Pongwe Pogwe
 |
Pongwe Pogwe | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Coordinates: 5°07′30″S 38°58′26″E / 5.125°S 38.974°E | |
| Country |  Tanzania |
| Region | Tanga |
| District | Handeni |
| Ward | Kang'ata |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Climate | Aw |
Pongwe Pogwe is a Tanzanian village belonging to the ward of Kang'ata, Handeni District in the northern Region of Tanga. The local demonym is "Wapongwe" ("Samwepongwe" for men and "Mnamweponge" for women).
Geography[edit]
In Pongwe Pogwe there is a natural spring water place called Kwekibaya. Kwekibaya is the only source of water for thousands of people and animals.
History[edit]
Cultural beliefs[edit]
It is believed that if a person not belonging to Wapongwe cleans the water source (the place where water is actually coming out to the surface), Kwekibaya dries out. If this happens, it is only a Wapongwe family member, in Wagongwe tradition, who can please the natural spring to give out water again.
Because of the importance of Kwekibaya, there is a chain of family leaders among the Wapongwe who guide the community in managing the Kibaya in particular and general resources such as deforestation issues (which forest is a reserved one). The last leader of wapongwe is Mkulago (1942-2006). Mkulago died on 28 April 2006 and laid to rest on 30 April 2006 in the Mtonga forest.