Makonde - History & Heritage

Kenya

The Makonde are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group primarily located in southeastern Tanzania, northern Mozambique (specifically the Mueda Plateau), and a smaller, recognized community in Kenya. With a population estimated at over 1.3 million, they are renowned internationally for their sophisticated wood carvings, traditional, matrilineal social structure, and a history of resistance against colonial rule. The Makonde have a rich cultural heritage, including unique rituals, traditional dress, and social organization. (Learn More)