TANZANIA

By: Michael-Ryan S. Muro 10/05/23

Teachers: Ms. Catherine Mkongwa, Mrs. Victoria Chacha,
Mr. Christopher Hohm, Mrs. Heidi Sanchez. School: Haven of Peace
Academy.

Dedication
I would like to dedicate this research project to my parents and family, who have instilled
in me a deep love and appreciation for our Tanzanian heritage. Their unwavering support and
encouragement have shaped me into the person I am today. They have guided me through this
journey to make this country report, and I am faithful with their help, I will get good marks on
this very big project. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am now.
 Table of Contents
Dedication 1
Introduction 3
History 3
Geography and Climate 4
Culture 5
-Food 5
-Clothing 5
-Religion 6
-Music 6
-Holidays 6
Transportation 7
Government 7
Economy 8
Interesting Facts 8
Conclusion 8
Bibliography 8

Introduction
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a diverse and vibrant country in
East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. Tanzania’s main and capital country is known
as Dodoma. Tanzania’s population is about 65.024 million people, which makes it the fifth
largest country in Africa by population. Tanzania has varieties of languages spoken, but the 2
official languages are English and Kiswahili. Tanzania is bordered by 8 countries which are
Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi,
and Rwanda. The Indian Ocean also borders Tanzania on the east.

This is the flag of Tanzania!

 History
Tanzania's history dates back thousands of years, with evidence of human habitation in the
region since the Stone Age. The country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1961
and was formed through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Before that, both states
were ruled by the British Empire. Tanganyika was ruled for 45 years, and Zanzibar was ruled for
73 years. They took the phrase ‘Tan’ from Tanganyika, ‘Zan’ from Zanzibar, and the suffix ‘ia’
to make Tanzania.

Among the notable and famous people in Tanzania was Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the
country’s first president of Tanzania. They called him the ‘Baba wa Taifa’ (which means ‘Father
of the Nation’) who played a significant role in the fight against colonialism and advocated for
Pan-Africanism. Tanzania’s motto is ‘Uhuru na Umoja’ (which means ‘Freedom and Unity’).
Nyerere was first elected in 1965. Another influential figure is Abeid Amani Karume, the former
president of Zanzibar, known because of a coup that made King Yashmid bin Abdullah the last
sultan to rule Zanzibar. Karume was absent from Zanzibar on January 12th, 1964, the night he
was assassinated.

One major event that happened way before Tanzania became independent was the Maji Maji
War. The Maji Maji War started and grew in 1905. The Maji Maji rebellion was instigated by
Kinjekitile Ngwale. The German policy of forcing the natives to grow cotton for export triggered
the war between 1905-1907, where 250-300 thousand people lost their lives. {2,3,5,4,12,13}

Geography and Climate

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, covering an area of approximately 945,087 square
kilometers in diameter. Tanzania is divided into 31 regions, which includes the Pemba and Mafia
regions. Tanzania has many cities such as Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam,
the richest and biggest city in Tanzania, and Izazi, the coldest city in Tanzania. Tanzania has the
Indian Ocean bordering it by its east side.

Tanzania is surrounded by various major landforms. It is home to diverse landscapes, including

the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa with the height of 5895 meters (19,340
feet) , the Serengeti National Park, which is renowned for its natural wildebeest migration, the
Selous Game Reserve, one of the world’s largest protected areas. The country is also blessed
with several major landforms such as Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, Lake
Nyasa (Lake Malawi), one of the African Great Lakes and Lake Tanganyika, the second oldest
freshwater lake in the world. Tanzania is boarded by an Indian Ocean on the eastern coastline
about 1424 kilometers long.
.

Tanzania experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Average temperature
ranges from 20o to 30oC.Annual rainfall varies across different regions of the country. Other
places rarely experience temperatures below 20°C. Seasons in Tanzania are that temperatures are
higher between December and March, and coolest is between June and July. The long rains
begin in March and end in May, while the short rains begin in October and continue to early
December.

Culture
Food
Tanzanian food is rich and diverse, influenced by various ethnic groups and their traditions.
Foods like Ugali (maize porridge), and pilau (spiced rice), being popular dishes.

Clothing
The people of Tanzania are known for their traditional clothing. The clothing reflects this
diversity, with vibrant colors and unique patterns. When it comes to traditional clothing,
Tanzanian women usually wear kitenges and khangas. When it comes to men 's clothing, men in
Tanzania wear dashiki shirts with saudi manufactured robes with kanzus. They also wear kofias
with mandarin collars. They mostly wear these clothes if you are in a committed tribe. {8}

Religion
Religion plays a significant role in Tanzanian society, with Christianity and Islam being
the dominant faiths. Tanzania has 4 religions. Tanzania’s population is 65.024 million people.
The Christianity religion has 63.1% of Tanzania’s population, which is 41.03 million people.
The Islam/Muslim religion has 35.2% of Tanzania’s population, which is 22.88 million people.
Folk religions cover 1.8% of Tanzania’s population, which is 1.17 million people. The rest of the
people of Tanzania is other religions. {3}

Music
Tanzania is constantly undergoing changes. When it comes to music in Tanzania, there
are 5 music genres. There is Ngoma, Dansi, Kwaya, Taarab, and Bongo Flava (which appeared
in 2001). When Bongo Flava came out, the Tanzanians called it ‘Muziki wa Kikazi’ (which
means ‘Music of the New Generation’). There are alot of musicians in Tanzania such as
Diamond Platnumz, Ali Kiba, Harmonize, Rayvanny, Bill Nass and more. Tanzania has
produced varieties of songs such as the national anthem. The national anthem of Tanzania is
‘Mungu Ibariki Afrika’ (which means ‘God Bless Africa’). {3}
Holidays
Tanzania celebrates variety of holidays. In total, there are seventeen public holidays in
Tanzania. The 2 holidays that Tanzanians celebrate the most are Independence Day and Eid-al-
Adha. These two public and important holidays play a significant role in keeping the people
happy while celebrating their holidays. The holidays of Tanzania are New Year, Zanzibar
Revolution Day, Good Friday, Karume Day, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr, Union
Day, Labour Day, Eid-al-Adha, Saba Saba Day, Nane Nane Day, Prophet Muhammad Day,
Nyerere Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day and finally Boxing Day. {9,8}

Transportation
Tanzania utilizes various modes of transportation to connect its cities and regions. Major types of
transportation include road networks, railways, air travel, and waterways. Tanzania has 86,472
kilometers of road network, 3,676 kilometers of railway lines, 58 national airports and 3 ocean
ports. The country has a network of highways and paved roads, but also relies on dirt roads in
rural areas.

Tanzania used cars, trucks, motorcycles, planes, boats and more modes of transportation to travel
around. The transport sector of Tanzania gave $3.8 billion to Tanzania’s GDP. The development
of the road network is the government of Tanzania’s top priority right now. Tanzania has several
airports, including Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro
International Airport in Arusha. Tanzania has 19 airline operators running. The Port of Dar es
Salaam serves as a vital gateway for international trade in the region. {10}

Government
Tanzania operates under a multi-party democratic system. The President is the head of state and
government, elected through a popular vote. The President reigns Tanzania for 5 years, and then
another election develops. Tanzania is divided into 31 regions. Each region is governed by a
regional commissioner. Right now, Alfred Chalamila is the current regional commissioner of Dar
es Salaam. Tanzania’s most popular political party is called Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

Important laws in Tanzania cover areas such as human rights, land ownership, and
environmental protection. The 6th and current president of Tanzania is called Samia Suluhu
Hassan. She is also the 1st female president of Tanzania. Political parties, such as the Chama
Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), play a crucial role in the country's political landscape. {5,3}

Economy
Tanzania’s economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Tanzania possesses abundant natural
resources. The country is a significant producer of agricultural commodities such as coffee, tea,
cotton and tobacco. Tanzania’s top imports include machinery, petroleum products and vehicles
while exports mainly consist of minerals, agricultural products, and manufactured goods. Due to
the Arusha Declaration in 1967, it resulted in the nationalization of many industries. Tanzania’s
currency is known as Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). The natural resources in Tanzania are
diamonds, gold, kaolin, gypsum, tin, various gemstones, and its very own gemstone, Tanzanite.

Tanzania’s ranking in economy is number 74 in the world. The major crops grown in Tanzania
are corn, rice, sorghum, millet, bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, barley, potatoes and wheat. The
top 2 imports in Tanzania are refined petroleum and hot rolled iron. However, Tanzania’s top 2
exports are gold and refined copper. These resources have been imported and exported all over
the world for billions of dollars. {5,11}

Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting facts for you about Tanzania that everybody should know. There is a
mineral and resource only found in Tanzania and named after it, Tanzanite. Tanzania never had
an external war except one internal war, the Kagera War (1917-1918). Tanzania is home to the
world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of
Africa. Zanzibar had a war with the UK, the shortest war ever, the Anglo War, which lasted only
38-45 minutes. The Tanzanian flag features a diagonal black stripe symbolizing the African
population, a yellow stripe representing the country's mineral wealth, and a green stripe
symbolizing the natural resources. {4, 12, 13}

Conclusion
In conclusion, Tanzania is a fascinating country that encloses stunning landscapes, a rich cultural
legacy, and a vital history. Its various geography, warm climate, and welcoming people make it a
remarkable destination for travelers and a source of immense pride for its citizens. By delving
into the various aspects of Tanzania, we have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for
this remarkable nation.

Bibliography
1. MacDonald, Joan. Africa: Tanzania. Philadelphia, Mason Crest Publishers, 2005.
2. Mercer, Graham. Globetrotter Travel Guide: Tanzania. Connecticut, New Holland
Publishers, 1996.
3. ‘Tanzania’. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania >. 11th May 2023.
4. Muro, Grace. Interview. Conducted by Michael Muro, 13th May 2023.
5. ‘Tanzania’ < https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania >. 15th May 2023.
6. ‘Tanzania Climate Change’.
<https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/tanzania/climate-data-
historical#:~:text=Along%20the%20coast%20and%20in,coolest%20between%20June
%20a>. 15th May 2023
7. ‘Tanzanian Cuisine’. < https://www.willflyforfood.net/food-in-tanzania/ >. 15th May
2023.
8. ‘Tanzanian Clothing’. < https://unitedrepublicoftanzania.com/tanzania-culture/tanzania-
clothing-and-dresses-traditional-culture-fashion-online-shops-for-sale-style-prices-
outfits-attire-national-second-hand-womens/insight-appropriate-tanzania-traditional-
clothing-kitenge-tanzanian-maasai-tribe-clothes-for-men-woman-womens/ >. 16th May
2023
9. ‘Tanzania Public Holidays’. <
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/tanzania/public-holidays/ >. 18th May
2023.
10. ‘Tanzania Transportation’. < https://www.tanzaniainvest.com/transport >. 18th May
2023.
11. ‘Top 2 Imports and Exports in Tanzania’. < Tanzania (TZA) Exports, Imports, and Trade
Partners | OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity >. 21st May 2023.
12. Muro, Samwel. Interview. Conducted by Michael Muro, 21st May 2023.
13. Mshana, Pamela. Interview. Conducted by Michael Muro, 21st May 2023.