page_title: Zaramo people
section_title: Creating mwana hiti
hierarchical_section_title: Zaramo people / Initiation / Mwana Hiti Figures (in Regards to Mwali) / Creating mwana hiti
caption_attribution_description: English: Statuette mana hiti . Late 19th century. Tanzania. Population Zaramo or Doë. Wood, metal. Museum of Confluences. Deposit of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Lyon. inv. D 979-3-383. "Used during the initiation of young girls, these statuettes were also worn by women who wanted to conceive a child." Français&#160;: Statuette mana hiti. Fin 19e siècle. Tanzanie. Population Zaramo ou Doë. Bois, métal. Musée des Confluences. Dépôt des Oeuvres pontificales missionnaires, Lyon. inv. D 979-3-383. Utilisées durant l'initiation des jeunes filles, ces statuettes étaient portées également par les femmes qui souhaitaient concevoir un enfant.&#160;: notice du musée.
context_page_description: The Zaramo people, also referred to as Dzalamo or Saramo, are an East African ethnic group found along the coast of Tanzania, particularly in its Pwani Region. They are the largest ethnic group in and around Dar es Salaam, the former capital of Tanzania and the 7th largest city in Africa. Estimated to be about 0.7 million people, over 98% of them are Muslims, more specifically the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islam. Their culture and history have been shaped by their dwelling in both urban and rural landscapes.
context_section_description: Men are the carvers of mwana hiti, many creating reputations for their highly sought after figures. Mwana hiti are only commissioned, and there can't be more than one figure commissioned by a family at a time. Carvers also cannot create mwali hiti if a family already possesses one. The carver creates mwana hiti out of one piece of wood (or gourd) that he picks out, though any decorations for hair or jewelry must be provided by the family.
caption: Mwana hiti figure from Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France
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