Languages

A total of 128 languages are spoken in Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

, most of them from the Bantu

Bantu languages

The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...

 family. After independence, the government recognized that this represented a problem for national unity, and as a result introduced the Swahili language

Swahili language

Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...

 into all primary schools to spread its use. Swahili and English are the official languages, however the former is the national language.

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 textbook

Textbook

A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...

s for primary schools was already considerable. As a result, English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, the colonial language since the end of World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, is still the language of high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

s and universities

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

. 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 they face language extinction, with one, Kw’adza, having no known speakers.

Swahili literature

Some writers include:

• Shaaban Robert
• Penina Muhando Mlama
• Amandina Lihamba
• Edwin Semzaba
  Edwin Semzaba
  Edwin Semzaba is a Tanzanian novelist, playwright, actor and director. He writes his works mainly in Swahili. He teaches in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania...
  
  
• Euphrase Kezilahabi
  Euphrase Kezilahabi
  Euphrase Kezilahabi is a Tanzanian novelist, poet, and scholar. Born in Ukerewe, Tanganyika , he is currently based at the University of Botswana, where he is an Associate Professor at the Department of African Languages....
  
  
• Shafi Adam Shafi
• Chachage Seith Chachag
• Mustafa Robert Alleno
• Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi

National anthem

The Tanzanian national anthem is Mungu Ibariki Afrika

Mungu ibariki Afrika

' is the national anthem of Tanzania. The anthem is the Swahili language version of Enoch Sontonga's popular hymn that is also used as Zambia's anthem and part of South Africa's. It was formerly also used as Zimbabwe's anthem...

(God Bless Africa), composed by South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

n composer Enock Sontonga. The song is also the national anthem of South Africa (with another tune), Zambia and Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

.

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 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
  Imani Sanga
  Imani Sanga an ethnomusicologist, composer and Choral Conductor is a Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Born in Matamba Uwanji in 1972, Imani Sanga was educated at Chimala primary school, Kidugala Lutheran Seminary, University of Dar es Salaam where he earned...
  
   - Composer, ethnomusicologist, church organist and choral conductor
• Mutayoba - 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
• Mwakisinini Felix - Composer and choral conductor

Painting

Tanzanian painters include Edward Said Tinga Tinga, Mohammed Raza, Elias Jengo, and Stephen Ndibalema. Tingatinga

Tingatinga

Tingatinga is an administrative ward in the Monduli district of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 4,811....

 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, Godfrey Semwaiko, Evarist Chikawe and many others. (see also http://www.artshost.org/rafiki)

Cartoon

Tanzania's cartoons have a history that can be traced back to the work of pioneering artists such as Christian Gregory with his Chakubanga cartoons in Uhuru newspaper in the 1970s and 1980s, and Philip Ndunguru in the early 1980s. Outspokenly political cartoons are of more recent date.
In the past decade, the art of cartoons and comics has really taken off in Tanzania. At present there are dozens of cartoonists, some of whom are well known throughout the country. From the 1960s on, a number of artists prepared the way, and their names are cited by today's artists as essential influences some of the known cartoonists in Tanzania are Ally Masoud 'kipanya', Sammi Mwamkinga, Nathan Mpangala 'Kijasti', King kinya, Adam Lutta, Fred Halla, James Gayo, Robert Mwampembwa, Francis Bonda, Popa Matumula, Noah Yongolo, Oscar Makoye, Fadhili Mohamed and others.(also see the excellent history of cartoons in Tanzania at the Worldcomics website http://www.worldcomics.fi).

• 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

Sculpture

• Makonde sculpture
• George Lilanga
  George Lilanga
  George Lilanga was a Tanzanian artist. He was of the Makonde tribe and lived in Dar es Salaam. His work was exhibited in international expositions of African contemporaries including Africa Remix in Düsseldorf, Paris, London and Tokyo...
  
  , who died in 2005, was one of Tanzania's most famous sculptors.

Cuisine

Tanzanian cuisine is both unique and widely varied. Along the coastal regions (Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam Region

Dar es Salaam Region is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is the city of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam is the wealthiest region in Tanzania. It is also the most densely populated region with 1,786 people per square mile. The region of Dar es Salaam has the population...

, Tanga

Tanga Region

Tanga Region is one of the 26 regions of Tanzania. The regional headquarters is in Tanga. According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the region has a population of 1,642,015 people....

, Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo District

Bagamoyo is one of the 6 districts of the Pwani Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Tanga Region, to the West by the Morogoro Region, to the East by the Indian Ocean and to the South by the Kibaha District. The district capitol is at Bagamoyo.According to the 2002 Tanzania...

, Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...

 & 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

Rice

Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...

 (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

Okra

Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins...

), Mchicha (a kind of spinach), Njegere (green peas), Maharage (beans) and Kisamvu (cassava

Cassava

Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...

 leaves).

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

Since a large proportion of Khoja Indians had migrated into Tanzania, a considerable proportion of Tanzanian cuisine had been influenced by indian cuisine

Indian cuisine

Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...

. Famous chefs such as Mohsin Asharia have revolutionised dishes such as Kashata Korma Tabsi and Voodo Aloo. Many Khoja Indians own restaurants in the heart of Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...

 and have been welcomed by indiginous Tanzanians.

Beverages

Many people drink tea

Tea

Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...

 (Chai) in Tanzania. Usually tea is drunk in the morning, during breakfast with Chapati and Maandazi, and at times at night during supper. Coffee

Coffee

Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...

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, Nkencha and Nkonyagi as well as Mbandule among the Haya found on the shore of Lake Victoria.