1.1 Introduction The concepts of disability across the continent of Africa is a topic of much examination by various researchers. Results indicate that disability is perceived differently in every culture, which shapes the services rendered to people with disabilities. This research aims to examine the concepts of disability in the Chagga ethnic group in Tanzania and evaluate how those concepts affect the lives of people with disabilities in dynamic ways: physically, sociologically and psychologically. In the Chagga community, as in any other African community, there are many traditional and cultural practices that shape their way of life. Most of these practices aim to shape the life of each community member. Therefore, the way the Chagga community manages issues concerning disability (verbally and practically) originates from their concept and treatment of humans, as instructed by their traditional and cultural practices. Henceforth, this study reflects on rituals, practices and beliefs about disability and people with disabilities among the Chagga community and how they affect their human relationships and care for people with disabilities. It analyses disability concepts related to the Ngasi ritual and other rituals that involve harming people with disabilities. Chapter Two describes these rituals, practices, and beliefs, also it presents the Chagga community’s background. 1.2 Statement of Interest on Disability Research Living and working among Chagga people are the foremost factors to research regarding concepts about disabilities in this community. I am a member of the Chagga community with eight years of experience as a parish pastor in two parishes. In July 2015, we started a care centre for people with mental and physical disabilities at one of the Lutheran parishes where I worked. The process of starting the centre brought awareness to the negative beliefs and perceptions of disability in this community, even by church members. Their perceptions of disability make it difficult to assist people with disabilities in various ways. The establishment of the centre raised questions about why it was needed, more so than considering it as a way to assist people with disabilities. The questions came from parish committees and members, who concluded that having the centre was a waste of parish resources. The committees claimed that other more ‘meaningful’ activities required funding. Their argument implied that caring for and supporting people with disabilities were not essential. However, after much persuasion I convinced the committees to create the centre. It was unfortunate that some families refused to allow members with disabilities to attend the centre. Most families quit the centre with no apparent reason, and some hid or removed the person with a disability, making it impossible to reach them. This situation influenced my investigation into disability perceptions in this community to understand the families’ attitudes better. Each person with a disability registered at the parish centre had never attended a centre, school, or public place such as a church or hospital. I assumed that most families were ashamed of having a member with a disability and feared being mocked or exposed as a family with disability status, which they kept hidden from their community. Therefore, people with disabilities registered in the parish centre had their first contact outside of their families when attending it, possibly disturbing them and their families. Additionally, when I approached families with members that resigned from the centre, they complained that they lacked the means to commute to the centre. This was a genuine claim from those who needed transport and disability mobility; however, most people with disabilities could walk to and from the centre if escorted.