Songea is the capital of the Ruvuma Region in southwestern Tanzania. Situated along the A19 road, the city has a population of approximately 286,285 and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Songea.
Historically, the city was a center of African resistance during the Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa between 1905 and 1907. In recent years, it has been identified as one of the fastest-growing cities on the African continent, with projected growth rates of 5.74% between 2020 and 2025.
The city is expected to undergo significant economic development in the coming years following the opening of the Mtwara Corridor. It is currently positioned to become the sixth fastest-growing city on the continent during this period.