Tsonga Tribe Facts and Origin

1. The Tsonga people are a tribe that have their origins in East Africa. They migrated down south to Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

2. In the 19th century, during the reign of King Shaka Zulu, Soshangane was sent by the king to conquer Southern Mozambique. Against Shaka’s instructions, Soshangane captured the region which consisted of the Nguni and Tsonga tribes and decided to rule over them himself.

3. The Tsonga is the common name for a number of tribes that came together: they are the Shangaans, Vakalanga, Vandzawu, Ndlovu, Thonga, VaTshwa, among others.

The Shangaans have been accused of wanting to overshadow the whole Tsonga tribe, hence the confusion of many asking the difference between the Tsonga and Shangaan.

4. These days there are two major groups of the Tsonga tribe:

-Tsongas that have the same origin (Vatsonga-va-Xiviri)

-Tsongas that dropped their individual languages and adopted the same language (Vatsonga-va-Riririmi) like the Maluleke and Shangaan tribes.

5. Tsonga traditional food include xigugu, tihove( a kind of samp), tshopi, vuswa bya mavele(mealie pap), xigwimbi, vukanyi and matomani (mopane worms).

6. Tsonga traditional clothing include:

-A shawl and headwrap (Nceka) made from imported cotton fabric with flower patterns.

-A knee-length skirt called “Xibelani” made from a fabric called “Salempur”.

– A top called “Yele” or fitted T-shirt.

-Bracelets, Ankelets and necklaces…(Madeha, Masiha)

-Sneakers