- Source: Nyumbanitu
Nyumbanitu is a forest near the village of Mlevela, Mdandu ward in Wanging'ombe district of Tanzania's Njombe Region. It is at a distance of 15 km (9.3 mi) from Njombe Town.
It is notable as one of only three habitats for the rare Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis) and important site for the mythology for the local Bena people.
The caves inside the forest served as a hiding places during wars between the local Bena and their Hehe neighbours during the 19th century and also during the Maji-Maji uprising against German rule in 1905–1906.
Until now it is used for worship and sacrifice by traditionalists.
A number of legends is connected to the forest.
Footnotes
References
Msitu wa Nyumbanitu wenye simulizi za Maajabu, Tumaini Msowoya in Mwananchi newspaper, 29 August 2016, lookup April 2018
Xenoperdix udzungwensis, IUCN redlist, lookup April 2018]
Stanley Elias, Inside Nyumbanitu: Reinterpretation of forest embedded folklores of Wabena in Njombe; published in: Journal of humanities and cultures studies, Vol.3, No.1, 22 January 2018 (NYUMBANITU TRADITIONAL FOREST REINTERPRETATION OF FOREST EMBEDDED FOLKLORES OF WABENA IN NJOMBE)
