HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CHAGGA TRIBE FROM NORTHERN TANZANIA..

 
The tribe of the Chagga is well  known to many as being found in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. In essence, Chaga is a mixture of Masai, Sambaa, Taita, Kamba and Kahe people .
They began moving to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in the 17th century, When they arrived in small groups they found residents of Mount Kilimanjaro Forests called "Wakonyingo'.
These resident villagers who also called "Mbiliimo" means too short people (pygmy) did not like to mix up with foreign immigrants, so they moved and established their permanent residence at the thick forests in Congo.
Many people think that Chagga originates from one gerenation. The fact is that they are split into the 15 kingdoms, varying in language, color and even  appearance of their bodies. They feature themselves in three main categories of Hai, Vunjo and Rombo.
Those who are found in Hai district are Wasiha, Wamasama, Wamachame, Wangiuni, Wamoshi, Wakibosho and Wauru. For those who are found in the Vunjo are the Wakirua, Wakilema, Wamarangu, wamamba.


                 Chagga traditional wine (Mbege)
From Rombo are Wamkuu, Wamashati and Wasseri. So far ther is no clear explanation of the origin of the name of "Chagga", but historians explain that the name is derived from the Swahili word 'Kichaka' means "bush".
It is said that the caravans of traders led by the Arabs as well as Swahili, as they traveled to the Vunjo areas, saw the local inhabitants building booths in the bush to protect their crops from wild animals.
They called these villagers that they lived in the bush and from then foreign traders and missionaries when they were coming to Kilimanjaro were led by their guide and said that they were going to the country of "Chagga" means "Kichaka or Bush" meaning that those people were living in the Bush hence name " wachaga" or bush men..
Foreigners totally failed to pronounce this word well "Kichaka" and call it "Chagga",This name was placed on the map and called the land of "Chagga". Thus the inhabitants of the Kilimanjaro slopes were named after them.
Progressive Development of Chagga tribe.
Their development was originally due to their coffee. They succeeded in establishing cooperatives and eventually in 1932 they established the Wachaga Council (Chaga Council) which is currently being used by the Moshi District Council.
The council was headed by Mangi (chief), Mshumbue Thomas Marealle II.
In 1946, the British administration improved the Council of Wachaga Council. The least 17 Kingdoms of chagga (the two kingdoms of Wakahe and  Waarusha chini were included in the Vunjo division) and the creation of three division, Hai, Vunjo and Rombo.
The chaga Council built infrastructure and social services including educating their children at schools and colleges like Makerere University, Uganda.
The Electoral Council had its own flag which is still up to date at the Moshi District Council, with five major logos:
 
                                           Chagga flag
1- Mount Kilimanjaro rolled in the middle of the flag showing a beautiful Kibo peak theme. Kibo peak  gives out fresh water and it was an identity of their unity.
2- Under the peak of the Kibo, the left side of the flag is a strip of bananas. This is the main food for the Chaga.
3- The right side of the flag is a branch of a bean with its fruit. Coffee is their own cause of development.
4- Flame is surrounded by two branches. These branches have made a circle around the peak of Kibo, a banana bar and a branch of their coffee. Masale is a well-respected plant with all the chaga.
It is a symbol of peace. They are used at the ceremony and all cultural activities performed by Wachaga. Its leaves are green that show how Kilimanjaro is a fertile and productive that produces all kinds of crops.
5- At the top of the Kibo peak there is a leopard who has rested. The leopard is the main symbol of Wachaga's power.

Earlier in the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro there were many black colored leopards but because of the increase in population and environmental damage they have disappeared.
Chagga Festival;
The Festival of All Chagga was celebrated on November 10 each year as a reference to the day when all the Chagga assembled and chose the Chief Mangi after being nominated by the Supreme Council of Chagga.
The first anniversary of 1952 was preceded by the election of the Wachaga Councils all from the rank of  Village (uchili), then the chief of the area (Umangi), and at the end they elected central council.
The ceremony was celebrated in Moshi where all Chagga and guests were invited to the Chagga Councils ground  (now the Moshi District Council, Kilimanjaro District Council-KDC) to witness a great and thrilling celebration. 
 Museum
There is a great need to preserve the history of chagga tribe as accurate records for present and future generations.
Also, there is a need for Moshi District Councils  buldings to be returned to Chaga to be converted to the archives of the tribe.
In these buildings will be preserved all the Chaga Council documents that have already begun to disappear, will also be used to preserved  all cultural activities since the 18th century.

Moshi District Council needs to look for a place to build new buildings instead of using these historical sites
LISTEN TO THE CHAGGA TRADITIONAL SONG VIA LINK BELOW..