TANZANIA

For detailed information about Tanzania, visit Tanzania Website by Tanzania High Commission, London.

Geography

Tanzania lies on the East African coast between 1 and 11 45' south, and 29 20' and 40 35' east. It covers an area of 945,166 square kilometers (about 42 times the size of Britain), making it the largest country in Eastern Africa. Just south of the equator, it borders Kenya and Uganda in the north; New Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi in the west; and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the south, making it a splendid center from which to explore eastern, central and southern Africa. Dar es Salaam is the capital, although a new, central city, Dodoma, is projected to become capital by the end of the century.

Tanzania's name signifies the union between Tanganyika and the two islands of Unguja and Pemba, which with several other smaller islands constitute Zanzibar.

Through the interior runs the Great Rift Valley, that vast fault-line down the spine of Africa, that, in Tanzania, has created many fascinating topographical features such as the Ngorongoro crater and Lake Tanganyika. The Central Plateau (1,200 meters above sea level) is a huge expanse of savanna and sparse woodland. To the north rises the 5,890-meter (19,340 feet) Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

While the interior is largely arid, the 800-kilometer coastline is lush and palm-fringed, as are the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia.

Tanzania is bordered by three great lakes: Lake Victoria in the north, Lake Tanganyika to the west and Lake Nyasa to the south-west. Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile.

History and Politics

Origins of humankind (according to secularist scholarship)

A 17.5 million year old skull found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania in 1957 indicated Africa as the probable site of human evolution. Homo erectus, our immediate ancestor, first appeared about 1.5 million years ago and is credited with the discovery of fire, the first use of stone tools and recognisable speech.

Up to and including the 19th Century

Tanganyika (mainland part of Tanzania) is populated by many Bantu groups, such as the Chagga, Hehe, Gogo, Yao, and Nyamwezi, and by the Masai and other Nilotic peoples. It was defined by a series of treaties between European states in the decade after 1886.

Arab influence

Trade between the East African coast and the Persian Gulf, of gold, ebony, ivory and spices, go back millennia. The 13th - 15th centuries are called the Shirazi Era after the sultans, who originated from the Shiraz region of Persia (now Iran) and ruled more than 30 city states in East Africa. The island of Kilwa, which had 10,000 inhabitants, its own mint and splendid buildings, was the centre for the gold trade until the invasion of the Portuguese in 1505. In 1698 the Portuguese centre in Mombasa (Kenya) was overthrown by Arabs from Oman.

In 1827 the Sultan of Muscat, Seyyid Said, captured Mombasa and the east coast region. He based himself in Zanzibar where he established clove plantations. Cloves became the major export of Zanzibar.

European Influence

Up to 1850 Europeans knew little about the African interior. In 1855 German missionary James Erhardt produced a map of Africa based on Arab accounts. Explorers Richard Buxton, John Speke, David Livingstone and Henry Stanley all played a part in mapping East and Central Africa and locating the source of the Nile.

Between 1884 and 1918 Germany ruled much of the area they called Tanganyika. Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890 and Tanganyika came under British rule in 1918. Unlike Kenya, Tanganyika was never very heavily settled by Europeans although 100,000 Tanganyikans fought for the Allies in World War II.

Independence

Tanganyika attained full independence on 9th December, 1961 and Nyerere became President. The United Republic of Tanzania was formed on 26the April, 1964 when Tanganyika united with Zanzibar. After Independence Tanzania became staunchly socialist but since the mid-1980s there has been a swing to a free market system. Nyerere retired in 1985 and was succeeded by Ali Hassan Mwinyi. Mutli-party elections were held in October 1995 which put Benjamin Mkapa as a president.

Economy

77% of the population live a subsistence lifestyle in the countryside. Maize, millet (sorghum) and cassava are the staple crops, along with rice. They are used to make a stiff dough called ugali (oo-gar-ly). Ugali or rice, is eaten with green leaf vegetables, meat: beef, chicken or goat or fish. Avocados, apples, bananas, mangoes, passion fruit, pears, pineapples, onions, plantain, tomatoes, carrots, red beans, peanuts and sugar cane are grown. Many farmers keep cattle, for milk and meat, and goats and chickens.

The country's major exports are coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, sisal, tobacco, tea and diamonds. Zanzibar and Pemba export cloves and other spices. Gold, tin and coal are also mined.

Culture and Languages

The country has a rich culture of music and dancing with many ceremonies. Carving, pottery and weaving are traditional crafts still practised to provide goods for everyday life, with many local variations in design.

The National langage of Tanzania is Kiswahili; it is understood and spoken by almost everyone in Tanzania. Tribal langages are also used. Tanzania has about 120 tribes each with its own tibal language.

News

The Express
Daily News
Gazeti la Rai
Majira
IPPMedia
AN-NUUR