DATOOGA OF TANZANIA

Population: 132-150,000
Location: In approximately six locations but AIM International . will start work in the area off the Musoma-Mwanza road near Mugeta

Datooga is the name of the larger group of which the Barabaig and Taturu are part. There are possibly 16 groups or clans. They are extremely resistant to change. Datooga is the main language spoken with many dialects. Taturu is the name given them by the Sukuma people.

Adult literacy rate among the Datooga is 2% so this will perhaps be a means of reaching them. Their primary religion is traditional, believing in witchcraft, sorcery, diviners and spirit mediums. The tribe consists of the departed ancestors, living dead, who fully interact with the living members, living, living.

Cattle are the central core of their existence; polygamy is the ideal and inter-marriage between the clan members is forbidden. Many wives and children are necessary for survival of the clan; caring for the animals and cultivating corn. Boys begin at a very young age to
help care for the animals. Girls help in the garden, carry water and do other domestic chores.

The basic diet of the Datooga is milk products, corn, beans, honey beer. The primary source of recreation is the traditional dances and festivals take the form of religious ceremonies.

In order to reach the Datooga, missionaries will need to live among them, learn their language and culture and earn their trust. It is thought that perhaps some Datooga equate education, Christianity and Swahili (a language looked upon with scorn) as an attempt to destroy their culture.

A TIMO team has ministered in one area and some churches have been established among the Wataturu. One missionary couple have settled in amongst this group for further work. A new TIMO team will soon be ministering to a second group of Datooga who are located in a different area.