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The nation of Tanzania is a place in which tradition lives through the routine. The culture of Tanzania is a bright mosaic of people, languages, beliefs and customs, beginning with the rhythms of the traditional drumming in the rural villages to warm greetings linger on the streets of the crowded markets. Travelers who want something more than just the landscapes and wildlife should find it in the people of the country – and there is no better way of getting to know Tanzania than to learn the culture.
Tanzanian culture is based on diversity at the center. There are more than 120 different ethnic communities living in the country, and each of them brings its traditions, dialects, and customs. However, despite all this unbelievable diversity, the national identity is very strong and is bound by people speaking Kiswahili, which is the official language that unites the people of the coastal towns of Zanzibar to the highlands of the Usambara Mountains. Kiswahili is not just a language, it is unity, respect, and feelings of belonging, which the Tanzanian society can be characterized by.
Tanzanians are significantly hospitality-based. A smile, a handshake, and sincerity are usually offered to the visitors. It is customary in a village to have strangers given food, tea, and even a bed to sleep on as a sign of kinship rather than an act of charity. The idea of ujamaa or familyhood/community togetherness still forms part of everyday life. It defines the manner in which individuals can relate, encourage each other and celebrate significant events.
Tanzanian identity cannot be separated with music and dance. Every part has its rhythm to express, and so is the case with the Sukuma and their energetic ngoma performances, or the Arabian and Indian influences of taarab and fill the narrow streets of Zanzibar with tunes and music. Songs, drums and stories are other forms of art that are practiced in traditional ceremonies and which preserve history as well as impart values to the young generation. The combination of traditional beats with contemporary bongo flava in such modern cities as Dar es Salaem is the refraction of how the culture of Tanzania develops without losing its roots.
The story of the cultural richness of Tanzania is the food. In the mainland, foods such as ugali (maize flour dish) and nyama choma (grilled meat) serve as the most common things that unite people around the common meal, whereas on the Swahili coast, the centuries of the trade introduced the local dishes with the taste of cocoanuts and cloves, as well as spices. Dining is a social process – it is an occasion to bond, laugh and tell stories. The travelers who attend local cooking classes or eat in the family restaurants soon learn that the Tanzanian food culture is an expression of warmth and friendship.
The spiritual life in Tanzania is another dimension of culture. The dominant religions are Christianity and Islam which co-exist harmoniously with the indigenous beliefs that are still strong in the rural regions. The reverence to the ancestors, the blessing of the elders and the traditional healing methods remain crucial in daily living.
This spirit is captured excellently in art. In the complex tingatinga paintings with their color and symbolism, to the Makonde wood carvings, which symbolize life and unity, creativity is flowing everywhere in the country. The cultural festivals like Zanzibar International Film Festival and Sauti za Busara are not only a demonstration of the music and art but also the perseverance and creativity of the East African culture.
In the case of a traveler, it is the interaction with local culture that would make a visit a significant experience. A visit to a Maasai village will provide the knowledge of the pastoral culture, warriorism, and bright clothing which tells centuries of history. Each part of the world has got its own story, whether it is the coffee making of the Chagga in Kilimanjaro, or the hunting culture of the Hadzabe in Lake Eyasi which has been in practice since times immemorial.
Exploring Tanzania is not simply an observation that can be made, it is a connecting process. It is the story telling and listening in the stars, picking up some Swahili greetings, and laughing at a meal that has been made locally. These are not just tourism experiences, they are experiences that form long after one is off the road.