Reshaping tradition: Community leaders in Tanzania breaking cycles of harm

In many rural Tanzanian communities, deeply rooted gender norms continue to limit women’s economic and social agency.

But in Mtwara, in southern Tanzania, a shift is taking place — one that is blending tradition with new knowledge and understanding.

Leading this change are Kungwi — women who work as traditional teachers of gendered topics who guide young women through cultural rites of passage related to marriage, sexuality, and domestic responsibility. Once considered to be reinforcing outdated practices, Kungwi like Saida are now reshaping their roles as community leaders and advocating for gender equality.