The Zigula or Zigua (Wazigua in Swahili) are a Bantu 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 and also a historically significant population in south of the Pangani River in Pangani District. They speak the Zigula language.
Their alternate Name(s) are: Zigula, Chizigula, Kizigua, Kizigula, Msegua, Seguha, Wayombo, Wazegua, Zeguha, Zegura, Zigoua, Zigua, Zigwa.
The Zigua of Tanzania are numbering 883,000 (Peoplegroups.org, 2023)
The Zigua are considered as the parent tribe of the Shambaa people, the Bondei people and the Ngulu people, which today all live in north-eastern Tanzania. 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 (†1862), was born among the Zigua.
It is believed that the Zigua fled East from their homeland to their current location on the coast to avoid the slave trade of the 18th century.
They are farmers growing sisal, a fibrous plant used to make rope and mats. They also grow sesame and corn.
The Zigua are a close-knit community. They live together in mud-walled and grass-thatched huts clustered together. Their livelihoods are small scale farming and fishing. Like many coastal towns, their main cash crop is sisal and main food crops are maize and sesame.
Islam is the primary religion of the Zigua. It is often mixed with African Traditional Religion which includes ancestor worship.
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