Ha (ethnic group)
Encyclopedia
The Ha, also called Waha (singular Muha), are an ethnic and linguistic group based in Kigoma Region
in western Tanzania
, an area they have traditionally called Buha. In 2001 the Ha population was estimated to number 990,000. Their language is Ha
, also called Kiha or Giha, and is closely related to the Kirundi
and Kinyarwanda spoken in neighbouring Burundi
and Rwanda
. Traditionally they have been farmers and cattle keepers, but the tse tse fly has made cattle keeping impossible in the northern parts of their territories, so hunting and honey gathering has had great importance there. In later years, many men from the Ha people have wandered to the Tanzanian coastline to work at sisal
plantations there. Cattle have traditionally played an important role in Ha culture, being exchanged at weddings and so forth.
Kigoma Region
Kigoma is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Kigoma. It is bordered to the North by the Kagera Region, to the East by the Shinyanga and Tabora Regions, to the South by the Rukwa Region, to the West by Lake Tanganyika which forms a border with the Democratic...
in western Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, an area they have traditionally called Buha. In 2001 the Ha population was estimated to number 990,000. Their language is Ha
Ha language
Ha, also known with the Bantu language prefix as Giha, Ikiha, or Kiha, is a Bantu language spoken by the Ha people of the Kigoma region of Tanzania which is closely related to the languages of Rwanda and Burundi; neighboring dialects are mutually intelligible with Kirundi.-External links:* * *...
, also called Kiha or Giha, and is closely related to the Kirundi
Kirundi
Kirundi, also known as Rundi, is a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language spoken by some 8.7 million people in Burundi and adjacent parts of Tanzania and Congo-Kinshasa, as well as in Uganda. It is the official language of Burundi...
and Kinyarwanda spoken in neighbouring Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. Traditionally they have been farmers and cattle keepers, but the tse tse fly has made cattle keeping impossible in the northern parts of their territories, so hunting and honey gathering has had great importance there. In later years, many men from the Ha people have wandered to the Tanzanian coastline to work at sisal
Sisal
Sisal is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context...
plantations there. Cattle have traditionally played an important role in Ha culture, being exchanged at weddings and so forth.