Sukuma Museum

The Sukuma are the largest ethnic group in Tanzania, and the museum at Bujora was set up in 1968 by a Canadian missionary working with Sukuma elders to record and keep their material culture. It is an open-air site: a royal pavilion, a drum house holding a large collection of instruments, a blacksmith's display, a church built in the form of a traditional round house, and a stage where the competing dance societies, including the famous snake dancers, perform.

The main sights

• The drum house - a large collection of Sukuma drums housed together.
• The royal pavilion - the chief's structure with its regalia and thrones.
• The dance societies - performances by the competing Sukuma dance groups.
• The round-house church - a church built in the form of a traditional dwelling.

When to go

June to October is the driest. Dance performances are seasonal and often need arranging in advance. The Bulabo dance festival falls in June.

Good to know

Displays are dated and the site needs maintenance in places. Dance performances are not guaranteed and must usually be booked and paid for separately. Interpretation is limited.

Nearby

Mwanza is west, and Ukerewe is north.

Key facts