The Tongwe tribe have co-existed with populations of eastern long-haired chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains for centuries, perhaps thousands of years.  They have never hunted them for bush meat as in other parts of Africa, but have rather respected the chimpanzee as an ancestor who decided to return to the forest and primitive jungle living rather than venture onto an unknown evolutionary path.  
 
 
 
The Tongwe tribe are predominantly a forest dwelling tribe whose origin is not entirely clear.  Assumed to have originated in the Congo basin, they now reside on a small part of the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.  
 
 
 
In the 70s, the socialist land reforms in Tanzania insisted that all people should  live in communities centred around a basic provision of education and healthcare.  Thus, villages in convenient locations were provided with hospitals and schools and peoples in the catchment areas were made to leave their homelands in order to inhabit and benefit from the new found communities.
 
 
 
When the Mahale Mountains National Park was created, the Tongwe too were pushed to follow the land reform policies and were moved out into surrounding villages to make way for the tourism.
 
 
 
The Tongwe Trust has been created in order to give these people a voice to raise funds to buy land, which is rightfully theirs in the surrounds of the park and to build a private, sustainable eco-tourism project.  This would not only act as a buffer zone for the park but would enable them to earn a revenue from tourism.  In the process, they will preserve their identity, heritage and traditions through an archive programme.
 
 
 
There has been a long tradition of forest medicine passed down through generations of Shamans within the tribe, which is in danger of being lost with modernisation.  The Trust hopes to preserve these traditions through archiving and training young Batongwe as trackers and guides both within and outside the park boundaries.
 
 
 
The Trust has recently managed to secure title deeds to an area, falling within the lands of the village of Katumbi, just north of the Mahale airstrip.  They have already built an office base at the park airstrip which is surrounded by their land.  The land is intended to become a mini conservancy and marine park and it is hoped that in the future the Trust will run an affordable, backpacker style accommodation here and also organise day trips in to view the chimpanzees.
 
 
 
Mwenyekiti  (Chairman)
Hamisi  Saadi  Katensi
Entrepreneur / Renaissance man (42)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Known to many as “Lord of the Lake”, Saadi has unique knowledge of the often- treacherous waters of Lake Tanganyika. He was a transport Boatman for years, before pioneering eco-tourism in Mahale with Roland Purcell.
An all-round mechanic/plumber/electrician/farmer/godfather to his local community, Saadi has been the powerhouse behind the formation of the Tongwe Trust.
                                
 
 
 
 
Mzee Iddi Salum Katumba
Farmer, age unknown (over 70)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One of the grand old sages of Tongwe-land.  Mzee Iddi has ceded part of his ancestral land into the Tongwe Trust - to be used for its offices, harbour and forest reserve.
With a remarkable vision for the future and great sense of humour, Mzee Iddi is a direct link to the Tongwe traditions of old.
 
 
 
Katibu  (Secretary)
Moshi Katumba
Farmer (35)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son of Mzee Iddi , and heir to his remarkable legacy, Moshi Katumba has battled tirelessly to gain autonomy for the Tongwe people, engaging with government officials (good and bad) along the way and learning the realpolitik of the new post-socialist Tanzania.
 
 
 
Mohammedi Seifu Kanyanga
Herbalist and Forest Guide (54)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Mohammedi is a legend to those who know Mahale. His wealth of forest knowledge is unmatched and he has collaborated in ground-breaking research on medicinal plant use by chimpanzees, starring in several documentaries.  
 
A man of few words, Mohammedi is one of the last direct links to the shamanistic herbalist tradition in the Tongwe people.  He also has expert skill as tight rhythmic treble drummer, befitting his gentle temperament.
 
 
 
Moshi  Bunengwa
Forest Tracker and Chimpanzee Researcher (52)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ever charming and resourceful, Moshi Bunengwa worked as a Chimpanzee researcher for 17 years and has unrivalled, almost psychic skills as a tracker.
He is currently training up a new generation of young Tongwe trackers - so that these skills may not be lost.  (This in between love affairs and gem-dealing trips to the Congo).  A breathtaking drummer and dancer himself, Moshi’s brother Hamisi is the Miles Davis of Tongwe music.
 
  
 
 
 
Raschidi  Kitopene  Chimpanzee Researcher (41)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mild-mannered and tough as nails, Kitopene is one of the most highly experienced forest guides and chimpanzee researchers in Mahale.  Ever keen to assist and happy to pass on information on the chimps, it is always a pleasure to meet him in the forest. (And, yes he can certainly drum a bit too!)
 
 
 
 
 
Matunda  Kitopene
Farmer (29)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another son of Mzee Iddi.  More placid than his elder brother but no less passionate about the cause of the Tongwe Trust.
 
 
 
 
Baraka  Lehani
Forest Tracker (25)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If the Tongwe tradition of one-ness with their forests will survive to another era, it will be through young people like Baraka.  Possessed of extraordinary energy and forest intuition, Baraka is fast emerging as the star tracker of his generation under the tutelage of his uncle - Moshi Bunengwa.  Also an extraordinarily gifted dancer and learning fast the unique Tongwe drumming technique from another uncle – Moshi’s brother, the legendary lead drummer Hamisi “Kachichi” Bunengwa.
 
 
 
Mlezi
Roland  Purcell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Roland came to Mahale in the eighties to build a whimsical camp for Chimpanzee watchers… and stayed on and on and on.. (working at becoming an honorary Tongwe).  He pioneered true eco-tourism in West Tanzania, but has since moved on to community trust work.  Now based out of Ireland and a chinese bicycle in Tongwe-land.