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Location
The United Republic of Tanzania is situated in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It shares borders with eight other countries: To the north, it borders Uganda; to the northeast, it shares a border with Kenya; the Indian Ocean lies to the east; to the south, it borders Mozambique and Malawi; Zambia is located to the southwest; and to the west, Tanzania shares borders with Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
See also: Geography of Tanzania
Administrative Divisions
Tanzania is divided into thirty-one regions (mkoa). Each region is further subdivided into 169 districts (wilaya). There are three types of urban districts: Town Council, Municipal Council, and City Council and one type of rural district: a District Council. Divisions (tarafa): A division (tarafa) serves as an administrative organization for several wards (kata), which are the lowest level of government administrative structures at the community level. In urban areas, a cluster of streets forms a ward (mtaa). Rural wards consist of several villages. Villages (kijiji) are further subdivisions within wards. They may also be divided into smaller units called hamlets (kitongoji).
See also: Administrative Divisions of Tanzania
Dodoma is Tanzania's official national capital. Dar es Salaam is the nation's largest city, with 4.4 million people. Other importnat cities include Mwanza, Arusha, and Mbeya.
History
The history of Tanzania is rich and multifaceted. Let’s delve into its fascinating past:
At Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge, often called “The Cradle of Mankind,” archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Acheulian stone tools in 1931, marking the oldest human technology found in Africa. The gorge also yielded the first hominid skull, known as Zinj or Nutcracker Man, and estimated to be over 1.8 million years old.
Tanzania's mainland territory, known as Tanganyika, was a German colony under German East Africa from the 1880s to 1919. After World War I, it became a British mandate under the League of Nations. Zanzibar, the coastal archipelago, was successively controlled by the Portuguese, the Sultanate of Oman, and eventually became a British protectorate by the late nineteenth century. In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the modern-day United Republic of Tanzania.
Julius Nyerere, an independence leader and affectionately known as “baba wa taifa” (father of the nation), ruled Tanganyika for decades. After his retirement in 1985, political and economic reforms began and Tanzania emerged as a sovereign state, blending the histories of Tanganyika and Zanzibar into a unified nation.
See also: History of Tanzania
Ethnicities
Tanzania is a diverse nation with over 100 distinct ethnic groups and tribes. Bantu Groups form the majority and include more than 130 tribes. Notable Bantu ethnicities include: Sukuma, the largest ethnic group, comprising about 16% of Tanzania’s population; Wanyakyusa; and Chagga, known for their presence on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Nilotic-Speaking Groups include the Maasai, who are known for their distinctive culture, pastoral lifestyle, and vibrant clothing, as well as the Datooga and Ha. The Cushitic Groups include the Barabaig, Burunge, and Hadimu, and the Akie, belong to the Khoisan Group. Akie: A hunter-gatherer group in Tanzania and Kenya. Other minorities include Arabs, Asians, and Europeans. Mixed Arab-African communities exist in Zanzibar.
See also: Demographics of Tanzania
Languages
Swahili is the official national language of Tanzania. Also known as Kiswahili, Swahili is widely spoken and understood across various ethnic groups, and serves as the nation's language of social interactions, politics, and primary education.
Although not native, English is a de facto language inherited from colonial rule. It serves as a working language, especially in secondary education, universities, technology, and higher courts. Arabic is spoken regionally, primarily in Zanzibar, where it has historical significance. Chaga, Makonde, Sukama, Nyiramba, and other Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic languages are also spoken by various ethnic groups. Hadza and Sandawe hunter-gatherers have languages with click consonants, tentatively classified within the Khoisan phylum.
See also: Languages of Tanzania
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Religions
Tanzania is a secular state, and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Christianity is the largest religion in Tanzania. It includes both Roman Catholics and Protestants. Lutherans and Moravians reflect the German colonial past, while Anglicans connect to the British history of Tanganyika. Tanzania also has a substantial Muslim minority. Sunni Muslims form the majority, with a significant Shia minority. Zanzibar, in particular, is predominantly Muslim, with about 99% of its population adhering to Islam. A little more than 10% of Tanzanians practice traditional faiths, which vary across ethnic groups and regions. Other minority religions groups include Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Bahá’ís primarily among Tanazania's Asian minorities.
See also: Religion in Tanzania
Tanzanian Naming Conventions
Tanzanian names are often chosen based on the circumstances of birth, family events, and historical context. The Rombo-Chagga community in Kilimanjaro exemplifies this elaborate naming tradition. Among the Rombo-Chagga people, clan names are associated with the Chagga calendar and socio-economic activities. For instance, a name like Mkenda might mean “born during unlucky days.” Home names reveal specific circumstances at birth or historical events within the family. For example, Ndekir’yo translates to “I am cured.” Personal names may include religious (formal) names. For instance, Barakaeli means “God-bless.”
Like other Bantu-speaking communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzanian naming practices have been influenced by Christianization, Islamization, and colonization. Christian and English names, as well as Islamic and Arabic names, have replaced some of the elaborately meaningful African names.
See also: Tanzanian Names