Background information; by edgardowelelo@yahoo.com
Most Tanzanians are indigenous as they find their roots here compared with colonialists who invaded Tanzanian borders and remained to be in Tanzanian soil. There are over 130 ethnic groups in Tanzania. The largest of these is the Sukuma, followed by the Nyamwezi (the dominant group in Tabora Region), and the Chagga. In Zanzibar, the dominant group is Shirazi. Despite this huge ethnic diversity or perhaps because of it – there has been little tribal strife in modern Tanzania. But, there are some tribal people here in Tanzania like the Maasai, Hadzabe, Barbaig, Iraqwi/Mbulu, Akie and Taturu who have voluntarily decided to perpetuate their cultural distinctiveness from other groups. Christianity, Islam, and traditional African faiths all have followers in the mainland, though the proportions appear to be in dispute. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim.
TOURISTS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is the only area in Africa where all four (4) of the major linguistic groups, the Bantu, the Cushitic, the Nilotic and the Khoisan (click languages) are spoken?
- Answer; At Mto wa – Mbu Township in Northern Tanzania, adjacent to Lake Manyara National park as well as the general area from Lake Eyasi and Manyara south to Kondoa in north – central Tanzania (Dodoma region).
- What are the largest ethnic groups in each of the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda?
- Answer; The Kikuyu in Kenya, the Wasukuma in Tanzania, and the Baganda in Uganda.