Tanzania Map

Officially denoted as the United Republic of Tanzania, Tanzania is a country in East Africa that lies within the African Great Lakes region. It shares its borders with Kenya to the northeast, Malawi and Mozambique to the south, Uganda to the north, Zambia to the southwest, the Indian Ocean to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda to the west. Apart from having a 40km coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean, the nation remains landlocked.

The region has also been a site that has led to the discovery of several hominid fossils. The nation is a sovereign state, a presidential constitutional republic, and since 1996 its official capital has been Dodoma, where the offices of the President, the National Assembly, and all government departments are located. It also stands to be one of the most politically stable nations in the continent since it has not experienced any major internal strife in the country since independence.

The land is like a precious gemstone, with all its edges glowing and reflecting upon its vibrant culture, a history of contestation, the eloquence of language, and the strong glimmer of the traditional values of hospitality. All these aspects make the land a precious site that is waiting to be rediscovered and one that offers a new perspective to every eye that wanders to explore.

History:

Standing out to be one of the oldest regions of the Earth that has been continuously inhabited by humans, the nation contains various pieces of evidence that are a reflection of the past. The remnants found at the Olduvai Gorge, one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, are composed of prehistoric tools that convey the stories of the ancient people and their livelihood. This was also the site where Mary Leakey along with her husband discovered the skull of the “Eastern Man,” which was dated back to 2.3 to 2.1 million years ago.

In addition to this, the core members of indigenous tribes resided in the eastern corners of Africa, including the Hadza and Sandawe hunter-gatherers from present-day nation. The trade networks connecting Arabia, Africa, and Asia resulted in the settlement of such people on the mainland.

The Portuguese were first among the Europeans to have arrived in East Africa at the end of the 19th century. The arrival of German rule owes its stronghold to mainland Tanzania in the late 19th century, where Germany formed German East Africa, which came to be ruled by the British following the First World War. The British developed their interest in the arena following a series of expeditions that were undertaken by explorers, namely Richard Burton, David Livingstone, and John Hanning Speke. Under the Treaty of Versailles, they received a mandate under which they gained control over the entire territory except for Ruanda-Urundi, which was later renamed as Rwanda-Burundi.

Post the Second World War, the British crown made the apparent decision of placing Tanganyika under the UN’s trusteeship. The territories became independent in 1961 and 1963; the two entities (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) merged in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Nyeyere was elected as the prime minister of the consolidated province after having served his earlier term as the head of the former state. Tanganyika joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961, and Tanzania remains a member of the Commonwealth as the United Republic.

In the 21st century, the nation continues to battle against the challenges of external invasion for neighboring countries, shortages in food supply, as well as thriving corruption practices in the political arena.

Culture:

The culture of any region is like a vibrant tapestry, intricately woven with threads from its diverse ethnic groups, languages, and traditions. Each yarn that is spun to process the thread contributes to its own unique texture, thereby creating a complex and beautiful pattern with rich tales of valor and representing the identity of the region. This cultural fabric does not remain stagnant but rather takes up new patterns and designs with the dynamic transitions in society.

As in other countries, music in the nation is constantly changing, varying according to places, people, institutions, and occasions. The five genres of music defined by BASATA are kwaya, dansi, taarab, and Ngoma, with bongo flava. The period of the 20th century witnessed a confluence of various tunes and melodies from all over the world visible in the spectrum of music. By the 1960s, Cuban and Congolese music became an integral part of the musical fervor, displayed with a tinge of the distinctive guitar sound. In the 21st century, the field saw the emergence of two music styles, which were rap and reggae, and mchiriku, a techno style influenced by traditional rhythms.

Two artistic styles that owe their roots to the nation, have gained international recognition. The Tingatinga School of Painting, founded by Edward Said Tingatinga, consisted of brightly colored enamel paints on canvas, often depicting people, animals, or daily life. "Bongo Films" is a famous film industry. The music scene is known as "Bongo Flava,"which itself is a niche music genre.

The literary traditions are inherently oral, which find their portrayal in the form of folktales, poems, riddles, proverbs, and songs. The oldest evidence of literature that survives to date has depicted Swahili as the primary language of communication among the common masses. Notable figures consist of Shaaban Robert, Peter K. Palangyo, Adam Shafi Adam, and Penina Mlama.

The Makonde group of carvers, who originate from the southern areas of the nation, are famous all over the world for their abstract ebony carvings.

The nation also features various UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are recognized for their historical significance and cultural representations. Among these, the prominent locations include rock painting sites at Kondoa, the ruins of ancient ports of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, and the Stone Tower in Zanzibar.

Language:

Being one of the most linguistically diverse countries in East Africa, there are almost 100 spoken languages all over the landmass. Though there is no de jure official language, Swahili is given the recognition of being the national language. Swahili is used in parliamentary debates, lower courts, and as the language of instruction in primary schools. English, as a language, is used in foreign trade, diplomacy, high courts, and as the language of instruction in secondary and higher education. Apart from this, Arabic is also spoken as a primary language in Zanzibar.

Geography:

Tanzania is located on the east coast of Africa and has an Indian Ocean coastline. Northeastern Tanzania is mountainous and densely forested, home to Mount Kilimanjaro. Part of the three largest lakes in Africa is located in Tanzania. Lake Victoria lies in the northwestern ends, accompanied by Lake Malawi in the south. Kalambo Falls in the southwestern region of Rukwa is the second-highest unbroken waterfall in Africa, located near the southeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika on the border with Zambia. Menai Bay Reserve is Zanzibar's largest marine reserve.

Barring the narrow coastal belts and the offshore island, the major part of the landmass lies at an elevation of 200 meters above sea level. The East African Rift System cuts through the mainland and goes on to form deep depressions. Water rushes on to fill these places, as a result of which several lakes are formed.

An area accounting for almost 59000 sq km is covered by inland water bodies, which marks the presence of extensive water resources in the nation. The region is home to the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, namely the Lake Victoria. The other water bodies include the Ruvuma, Rufiji, Wami, and Pangani rivers, which drain into the Indian Ocean. The nation is also situated at the divide of the three of the largest rivers of Africa - the Nile, the Congo, and the Zambezi.

The variety of soils found in the country is relatively more diverse than any other region in the world. The reddish brown soils that cover the highland area are fertile in nature, yet these are subjected to heavy leaching by the forces of nature and are often left devoid of nutrients.

The absence of high density in terms of human population is in turn substituted by the diversity of animal and plant life. The government has also emphasized providing a special protection status to rhinoceros and elephants to protect them from poaching.

Thus, the geography of the nation accumulates various physical features that are subject to different climatic conditions, and these in turn become a habitation for diverse forms of animal and plant life.

FAQs

Q.1. What is the government structure of Tanzania?

Ans. The government is characterized by the presence of a one-party state led by the democratic socialist party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party (CCM).

Q.2. What is the capital of Tanzania?

Ans. Dodoma is the capital of Tanzania.

Q.3. How did the country gain its name?

Ans. The country was christened as Tanzania by the amalgamation of the names of the two states that were unified to create to lead to the present day nation. These states include Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Drawing from the first three letters of both states “tan” and “zan”, a suffix of -ia was added to the end which resulted in the final drafting of the name.

Q.4. What are the main tourist attractions that are commonly preferred by tourists?

Ans. The locations that have an inherent scenic beauty and convey an insight of the historical and cultural aspects include Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ruaha National Park.