Kalenga

For the genus of Thyrididae moths, see Kalenga (moth).
Kalenga
Kata ya Kalenga
Ward
Kalenga is located in Tanzania
Kalenga
Kalenga
Location of Kalenga in Tanzania
Coordinates: 7°48′S 35°36′E / 7.800°S 35.600°E / -7.800; 35.600
Country Tanzania
RegionIringa Region
DistrictIringa Rural
WardKalenga
Population
 (2016)[1]: 89 
 • Total7,286
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode[2]
51201

Kalenga is an administrative ward in the Iringa Rural district of the Iringa Region of Tanzania. In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics reported its population to be 7,286, up from 6,963 in 2012.[1]: 105 [3]: 105 

Kalenga, which is situated along the side-lines of the Great Ruaha River, is one among the historical villages of "Iringa". It is known for being the residence of the famous Chief Mtwa Mkwawa of the Hehe tribe, who resisted German colonization.[4] Mkwawa fortified the village with a wall 4 meters high and 5 kilometers in circumference.[5] The town was stormed by a German force in 1894, and the fortifications were destroyed. Mkwawa continued to resist until 1898, when he was finally hunted down by the Germans and committed suicide. His head was cut off and sent to Germany, but eventually returned in 1954; his skull is now on display in a small museum in Kalenga.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2016_census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iringa_postcode was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2012_census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Later called by the Germans "Old Iringa", see Deutsches Kolonial-Lexikon, article "Iringa", online here (ger.)
  5. ^ Description of German commander von Scheele, according to John Iliffe, A Modern History of Tanganyika, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-29611-3, page 112