Diagnosis: The steeply-sloped vomer without a swollen rostral tip, a small mouth, retrognathic jaws, and the presence of bicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the oral jaws and enlarged conical teeth at the back of the jaws place this species in Tropheops (Ref. 119465). Tropheops kumwera, body depth 23.6-31.0% of standard length, cannot reliably be distinguished from other Tropheops in body depth, 26.6-34.5% of standard length; it does have relatively smaller eye than other Tropheops, horizontal eye diameter 25.8-32.6% of head length and vertical eye diameter 24.2-31.4% of head length vs. 31.2-43.8% and 29.9-43.3% respectively, except T. kamtambo with 26.3-30.2% and 24.0-29.7% respectively (Ref. 119465). It can often be distinguished from T. kamtambo by a shallower head depth than in T. kamtambo, head depth 70.2-84.5% of head length vs. 79.4-97.1%; males of T. kumwera in territorial colour are distinguished from those of T. biriwira by their blue ground colouration and a blue dorsal fin, which are olive green/light blue and yellow-green in T. biriwira respectively; breeding male T. kumwera usually exhibit only the first 3-4 flank bars while male T. kamtambo exhibit all 9-10 bars; female T. kumwera lack a submarginal band in the dorsal fin which is present in female T. kamtambo (Ref. 119465).

Description: Elongate species, body depth 23.6-31.0% of standard length, with greatest body depth at base of fifth or sixth dorsal-fin spine (Ref. 119465). Dorsal body profile with gradual downward curve to soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin then more acute curve to posterior origin of dorsal fin, gradual taper to caudal fin; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fins flat with upward curve from anterior point of anal fin to caudal fin; dorsal head profile concave to almost straight between snout tip and interorbital area, with about 70° angle with body axis, then round to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 119465). Teeth on outer rows mostly bicuspid, all inner rows tricuspid towards the center and unicuspid laterally with greatly enlarged conical teeth on sides of upper jaw (Ref. 119465). First dorsal-fin spine about one fourth length of last spine; dorsal fin with subacuminate posterior tip, third or fourth ray longest, slightly beyond base of caudal fin; pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped reaching to ninth dorsal-fin spine; anal fin with third or fourth ray longest, length beyond base of caudal fin in both male and female, to about as far as dorsal-fin tip; caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate; length of longest ray of pelvic fin not to anal fin in females; to first anal-fin ray in males (Ref. 119465). Flank scales large, ctenoid; abrupt difference to small cycloid scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4-7 rows of small scales; dorsal-fin and anal-fin rays with narrow proximal band of tiny scales; tiny scales from base to 3/4 length caudal fin (Ref. 119465).

Colouration: Population at Boadzulu Island: males in territorial colour with blue flank and 7-9 dark bars, first 4-6 distinct, posterior bars faint; head black with 2 light blue interorbital bars; throat dark brown; cheek and preopercle dark brown to black; dorsal fin proximally blue with black submarginal band, white/light blue lappets; posterior 5 rays light blue with light gray/clear membranes and yellow highlights; pectoral fin with black rays and clear membranes; fin base yellow; pelvic fin black to yellow ventrally with white leading edge; anal fin black with 4-6 yellow ocelli; light blue marginal band (Ref. 119465). Females of Boadzulu Island with purple/dark blue flank and 6-8 black bars, less distinct on center flank; belly and breast light gray/beige; head blue/purple with 1-2 faint blue interorbital bars; green highlights on opercle; throat brown/gray; anal-fin spines gray; rays light gray without ocelli; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin with white leading edge, dark gray rays, and clear membranes (Ref. 119465). Population at Makokola Reef: males in territorial colour with similar pattern as those of Boadzulu Island, except with blue/purple/gray flank and 4-5 black bars; belly gray; cheek purple/blue with green highlight on opercle; anal fin with 3-6 ocelli; females with same colour pattern as those found around Boadzulu Island (Ref. 119465). Population at Tsano Rock: males in territorial colour with similar colour pattern as those of Boadzulu Island, except with orange highlights on opercle; anal fin black with leading edge light blue fading to green/blue with 3-6 ocelli; females with similar colour pattern as those of Boadzulu Island, except with blue/light gray flank; caudal peduncle light gray; head light gray with 1 green interorbital bar; throat light gray/beige; dorsal fin light gray proximally, dark gray distally with blue lappets and blue/green highlights; caudal fin gray with clear membranes and blue dorsal and ventral margin; anal fin with green highlights proximally (Ref. 119465).