TANZANIA CULTURE

Culture

Mwalimu Nyerere once said that culture is the essence and spirit of any nation,A country which lack its own culture is no more than a collection of people without the spirit which makes them a nation. Tanzania has been described as one of the most diverse countries in Africa and this is reflected in the fact that there are more than 158 local languages spoken in the country. Swahili is the national language that is widely spoken while English is the official language of education; administration and business. Local people are native African 99 percent of which 95 percent are Bantu consisting of more than 120 tribes and the remaining 1 percent consisting of Asians, Europeans, and Arabs. Most of the population belongs to Christianity Muslim religions and indigenous religions though there is a small number of Hindus and atheists. Generally, Tanzania culture is a product of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. Traditional African values are being consciously adapted to modern life, although at a much slower pace among the Maasai. This section highlights aspects of culture including People and life style, Organisations involved in Cultural Activities ,Ethnic Groups, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Literature.