Brooke's Appreciation for Tanzania's Unique Culture and Traditions

Well known for world-famous national parks containing an abundance of wildlife, the adventurers dream of hiking Kilimanjaro, and the pristine waters of the beaches in Zanzibar, Tanzania provides a paradise for many exciting tourist activities. But when visiting Tanzania, what really stood out to me was the unique and diverse cultures and traditions. From the delicious food, beautiful clothes and the cheerfulness of the locals, Tanzania is a country that I would recommend anyone to add to their bucket list of travel destinations. 

I recently spent two weeks in Arusha, Tanzania, volunteering alongside Challenges Abroad and the FutureSense Foundation. I had the pleasure of working within a local primary school, conducting workshops based on social, physical and emotional wellbeing. Our main priority was to prepare fun and creative activities for the children that would provide them with a space to be able to express themselves. We danced, we sang and played sports, we laughed and talked about emotions, we spent time colouring in and drawing. The time we spent with the children was very rewarding and I will never forget the feeling of walking into a class everyday with 60-120 happy smiles staring back at me. 

One of Brooke's workshops within our partner school, focusing on Emotional Well-Being and Awareness.

 

Throughout our time in Arusha, Elizabeth and Maria from the FutureSense team took the time to educate us about Tanzanian history and culture. We spent our spare time exploring the streets of Arusha, visiting different cultural sites, Maasai markets and more. The Cultural Heritage Centre provided a beautiful representation of Tanzanian culture and its history: showcasing incredible artwork from local artists, carvings and artefacts, any person could spend hours wandering through this unique museum. While the Cultural Heritage does have its own souvenir shop, everything is bought from the markets and then sold here at a higher price – so my recommendation would be to head over to the Maasai markets where your money will go directly to the locals. While it can be a little overwhelming with the small walkways and eager locals contending for your business, it’s all a part of the experience! Here you will find beaded jewellery, batik and banana tree artwork, wooden sculptures and many great gift ideas. When it comes to prices, you will need to whip out your strong bartering skills to get a good deal - but remember to consider the time and effort taken into making what you’re buying, and the contribution you are making to a person’s livelihood (that extra $2 will go a long way!). 

One of the most beautiful elements I found about Tanzania was the acceptance of diversity. There are around 120 ethnic groups, 95% of which come from the Bantu region and many who still preserve their own traditional practices and customs. Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, was able to unite all these groups with a common language known as Kiswahili which is now spoken by everybody alongside the hundreds of local dialects. Apart from ethnic groups, Tanzania is an incredible example of how different religious groups have learned to live together in peace. With a 61% Christian, 35% Muslim and 4% traditional religion population, freedom to practice one’s religious beliefs is considered a human right in Tanzania. As one example, some girls wore headscarves, others not, and it didn’t matter. Everyone belonged to the community, everyone supported each other regardless of their religion, and it really was a beautiful sight to see. 

Another element that brought groups together was clothing, in particular the Kanga. We were lucky enough to have our beautiful house helper Mama showcase her unique kangas every day. This bright cotton fabric holds deep cultural significance as it has united people from every walk of life and is now worn by nearly every woman in Tanzania. Featuring bold, colourful prints and a personal Swahili proverb, these Kangas are commonly gifted for significant events and can be used in a multitude of ways. 

My favourite part about going to any new country is trying all the traditional food! What I loved about Tanzania is that all of the food eaten by locals is fresh and locally sourced – you see cattle and chickens roaming the streets freely, which adds to the whole experience. You will never typically find a resident walking down the aisle of a big supermarket; buying pre-packaged foods that are processed and contain preservatives. You will find them at the markets where everyone is selling their fresh fruits, vegetables and anything typically needed in a Tanzanian household. My absolute favourite food was Chapati. A simple flour, water and salt dough turned into a fluffy flatbread that went perfectly with any dish. Chipsi Mayai, a French fries and egg omelette, is a popular street food eaten by all locals that I enjoyed more than a few times. Then you have a staple side dish known as Ugali. This is a type of swallow consisting of either maize or corn flour that goes great with Samaki (fish), spinach or maharage (beans). Tanzanian food provides a great opportunity to eat healthy and wholesome foods, with lots of vegetarian options available too. 

I leave Tanzania with a strong appreciation for its culture, traditions and all the incredible people I met along the way. I am grateful that the FutureSense team supported us through our experience at the local primary school and took the time to educate us on their country. I found this Tanzania to be a deeply fascinating place, that prides itself on diversity and a its simple way of living. I would highly encourage anyone visiting to take the time to learn about the history of this incredible country and the people that live within it. Below I have listed a few recommendations for future travelers: 

• Clothing: When going out in public, it is recommended to cover your shoulders and legs. Tanzania is quite a conservative country and as a visitor one should always aim to show respect to the locals. 
• Please ask before taking any photos of local people. 
• Before travelling, or throughout your time in Tanzania, put in the effort to learn some Kiswahili words. As a visitor, it might not be expected for you to know any, but this is a simple way to show respect and interest in Tanzanian culture. 
• Relax! Once you get to Tanzania, you are now living on ‘African time’. Things may take a little longer, people arrive late to meetings, but this is just how it is. So, take a deep breath and enjoy. ‘Pole Pole’ which translates to ‘slowly slowly’, is a very typically used phrase. 
• Tourists with white skin will be called ‘Mzungu’. You stand out from the locals and that is to be expected. This is not a derogatory term, actually quite the opposite and it is very common for little children to greet you this way. 

Brooke and her group in Tanzania.