Culture of Tanzania

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (January 2008)

Languages

Over 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania, most of them from the Bantu family. After independence, the government recognized that this represented a problem for national unity, and as a result introduced the Swahili language into all primary schools to spread its use. Swahili is the de facto official language; what the de jure official language or languages of the country are is not clear. However, English is so commonly used that it often serves the purpose.

Given the conditions of the period, it was not possible to introduce Swahili in the entire educational system, because the scale of the task of writing or translating textbooks for primary schools was already considerable. As a result, English, the colonial language since the end of World War I, is still the language of high schools and universities. Many students leave school after finishing primary education.

Although the many tribal languages are not actively suppressed, they do not enjoy the same linguistic rights as Swahili, and little by little they are disappearing, see language extinction. To date none of them has entirely vanished, but it is clear that unless the linguistic policy is changed, many will soon cease to exist.

Swahili literature

Some writers include:

• Shaaban Robert
• Penina Muhando Mlama
• Amandina Lihamba
• Edwin Semzaba
• Euphrase Kezilahabi
• Shafi Adam Shafi
• Chachage Seith Chachag
• Mustafa robert alleno

Music

National anthem

The Tanzanian national anthem is Mungu Ibariki Afrika (God Bless Africa), composed by South African composer Enock Sontonga. The song is also the national anthem of South Africa (with another tune),Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Art music

The music industry in Tanzania has seen many changes in the past ten years.With the mix of outside culture and the original feel of rich Tanzanian culture, Tanzanian musicians have become one of the best artists in East Africa.From the legendary artists such as Dionys Mbilinyi,Sabinus Komba and many others,to new vibrat artists in R&B, Pop, Zouk, Taarab and Dance Music. Art musicians include: . Mr.Elliot Andy

• Dionys Mbilinyi - Composer, pianist, church organist and choral conductor
• John Mgandu - Composer, pianist, church organist and choral conductor
• Sabinus Komba - Ethnomusicologist, composer and conductor
• Imani Sanga - Composer, ethnomusicologist, church organist and choral conductor
• Mutdamnyoba - Composer and choral conductor
• Amri Hingi - Composer and choral conductor
• Isaac Nyato - Composer and choral conductor
• Ng'asi- Pianist
• Dani Simile - Composer and choral conductor

Art

Painting

Tanzanian painters include Edward Said Tinga Tinga, Mohammed Raza, Elias Jengo, and Stephen Ndibalema. Tingatinga are the popular African paintings painted with enamel paints on canvas. Usually the motives are animals and flowers in colourful and repetitive design. The style was started by Mr. Edward Saidi Tingatinga born in South Tanzania. Later he moved to Dar Es Salaam. Since his death in 1972 the Tingatinga style expanded both in Tanzania and worldwide. One of the most famous African artists was born in Tanzania - [George Lilanga]. Other recognized Tanzanian abstract artists are David Mzuguno, Haji Chilonga, Salum Kambi, Max Kamundi, [Thobias Minzi], Robino Ntila, John Kilaka and many others.

• Tinga Tinga painting - Brightly colored and whimiscal nature art indigenous to Tanzania
• www.tingatinga.info - Information about Tingatinga
• Website of John Kilaka
• Tanzania art on Internet
• Information about George Lilanga

See also

• br:Tinga Tinga (Breton)

Sculpture

• Makonde sculpture
• George Lilanga, who died in 2005, was one of Tanzania's most famous sculptors.

Food

Tanzanian cuisine is both unique and widely varied. Along the coastal regions (Dar-es-salaam, Tanga, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar & Pemba), spicy foods are common, and there is also much use of coconut milk. Regions in Tanzania's mainland also have their own unique foods. Some typical mainland Tanzanian foods include rice (Wali), Ugali (maize porridge), Chapati (a kind of bread), Nyama Choma (grilled meat), Mshikaki (marinated beef), fish, Pilau & Biryani, Ndizi-Nyama (plantains with meat). Commonly used vegetables include Bamia (okra), Mchicha (a kind of spinach), Njegere (green peas), Maharage (beans) and Kisamvu (cassava leaves).

Famous Snacks: Maandazi (bread rolls), Visheti, Kashata, Kabab, Samosa (Sambusa), Mkate wa kumimina (Zanzibar rice bread), Vileja, Vitumbua (rice patties), Bagia & many others

Beverages

Many people drink tea (Chai) in Tanzania. Usually tea is drunk in the morning, during breakfast with Chapati and Maandazi, and at times at night during supper. Coffee is second, and is usually taken in the evening when the sun is down, and people are on the front porch, playing cards or Bao. Many drink coffee with Kashata (a very sweet snack made from coconut meat or groundnuts).

There are also local beverages depending on the different tribes and regions. Local Brews: For coastal regions, such as Tanga and Dar-es-salaam, Mnazi/Tembo is widely consumed. Other brews include Wanzuki and Mbege among the Chagga, and Lubisi and Nkonyagi as well as Mbandule among the Haya found on the shore of Lake Victoria.

See also

• Religion in Tanzania