Tanzania Culture & Languages

The Maasai

Out of the plethora of tribal groups in Tanzania, one of the most iconic is the Maasai of northern Tanzania. Despite using mobile phones and other perks of modern life, the Maasai have held firmly onto their traditions. As the seasons changed the nomadic pastoralists, the Maasai, would traditionally move their cattle great distances in search of new grazing.

Once established in a new area, they would construct a manyatta – several small huts (made from dung and soil) surrounded by a protective ring of thorn-tree branches to keep predators, like lions, away from their cattle. This practice allowed the grazed land that they left behind to rest and regenerate.

Cattle, believed to be sent down from heaven for safekeeping by their god Enkai, are a central part of their way of life and economy. Cattle provide them with all their basic needs, but more profound than that, the Maasai see them as a status of wealth. The greater the number of cattle, the greater the wealth.

Their language, the Maa, is spoken by 800,000 Maasai.  It is said to be derived from the Eastern Nilotic language, and can be heard from Tanzania to northern Kenya.

Life of the Maasai today

Unfortunately, the Maasai way of life is under threat. Competition for land forces the Maasai to stay in one spot, leading to overgrazing and land degradation, damaging wildlife habitat. However, hope for their way of life is being demonstrated at the Enonkishu Conservancy, where several Maasai herds have been combined, and grazing is planned to mimic large migratory herds of wildebeest. Consequently, grasslands are recovering to benefit both the Maasai and the wildlife.

The Hadzabe

The Hadzabe or Hadza are a tiny tribe of hunter-gatherers based around Lake Eyasi, 75 kilometres south of Ngorongoro Crater. Descendants of the original hunter-gatherers’, their way of life has existed for hundreds of years.

They live in small groups of twenty with no hierarchy and share everything equally. They hunt with bow and arrow and forage for berries, tubers and honey from aggressive African bees. For shelter, they build small grass domes, and they only move camp in search of better hunting grounds if a conflict occurs or if there is an illness or death in the group.

Their language, known as Hadzabe, is integral to their culture. Despite only a small population of Hadzabe remaining, their language is not regarded as at risk.  When the Hadzabe talk, it sounds like chatter, clicks and pops. Interestingly, they use a series of stories to pass down their long history to the next generation.

Today, their population hovers around 1200 people; however, according to statistics, only 400 live traditional, hunter-gatherer lives. Diminishing habitats to hunt in, impact from tourism and pastoralists seeking out new grazing areas are impacting their way of life. As a result, they move to cities and nearby villages. That is why witnessing their culture while it is still alive is so important.

These are just two of the many different cultural groups in Tanzania.

Curious about the food and drink in Tanzania? When you travel to Tanzania you will not be disappointed. You will discover a large breadth of cuisines that use some of the best produce on the planet.

Traditional Tanzania cuisine

Carbohydrates are a fundamental part of traditional dishes in Tanzania. Ugali, water and maize meal, is cooked and stirred slowly to form a consistency a little like mashed potatoes. Traditionally a daily meal, you break Ugali into small balls by hand; then you form an indent with your thumb and use it to scoop up Sukuma-wiki (delicious wilted collard greens and spices such as cumin and coriander) and nyama choma (nyama/meat cooked over an open fire).

Tanzanians eat Ugali or rice along with a variety of stew-like dishes, such as Mkuzi wa Samaki (samaki/fish stew) or Mkuzi wa kuku (kuku/chicken stew). Both are made with a mix of vegetables, spices and coconut milk. Mchemsho, is a boiled dish with a mixture of meat and vegetables (the Swahili verb to boil is: kuchemsha), which creates a simple, but delicious dish.

Two other carbohydrates used regularly in Tanzanian cooking include rice, often cooked in coconut milk to produce Wali wa nazi, and plantain, cooked a number of different ways and is generally referred to as Ndizi.

Look out for delicious deep-fried Mandazi. This is a very popular snack, you make it from wheat flour, eggs, fresh milk, sugar, and bicarbonate soda.

Fusion food

Thanks to the large population of Indians and due to the long and rich history of Arabs in East Africa you can find an amazing fusion of spices, cultures and great products. Seek out dishes like Kuku Paka a coconut-based-curry. Or Mchuzi Biringani, deep-fried egg-plant mixed with other vegetables – a simple yet delicious dish. If travelling to Zanzibar try a murtabak or Zanzibar pizza. It is a type of flat bread with spiced-meat, vegetables and cheese on top.

The food in Tanzania will not disappoint. It is home to delicious tropical fruit and produce. Thanks to 129 ethnic groups, the diversity in the way Tanzanians prepare food creates some very delicious meals.