Lakeshore Tonga

Africaother subsistence combinations
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expand_more Description

The Lakeshore Tonga live on the western shore of Lake Malawi in the Northern Province of the Republic of Malawi. They are a heterogeneous people formed from at least four different groups who settled the area in the late 18th century. The Tonga of Malawi are distinct from the people of the same name who live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. The Tonga language belongs to the Bantu family. The Tonga people also speak the language of the dominant ethnic group of the country. The Tonga practice a subsistence economy of fishing and gardening, supported by income from outside wage labor. The staple crop is cassava. The Tonga grow some crops for domestic or export markets. There are several rubber and tea estates in the region, which employ Tonga administrators and workers.

Identifier
Region
  • Africa
Subregion
  • Southern Africa
Subsistence Type
  • other subsistence combinations
Samples
Countries
  • Malawi
External Links