Waalagwa | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| c. 52,816 (2022)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Tanzania
Dodoma Region & Manyara Region[2][1] | |
| Languages | |
| Alagwa (native), Rangi, Swahili[2][1] | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Islam (>89%)[2][1] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bantu Rangi & other South Cushitic peoples, |
The Alagwa (Swahili: Waasi; Rangi: Vaasi; Iraqw: Alawa) are a Cushitic ethnic group mostly based in the Kondoa District (Alagwa: Ulàa) of the Dodoma Region in central Tanzania, an area well known for rock art. Smaller numbers of Alagwa reside in the Hanang district of the Manyara Region in Tanzania, as well. They speak the Alagwa language as a mother tongue, which belongs to the South Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. In 2022, the Alagwa population was estimated to number 52,816 individuals, and Mous (2016) estimates the number of speakers to be slightly over 10,000.[1][3][2]
Some of the Alagwa have mixed with communities of Gorowa, Sandawe, Datooga, and Rangi. Many Alagwa speak the Rangi language and the two groups have both influenced each other. Many of the Alagwa are Muslims, following from an extended period of interactions with Swahili traders in Kondoa in the 19th century.[2]
- ^ a b c d e f Alphonce, Chrispina (31 March 2022). Shinagawa, Daisuke; J. Lee, Seunghun; Abe, Yuko (eds.). "Adaptation and Adoption of Swahili Loanwords into Alagwa: Phonological Observation". Working Papers in African Linguistics (WoPAL): Selected Outcomes of the ReNeLDA Project. 1. Institute of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa: 1–28 – via Google Scholar.
- ^ a b c d e Mous, Maarten (2016). Alagwa: a South Cushitic language of Tanzania: grammar, texts and lexicon. Rüdiger Köppe Verlag. ISBN 978-3-89645-492-8. OCLC 1010339339.
- ^ Ethnologue - Alagwa