A centuries-old tradition of decorating tembe (mud houses), once central to the cultural identity of Tanzania's Gogo community but now fading with the rise of modern housing, is being revived through a project that seeks to preserve indigenous knowledge while creating new economic opportunities for women.
The Mama Tembe Project, a six-month initiative implemented by Innovation Development for Future Generation (IDFG) with funding from the Swiss and Norwegian governments through the Articipate programme, is training a new generation of women to preserve the unique art of tembe house painting.
The project has brought together 15 elderly Gogo women to transfer their traditional painting skills to 20 young women and students from three schools using the same natural materials and techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Launching the initiative on behalf of the Chamwino District Executive Director, Acting District Executive Director Dr. Sophia Nchimbi said the project supports government efforts to preserve Tanzania's cultural heritage while unlocking its economic value.
She said the paintings are more than decorative artwork, describing them as an important expression of the history, identity and traditions of the Gogo people.
According to Dr. Nchimbi, preserving the art could also boost cultural tourism in Chamwino and create new markets for locally produced creative products.
"This project marks a new chapter in preserving our culture while creating opportunities for local communities to benefit economically through art. As a council, we will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure its success," she said.
She encouraged participating women and girls to view the skills they acquire as a long-term livelihood opportunity that can continue generating income beyond the life of the project.
Chamwino District Cultural Officer Jackson Kitija said the initiative comes at a critical time, as much of the traditional knowledge risks disappearing with the ageing generation while many young people have had limited opportunities to learn the craft.
He described tembe house painting as an important element of Tanzania's intangible cultural heritage, saying passing the knowledge to younger generations is essential for safeguarding the history and identity of the Gogo community.
IDFG Executive Director Victoria Mponda said the project was developed after research showed that Gogo women had played a crucial role in preserving the community's culture through decorative house paintings, yet their contribution had never been fully documented or recognised.
Traditionally, she explained, men built tembe houses while women decorated them with symbolic patterns representing different aspects of community life.
However, as traditional houses became less common, the artistic knowledge gradually declined and survived largely through oral tradition.
Beyond training, the project will digitally document the history and meaning of the traditional designs, secure intellectual property rights for the artists and transform the artwork into marketable products such as clothing, crafts and other creative merchandise inspired by Gogo culture.
"We want these women to be recognised as the creators of this unique artistic heritage. By documenting their work, protecting their intellectual property and developing products for the market, we are preserving culture while creating sustainable economic opportunities," Ms Mponda said.
She noted that convincing elderly women to join the initiative was initially difficult because many doubted their traditional skills could generate income.
"Working closely with government authorities and traditional leaders, we demonstrated that culture and art can also be valuable economic assets. Today these women are proudly passing their knowledge to younger generations, ensuring this important tradition survives," she added.
One of the beneficiaries, 84-year-old Esteli Chibaya from Chamwino, said she was proud to pass on skills she had learned as a young girl.
"We decorated our homes simply to make them beautiful and never imagined these skills could one day improve our livelihoods. I am happy our children and grandchildren will inherit this knowledge and use it to build better futures," she said.
The Mama Tembe Project is expected to conclude in October, with stakeholders hoping it will help preserve one of Tanzania's unique cultural traditions while promoting cultural tourism and turning indigenous knowledge into sustainable economic opportunities for women.
