The M of Tanzania
Population: 183,000
Location and Background: South Eastern Tanzania.The M live on the South-eastern coastal delta area between the Rufuji River and Kilwa and from the Indian Ocean to the M Hills.
History: The M believe they have been in their present area for about 700-800 years. Before that they reportedly made their way northeast from what is now Malawi. They came under the influence of Muslim traders and many converted to Islam. German colonists arrived in Tanganyika in 1885, and forced many to be slaves. In 1905-1906 the M staged a major rebellion against the German colonial rulers, called the Maji-Mai Rebellion. The Germans eventually put down the rebellion in 1907, at a great loss of life among the African tribal peoples. After the Germans lost World War I, the British colonized Tanzania. With the coming of independence, the first President, Julius Nyerere, strongly emphasized that Tanzania was a unified country. All peoples were to learn and speak Kiswahili with the use of tribal languages discouraged and today, Kiswahili is widely spoken among the M people.
Culture: They are of Bantu origin, closely related to the Ndengereko and Rufiji. They are described as having an independent spirit and are proud and honest. Many M are forest dwellers. They use herbal remedies and have knowledge of about 200 medicinal native plants. Most M people live in small villages, doing subsistence farming and agriculture. Some are fishermen along the Rufiji River. Others own small shops along the main highway. Most build huts of pole and stick frame with mud wattle for the walls. Roofs are made of thatched palm leaf. If finances permit, some will plaster the inside and outside of the house walls with cement and put in a cement floor. The M Caves in the M Hills were an important hideaway for local rebel troops during the Maji Maji revolution. The most impressive cave, Nangoma, is revered locally for housing an important deity, and its name probably derives from the Swahili ngoma – dance – suggesting a history of use for ritual celebrations and worship. M children are expected to attend government primary schools, located in major villages.
Religion: Islam and Folk Islam. Ancestor worship, Islam, spiritism and superstition are all part of present-day M culture and religion.
Ask the Lord to lift the veil from the eyes of the M, that they could proclaim, “And we have seen and testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
Latest Prayer Updates:
New Believers Along the Coast
M of Tanzania: Praise God for the many young people who heard the Gospel during a recent outreach in coastal Tanzania! More than forty people responded to the invitation to follow Jesus. During a week-long sports camp, believers had opportunities to build relationships with children and young people and share the good news. What began as a gathering of about 100 youth grew to more than 200 by the final day. Praise God for the doors He opened and for the seeds of the Gospel that were planted. Please pray especially for the local church as it comes alongside these new believers. Pray for church leaders to have wisdom, strength, and perseverance as they shepherd those who are beginning to follow Jesus. Pray that these new brothers and sisters will be firmly established in their faith and grow into mature disciples. Pray also for the young people in these coastal communities—that the seeds planted through these relationships and outreaches would take deep root and bear lasting fruit. May the local church become strong and increasingly equipped to carry the work forward.
Outreach
M of Tanzania: Pray for the village where our Jesus-film outreach is taking place. Ask God to use every opportunity to communicate His love clearly, strengthen the local believers involved, and bring lasting spiritual fruit among this community.
