Sukuma Ancient Salt Technology

The discovery of the ability of plants to accumulate high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate in the catchment of Lake Eyasi of Sukumaland is believed to date about 5776 solar years ago. The inhabitants of Sukumaland, the Sukuma had been exploiting this phenomenon to extract the invaluable salt called “nyambo” for their household uses by drying and then burning the salt-rich plants called “nyambo” to extract the salt from the ashes.
Geographical Location
Sukumaland extends southwards from Lake Victoria to cover four administrative regions of Tanzania making Sukumaland, namely: Geita Region, Mwanza Region, Simiyu Region and Shinyanga Region.
Shinyanga and Simiyu Regions are particulary the most contributing parts of the catchment from Sukumaland into Lake Eyasi. The other regions of Sukumaland (Mwanza and Geita) predominantly pour their water into Lake Victoria.
Scientific Data
Mosha and Philip described the Tanzanian rift system salt lakes to be of high significant cultural, ecological, recreational and economical values especially in terms of nature’s concentrated multi-electrolyte science.
Uses of Sodium Bicarbonate (“Nyambo”) in Sukumaland
The Sukuma had been using the “nyambo” to soften vegetables (predominantly the "mlenda") since ancient times. “nyambo” is also used as an antiflatulent agent. It is largely exported nowadays to India, China and Japan and to the rest of Asia where it is believed to be used by tobacco chewers as a flavoring agent that helps to kill tobacco addiction.

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