Kinyangiri is an administrative ward in the Mkalama District of the Singida Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward had a total population of 18,838. According to the 2012 census, the population had decreased to 13,475.
Historical Background
A native tribe of Wanyiramba has been living in Kinyangiri and its surroundings long before the arrival of Germans in the 1890s who settled and established infrastructure to exploit food production. Later, Arabs arrived from Oman and settled as well as businessmen. In the 1950s, the village was one of the most developed wards in Singida region with multiple infrastructure including primary school, milling machines, water supply, hospital and food storage facility.
Kinyangiri is situated about 20 km from Iguguno town which is connected to the national paved highway. An unpaved Trunk from Iguguno passes through Kinyangiri en route to Mkalama District. Regular buses run daily between Singida and Mkalama passing Kinyagiri. A paved trunk road from Singida Region runs 40 km to Iguguno which has hourly mini-buses. It normally take 2 hours to travel by bus from Singida town to Kinyangiri.
Kinyangiri depends heavily on agricultural activity as its main source of business income. Cash crops includes maize, millet, beans and groundnuts.
Housing and Buildings
Kinyangiri has some old buildings dating back more than 100 years during the Germany occupation. Mahakama which translates to court house and food storage facility are the oldest buildings in the village dating back to the 1890s. There are also new and modern houses with self contained rooms with electricity and running water but majority of houses are simple traditional built using earth soil, wood and grass for roofing.
Health Care
Kinyangiri hospital is the public and only health center in Kinyangiri as well as surrounding villages. The center provides health care and clinics for children. There are currently two chemists shops. The village also utilize traditional medicines of which its knowledge is passed from one generation to another. Locals usually use herbals from wild roots and grasses to cure certain diseases such as malaria.
Religion and Culture
The ward has a significant number of Muslims and Christians, while the majority of the natives are indigenous believers. There are two small mosques and a Catholic church.
