SO, THE STORIES OF “MUMIANI” DATE BACK MANY YEARS!

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

 

On the morning of October 20, 2026, I found myself in the quiet surroundings of the Library of the President’s Office, Records and Archives Management Department, in Dodoma.

Eager to continue learning through historical documents, I met Ms. Lear Clear Ngairo and asked her to help me find a book about the history of Morogoro and Kilosa Districts before Tanganyika gained independence.

 

Little did I know that this search for knowledge would lead me to a story that would take my thoughts back many decades.

As I browsed through the book, my eyes caught a heading that immediately aroused my curiosity: “Mumiani” or “Chinjachinja.” I began reading an account of fear, rumours and allegations that had once unsettled some communities in colonial Tanganyika.

 

According to the text, in 1958, rumours circulated that some Europeans were killing Africans to obtain human blood for making medicine. These stories caused fear among local communities, making some people suspicious of foreigners and the activities they carried out.

 

As I continued reading, I found myself wondering: Where did these rumours originate, and how did they manage to affect people’s lives to such an extent?

The text explains that the collection of blood samples by officers from the Veterinary Department in Kilosa District may have contributed to reviving the rumours. At the same time, the activities of mineral prospectors along the Ruvu River and land survey officers in the Morogoro area were mentioned among the circumstances associated with the growing fear.

 

Some local residents believed that the pits being dug might have been used to dispose of human bodies. Others were afraid to enter buildings or interact with strangers.

 

The more I examined these accounts, the clearer the picture became of a community struggling with fear that was difficult to separate from rumour. According to the contemporary writer, some residents were even afraid to travel through certain areas, while others hesitated to enter buildings occupied by foreigners. This situation was reportedly affecting trade and the availability of workers.

 

Nevertheless, it is important to understand that these accounts describe the situation as it was reported at the time. They do not mean that every story circulating in the community was true.

Another detail that caught my attention was how some people allegedly exploited this fear for financial gain. The text describes individuals who claimed to be servants of the “Mumiani” and used excuses about lost medicine to defraud unsuspecting residents.

 

Apparently, the warning against con artists is nothing new! Whenever fear takes hold of a community, there are always those who may try to turn it into an opportunity for personal gain. In other words, the rumours did not merely influence people’s thinking; according to the account, they could also be exploited as a means of deception.

 

But was there any proof that people were actually being killed for their blood? This is perhaps the most important question to ask when examining this historical account.

 

The writer of the time attempted to investigate the origins of the rumours by gathering information from chiefs, missionaries, miners and various officials. Despite these efforts, the writer acknowledged that no evidence had been found to substantiate the allegations of killings for human blood.

We must therefore clearly distinguish between the rumours that circulated, the incidents that were reported, and claims that would require further evidence before they could be established as facts.

 

This is where the importance of historical records becomes particularly evident. The book I consulted did more than introduce me to stories from the past; it also prompted me to reflect on how fear was addressed in society under colonial rule. The account demonstrates that the writer made efforts to seek explanations from different people, although further administrative records and other contemporary sources would be needed to establish more fully how the colonial government responded to the issue.

 

For present-day Tanzania, this story carries an important lesson. We live in an era when information spreads rapidly through mobile phones and social media. An unverified report can easily generate fear, create suspicion and even provide an opportunity for fraudsters to deceive the public.

This historical account reminds us to ask important questions whenever we encounter alarming information: What is its source? What evidence supports it? Are we dealing with an established fact or an allegation that still requires investigation?

 

Furthermore, public institutions have a responsibility to communicate openly with citizens, explain the purpose of their activities and provide information that helps dispel unfounded fears. Citizens, too, should cultivate the habit of seeking the truth before believing or sharing information. As history teaches us, silence and a lack of explanation can leave room for rumours to grow, although this does not mean that every rumour originates from official silence.

 

Dear reader, when I entered that library, I was simply looking for a book about the history of Morogoro and Kilosa before independence. However, what I discovered gave me an opportunity to reflect on much more than the history of those two areas. It reminded me that stories can survive for many years and change as they are retold, while the truth behind them still requires careful examination.

That is why, when I say “So, the Stories of ‘Mumiani’ Date Back Many Years!”, I do not mean that every allegation in those accounts was true. Rather, I mean that these stories formed part of our social history and deserve to be examined, preserved and interpreted carefully.

History is not merely a collection of past events. It is a teacher that helps us understand our society and make better decisions today.

I wish you a pleasant day, dear reader. Keep exploring history, asking questions and seeking the truth.

makwadeladius@gmail.com 0717649257