Society and its Reproduction: The Case of Wasukuma of Tanzaania

Abstract

This paper discusses economic activities and their influence on the growth and development of human society in Usukuma. The specific objectives focused on firstly the significance of economic activities on the reproduction of human society from its evolution to the current stage. The paper dwelt on the transformation of the Sukuma society in the manner it has been evolving and the nature of economic activities it evolved. The other specific objective was
to show how diverse economic activities developed by Wasukuma contributed to the growth and development of the society of Wasukuma. The paper concludes that economic activities are the product of human evolution in the struggle to tame the environment for sustainable growth and development. The paper applied the theory of social transformation to inform this study by situating the Sukuma society in the context of historical process from pre colonialism through colonialism to post colonialism. It is revealed that during pre-colonial period the Sukuma evolved economic activities depending on the demands of the society, technological adaptation and what nature had in stock. Colonial superstructure transformed the Sukuma economic activities to the production of cash crops and minerals as demanded by colonial industries. Post colonial political system created dependency system whereby it inherited colonial economic activities. The main argument of this paper is that economic activities are invented by human beings who want to extract from nature the material life necessary for their existence and reproduction. The paper employed historical exploration utilizing qualitative approach and both primary and secondary historical sources for data collection. Data were collected by interviews, oral and generational histories, archives and documentary review from libraries.