The system of chiefdoms no longer exists in Tanzania it was abolished soon after independence. At times they were sold to the coastal slave traders or even killed at the king's command.

Slaves lived in the king's household, where he was free to deal with them as he pleased. They paid tribute to the king in the form of food, livestock, and labor. The peasants were free to go about their daily work on the farm and homesteads. The nuclear family's well-being was important for the whole village. Peasants lived in village groups under a patriarchal system. Peasants and slaves were the king's subjects. The king, in return, was expected to bring rain and food to his territory. This gave him control over his subjects and the right to demand tribute from them. All the wealth of the land was regarded as the king's. The chiefs were appointed by the king and received tribute from their chiefdoms as representatives of the king. Growth of the kingdom led to growth in the number of chiefdoms. The survival of the whole descent group and its steady increase in size were crucial.

The Sham-baa kingdom was made up of several descent groups with a common origin, but the kingdom was governed by a single descent group. The Shambaa were traditionally ruled by kings. Other Bantu ethnic groups in the area include the Bondei, the Zigua, the Nguu, and the Pare. The homeland of the Shambaa is called Shambaai (or Shambalai). The Shambaa, also referred to as the Shambala, are a Bantu people found mainly on the West Usambara mountain range in Tanzania. PRONUNCIATION: shahm-BAH ALTERNATE NAMES: Shambala (Bantu people) LOCATION: Shambaai (West Usambara mountain range-northeastern Tanzania) POPULATION: 664,000 LANGUAGE: Shambala, Swahili RELIGION: Traditional Shambaa beliefs (healing the land and the body), Mufika ( ancestor worship), Christianity, Islam INTRODUCTION

Where is shambala located