Makua

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The Makua are the largest ethnic group in northern Mozambique, and also have a large population across the border in the Masasi District of Mtwara Region in southern Tanzania. They live in the region to the north of the Zambezi River and speak Makhuwa language, a Niger-Congo language, and Portuguese. The total Makua population is estimated to be 1,160,000, with 800,000 living in Mozambique (as of 1997) and 360,000 in Tanzania (as of 1993) [1].

Most Makua are Christians (whether Roman Catholics or Protestants) or Sunni Muslims, with some animists. They are an African tribe.

Other makua people were known to be residing in South Africa in a Durban city called, Bluff. However, due to the Group Areas Act, they were forcefully removed from Bluff and settled in Bayview, Chatsworth in 1960. Whilst this is the majority of the Makua people in South Africa settled in Bayview, some live in Wentworth, Marianhill, Marianridge, Umlazi, Newlands East and West, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and Johannesburg. The Makua people in South Africa are all Muslims and follow the Islamic religion. The Makua language is still predominantly spoken among the people, including English and Zulu and some Swahili by the elders of the community.