Village #3: Msembe

Msembe is another of the twenty village congregations that comprise Tungamalenga Parish, our partner congregation.

Msembe is located about an hour's drive from the central village of Tungamalenga, on the grounds of Ruaha National Park. Park headquarters are located here, and most of the inhabitants are employed by the park or by one of the various lodges located within the park.

Because of its location, and because of all the elephants, lion, giraffe, zebras and other wild animals roaming the area, residents of Msembe have a very different environment and living situation than most of the other people of Tungamalenga Parish.

First off, most of the residents originally come from a different part of Tanzania. They are educated as park rangers, drivers, or tourism and hospitality industry workers. They came to Msembe for the jobs the park offers. The members of this congregation are also more mobile than most Tanzanians. They might be here for a few years, then transfer to another park or take a job at another lodge. In contrast, most Tanzanian villages are filled with people whose families have lived in one location for many generations.

Second, the residents are not allowed to grow crops or keep animals within the park boundaries, because to do so would invite the wild animals into the village, endangering the residents. Most Tanzanians, even those who are employed, grow their own food, keeping animals and gardens near their homes. The residents of Msembe, in contrast, either purchase their family's food, or need to travel outside the park boundaries in order to grow food.

Finally, the residents of Msembe have much greater contact with people from outside their own country than do most Tanzanian villagers. They interact with tourists visiting the park on a daily basis, people from the United States, from Europe, Asia, Australia and other parts of Africa. You can see the impact of globalization even in the way the children are dressed and wear their hair. Of course, Msembe residents also have far more reliable access to electricity and clean water than do most of the Tanzanians we meet.