Ugweno

Ugweno is located within the Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, Africa. It is situated at 3° 39' 0" South and 37° 39' 0" East in the Pare Mountains. The people who live in Ugweno are known as Wagweno and their common language is Kigweno.

The original inhabitants of this area are the Shana clan. Even the name Ugweno (or "Vughono/Vughonu" to its inhabitants) is derived from a notably popular Shana ruler, Mghono/Mghonu, who ruled somewhere between the 13th and 15th century. A precise date is hard to establish given 'the great Shana disruption' when they were deposed of their rule. During his rule, the area was known as the "Mountains of Mghono/Mghonu" as far afield as the Taita region in Kenya.

When the Suya people migrated to the region; ambushed and wiped out almost all of the Shana clan, the origins of the name Ugweno was either less known or played down by the new rulers. This led to various theories that claimed origins of this name. Some say it was derived from Taita and Voi tribes from Kenya during the migration to the Pare mountains due to tribal wars in their homelands in Kenya. Before they had established the settlement in the Pare mountains, they first sent explorers. When the explorers returned to give feedback, they said 'Mringa ua khona', meaning the rivers produce thunder when flowing, and the name Ugweno was allegedly born.

The Suya people were responsible for the expansion of the state of Ugweno. In the 18th century, this state stretched as far south as Lembeni.

The present day Gweno people are a mixture of all those who came to make the beautiful mountains of Ugweno their home. Historically, their ancestors came from Taita, Voi, Chaga, as well as Southern Pare tribes. This is why you can find many Gweno families today who trace their roots from elsewhere, such as the Suya, Sangi and Wanzava families. A good example are the Odongo (and others) who were called by the Suya from Nguru mountain region of Tanzania to prevent conflicts.

Kirembwe is their main dish made by a mixture of banana and beans. The mixture is cooked using a clay port. It can be crushed to create a hard porridge that looks like a cake when it cools; this (Kirembwe) is normally used for breakfast. Sometimes the mixture is ground and water then added to it, making it porridge-like, this is what is commonly eaten as Kiumbo.

The area's chief produce is coffee and banana. The area also produces maize and rice which is grown in the swampy plains.

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Wikipedia