Plants are used across the world for medical treatment, particularly in Africa. This study investigates and documents indigenous knowledge and use of medicinal plants among the Kuria communities in the Tarime and Serengeti districts of Mara Region, Tanzania. Ethnobotanical data were collected in collaboration with 20 Traditional healers (THs) aged between 30 and 85 years. The methods used were jungle-walk-and-identify, local field guides and observation, semi structured interviewers, focus group discussion with traditional healers, folk taxonomy, and scientific identification of plants. Kuria medicinal plant healers reported 100 medicinal plants belonging to 34 different families. Asteraceae family (15%) prevails, followed by Fabaceae (13%), and Lamiaceae (12%). Erect herbs constitute the largest fraction (41%), followed by shrubs (27%), trees (24%), grasses (4%), climbers (4%) and ferns (1%). Vines are not used as a medicinal plant despite their wide availability. Leaves are the most used parts of medicinal plants. Healers list about 53 different diseases treated with plants, the most common being abdominal pain (12.1% of plants) and urinary tract infections (10% of plants). Kuria medicinal plant healers have rich expert botanical and medicinal knowledge. An analysis of bioactive components in these medicinal plants is important for selection of medicinal plants to be used for drug development.

Naming can sometimes be associated with particular situations or someone’s birth. This study intends to find out the association between Datooga names and socio-cultural backgrounds. The study employs a qualitative research approach, in which case the collected data was subjected to descriptive analysis. Data have been collected from Datooga speaking students studying at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, through Interviews and Questionnaire. The analysis is based on the Kripke’s three arguments in naming as described by Speaks (2007). The theory explains how naming is achieved with reference to the modal argument, the semantic argument and the epistemic argument. The findings of the study have revealed that in the Datooga society, naming is associated with different phenomena particularly time of birth and prevailing situations, traditions, norms and customs.

Ikisiri Viambishi nafsi ni miongoni mwa viambishi ambatizi ambavyo hupachikwa mwanzoni mwa vitenzi vya Kibantu (yaani kabla ya mzizi). Kazi kubwa ya viambishi nafsi ni kuleta upatanisho wa kisarufi. Tafiti nyingi zinaonesha kuwa viambishi vya uambatizi hutokea kabla ya mzizi wa kitenzi, tofauti na vile vya unyambulishaji vinavyobadili kategoria au maana vinavyotokea baada ya mzizi. Makala hii inachunguza nafasi ya viambishi nafsi katika kitenzi cha Kikuria (E43). Data iliyotumika ni ya maktabani, hasa kutoka kwenye chapisho la Charwi (2017) na kutoka maandiko mengine ya Kikuria. Nadharia iliyotumika ni Nadharia ya Uambatizi kama inavyoelezwa na Stump (2001), ambayo inafafanua kuwa kila neno linaloambikwa ndani ya sentensi linabeba seti ya sifa za kimofosintaksia. Makala hii imebaini kuwa viambishi hivi vinaweza kutokea kabla au baada ya mzizi wa kitenzi na havibadili kategoria au maana ya neno.