The socio-economic system of Wakwere : an ethnographic of matrilineal people of central Eastern Tanzania

This thesis provides ethnographic data on the Wakwere, a matrilineal ethnic group of central eastern Tanzania. It briefly examines the social and economic systems of this society from about AD 1900 1975. This thesis is an ethnographic study of the Wakwere people which involves the close examination of both the forms and the development of their societal organization. This has been done by looking into the details of some aspects of their history, social system, economic structure, the life cycle and their religious beliefs. Information contained in this thesis was derived from both written sources and field work. The field work was carried out for eight months between 15 September, 1974 and 31 January, 1976. A core of 15 informants were repeatedly interviewed to establish the authenticity of their stories, and notes or recordings were made to that effect. Kiswahili was mainly used in the interviews. The Wakwere are very interrelated to the Wazaramo, Wadoe, Waluguru, Wakutu and Wazigua peoples. Their clan histories show that at leant the core ethnic group of the Wakwere was present in Ukwere by 1600 AD. They are a decentralized matrilineal society. The present level of socio-economic development of the Wakwere is associated with the realities of the harsh environment of Ukwere. The perennial problem is that nemesis of insufficient rains and shortage of water. Around this problems naturally hinge a large number of other developmental bottlenecks. The religious system of Wakwere was examined against the assumption that “most of the East Africa Bantu have ancestor-cults associated with beliefs in a Supreme Being, the latter some what vague among some people….” This work reveled that Wakwere have ancestor cults which are not associated with beliefs in a supreme being, one God or a High God.