The changing practices of sacred forests in Njombe, Tanzania: Colonial encounters 1880s-19611

Abstract

Between 1880 and 1961, the German and British colonial administrations, often aided by missionaries, placed considerable pressure on the traditions and ways of life of the Bena people of Njombe, Tanzania. Foreign control had unprecedented effects on the way traditionally sacred forests were maintained. While some forests showed resilience, others were transformed into open canopies, and some new forests emerged. Little is known, however, about the dynamics of sacred groves' traditions. This article discusses the shifts in sacred forests' meaning and practices over time in Njombe, from 1880 to 1961. Based on interviews, archival data, anthropological reports and documentaries, this article establishes that sacred groves have functioned as fundamental dynamic social institutions and threatened green patches throughout time. The alterations demonstrate that groves have always existed at the intersection of multiple sociocultural, political and economic processes.