The Zigula or Zigua (''Wazigua'' in Swahili) are a

Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...

ethnic and linguistic people hailing from far northern Pwani Region and western southern Tanga Region. In Tanga Region they are the majority in Handeni District, northern

Kilindi District Kilindi is one of eleven administrative districts of Tanga Region in Tanzania. The District covers an area of . It is bordered to the east by the Handeni District and Handeni Town Council, to the south west by the Kiteto District and north west ...

and also a historically significant population in south of the Pangani River in

Pangani District Pangani District (Swahili language: ''Wilaya ya Pangani'') is one of the eight districts and one of 11 administrative councils in Tanga Region in north eastern Tanzania. As of the 2012 census, the population was Pangani district was 54,025, makin ...

. They speak the

Zigula language The Zigula or Zigua language, ''Chizigua'', is a Bantu language of Tanzania and Somalia, where the Mushunguli (or Mushungulu) dialect is spoken. Mushunguli The Mushunguli or Mushungulu dialect is spoken by about 23,000 people from the Bantu eth ...

. In 1993, the Zigua population was estimated to number 355,000 people. The Zigua are considered as the parent tribe of the Shambaa people, the Bondei people and the

Ngulu people The Ngulu people, also known as the Geja, Kingulu, Nguru, Nguu, Wayomba, ( Swahili collective: Wangulu) are a Bantu ethnolinguistic group hailing from Southern Kilindi District, western Tanga Region of Tanzania and Mvomero District of Morogoro Re ...

, which today all live in north-eastern

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

. For instance, the king Mbegha, who was to become the leader of the Shambaa people and the grandfather of the Shambaa ruler

Kimweri ye Nyumbai Kimweri ye Nyumbai (or Shekulwavu) (died 1862) was the King of the Shambaa people of the Usambara Mountains in what is now Tanga Region of Tanzania between around 1815 and 1862. Under his rule the kingdom reached its greatest extent. However, di ...

(†1862), was born among the Zigua.

References

{{Tanzania-ethno-group-stub Tanga Region Pangani District