Population estimates for the Tsonga (Vatsonga) people are very difficult to interpret. This is partially due to the fact that name "Shangaan," a subgroup of the Tsonga, often refers to the entire group in written literature. This is incorrect, however an understandable error when one realizes that the term Tsonga is also a subset of the larger Tsonga group and simply another name for Shangaan. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine whether references are being made towards the larger Tsonga population or the Shangaan people specifically. The Tsonga are distinguished for their practice in face scarring. This was originally done to deter Arab slave traders, however it is now considered a sign of beauty. They are also known for their extensive and dramatic puberty rites.
References:
- Johnston TF. "The role of music in Shangana-Tsonga social institutions ". Current Anthropology 15:73-6. (1974)

- Smith A. "The Peoples of Southern Mozambique: An Historical Survey". The Journal of African History 14:565-580. (1973)

Sample Name: Tsonga

Sample UID: SA000939V

Sample Description:This sample consists of unrelated adults and were used anonymously with the approval of the Univeristy of the Witwatersrand Committee for Research on Human Subjects. Only individuals who had indicated their ethic affiliation was included. The Tsonga belong to the Nguni language group.

Number of Chromosomes: 440

Relation to Other Samples:

References:
- Lane AB, Soodyall H, Arndt S, Ratshikhopha ME, Jonker E, Freeman C, Young L, Morar B, Toffie L "Genetic substructure in South African Bantu-speakers: evidence from autosomal DNA and Y-chromosome studies". Am J Phys Anthropol. 119:175-85. (2002) Online citation.

Sample Name: Tsonga

Sample UID: SA000115H

Sample Description:Tsonga

Number of Chromosomes: 28

Relation to Other Samples:

References:
- Jorde LB, Bamshad MJ, Watkins WS, Zenger R, Fraley AE, Krakowiak PA, Carpenter KD, Soodyall H, Jenkins T, Rogers AR. "Origins and affinities of modern humans: a comparison of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data.". Am. J. Hum. Genet. 57:523-538. (1995) Online citation.

Sample Name: Tsonga

Sample UID: SA000035I

Sample Description:This sample is comprised of individuals from the Tsonga and the Shangaan chiefdoms from the Limpopo River Valley in South Africa.

Number of Chromosomes: 100

Relation to Other Samples:

References:
- Kidd KK, Morar B, Castiglione CM, Zhao H, Pakstis AJ, Speed WC, Bonne-Tamir B, Lu RB, Goldman D, Lee C, Nam YS, Grandy DK, Jenkins T, Kidd JR. "A global survey of haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium at the DRD2 locus". Hum. Genet. 103:211-27. (1998) Online citation.

- Tishkoff SA, Goldman A, Calafell F, Speed WC, Deinard AS, Bonne-Tamir B, Kidd JR, Pakstis AJ, Jenkins T, Kidd KK. "A global haplotype analysis of the myotonic dystrophy locus: implications for the evolution of modern humans and for the origin of myotonic dystrophy mutations". Am. J. Hum. Genet. 62:1389-402. (1998) Online citation.

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