Introduction / History

The Sukuma people are the largest people group in Tanzania. The Sukuma live in the northwestern part of the country between Lake Victoria and Lake Rukwa. Their major town center is Mwanza, which is situated on the shore of Lake Victoria. Sukumaland consists mainly of dry savannah or semi-desert and the climate is subtropical. The Sukuma are closely related to the neighboring Nyamwezi people group. About 80% of the people still live in rural areas, although more and more people are moving into the major cities.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Sukuma people are subsistence farmers and cattle herders, and sweet potatoes and millet are their staple foods. Their main cash crops are cotton and tobacco.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Sukuma people practice and are deeply rooted in animism. Every area of life, from naming their children to planting crops, is affected by their belief in the ancestral and other spirits. The Sukuma are significantly Christian, and there has been significant growth in recent years. However, there is still a lot of syncretism with animism in Christianity.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sukuma people in rural areas are especially poor, but they are able to meet their own subsistence needs. However, when drought comes to this dry savannah region, this area is hit especially hard.
The Sukuma also have a spiritual need – to be freed from the fear of spirit beings. Much of a Sukuma animist's life and resources is spent for the ancestor spirits and other spirit beings, because they are deathly afraid of them. Further economic detriment is caused to the society due to the view that a person must be using witchcraft if s/he is wealthier than those around him/her, so the successful move away.

Prayer Items

Pray for the Lord to raise up Sukuma Christians who rise above fear of the spirit world and lead others to do the same.
Pray for entire Sumuma families to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Sukuma disciples to make more disciples among Muslis in Tanzania.

Scripture Prayers for the Sukuma in Tanzania.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadaru_people