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 66,040 km2 (25,500 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Sri Lanka. The regional capital is the municipality of Lindi.
The Ndengereko are an ethnic and linguistic group from southern Pwani Region, Tanzania. Their homeland is north of the Rufiji River in parts of Mkuranga, Kisarawe and Rufiji Districts. In 2000 the Ndengereko population was estimated to number 110,000.
The Machinga are a Bantu ethnic and linguistic group native to Kilwa District of Lindi Region on the southern Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania. In 1987 the Machinga population was estimated to be 36,000 people.
Kinjikitile "Bokero" Ngwale was a Tanzanian spiritual medium and a leader of the 1905–1907 Maji Maji Rebellion against colonial rule in German East Africa.
The administrative divisions of Tanzania are controlled by Part I, Article 2.2 of the Constitution of Tanzania. Tanzania is divided into thirty-one regions. Each region is subdivided into districts. The districts are sub-divided into divisions and further into local wards. Wards are further subdivided for management purposes: for urban wards into streets and for rural wards into villages. The villages may be further subdivided into hamlets.
Ndengereko, also known as Rufiji after the local river, is a Bantu language of the Matumbi hills, near Kibiti, and near Mchukivi and Bungu, Tanzania.
Mafia District Council is one of eight administrative districts of Pwani Region in Tanzania. It administers not only the main Mafia Island but the entire Mafia Archipelago. The District covers an area of 642.6 km2 (248.1 sq mi). The Sea of Zanj completely encircles the District. Rufiji District is located on the other side of the Mafia Channel to the west. The district is comparable in size to the land area of Saint Lucia. The town of Kilindoni serves as its administrative capital. The District is home to the largest concentration of Whale Sharks in Africa, Mafia Island Marine Park, Historic Chole Island Ruins, Kisimani Mafia and Kua Ruins; and Mlola Forest Reserve. According to the 2012 Tanzania National Census, the population of the District was 46,438.
Songo Songo Island, or sometimes spelled Songosongo Island, is a coral island in the Songosongo Archipelago. The island is governed by the Songosongo ward in Kilwa District of Lindi Region in Tanzania's Indian ocean coast. It is served by the Songo Songo Airstrip. The island's native inhabitants are the Matumbi people.
Songosongo is an administrative ward in Kilwa District of Lindi Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 8.5 km2 (3.3 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 11 m (36 ft). According to the 2012 census, the ward has a total population of 3,056. The ward administers the whole archipelago of the Songosongo Islands, which are composed of 22 coral reefs and 4 coral islands; Songo Songo Island, Fanjove Island, Nyuni Island and Okuza Island. The islands ward's native inhabitants are the Matumbi people. The archipelago is composed of 21 coral reefs including the 4 islands. The ward seat is Songosongo village. In addition there are four hamlets on the islands; Pembeni, Makondeni, Msitumani and Funguni.
Fanjove Island is a coral island in the Songosongo Archipelago. The island is governed by the Songosongo ward in Kilwa District of Lindi Region in Tanzania's Indian ocean coast. The island is a geographically part of the Songosongo Islands archipelago which is composed of 22 reefs and 4 islands. The other three islands in the archipelago are Songo Songo, Nyuni Island and Okuza Island. The is land is originally been uninhabited, thus it has been leased to a luxury hotelier by the Tanzanian government. On January 12, 2000, 11 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin that had become live-stranded on Fanjove Island were reported as having been refloated and released.
Nyuni Island is a coral island in the Songosongo Archipelago. The island is governed by the Songosongo ward in Kilwa District of Lindi Region in Tanzania's Indian ocean coast. Geographically, the island is part of the Songosongo Islands archipelago which is composed of 22 reefs and 4 islands. The other three islands are Songo Songo, Fanjove Island and Okuza Island. Nyuni island has an elevation of 14m and is under the national natural gas exploration and extraction initiative.
Nan'goma Cave is a cave system located in Kipatimu and Kibata ward of Kilwa District in Lindi Region of Tanzania.
The Matumbi Highlands or Matumbi Hills is a major highland of southern Tanzania, extending from southern Pwani Region to northern Kilwa District of Lindi Region. The Matumbi highlands are named after the peoples that were the original inhabitants of the area, the Matumbi people. The average elevation of the highlands is 442m. The highlands are located in Kibata, Kipatimu, Chumo, Kinjumbi and Mingumbi wards of Kilwa District. In Pwani Region the highlands are found in Mbwara and Chumbi wards. The highlands are the location of Nan'goma Cave system.
Chole Island or Chole Mjini Island is an island of the Mafia Archipelago located in Jibondo ward of Mafia District in southern Pwani Region of Tanzania. A fossil coral reef that was uncovered at the conclusion of the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago, served as the foundation for the 2.26 km2 island of Chole. It has been a part of the Mafia Island Marine Park for a very long time.
Tanzania 