Masai Market Day

Our “neighborhood” is populated with people from the Masai tribe. Every Thursday and Sunday it is market day for the Masai. They all gather to sell their local fruits, vegetables, and livestock which is mostly made up of goats, chickens, and a large number of cattle. The Masai are known for their large number of cattle and for drinking the blood of their cows.


 

History

Tanzania was originally name after its mainland, "Tanganyika", and the island of Zanzibar, with which it united in 1964.  Arab traders first began to colonize the area in 700 A.D.  Portuguese explorers reached the coastal regions in 1500 and held some control until the 17th century, when the sultan of Oman took power.  With what are now Burundi and Rwanda, Tanganyika became the colony of German East Africa in 1885.  After World War I, it was administered by Britain under a League of Nations mandate and later as a UN trust territory.  The gained their independence in 1962 and are now poliically known as the Republic of Tanzania.

                    Currently there are around 40 million people in Tanzania,

                   99  percent African; 68 percent live in rural areas. 

                   The country of Tanzania is divided by 26 regions, these regions are divided into 127 districts and then they are divided into wards.  One of these regions is Arusha, it has 5 districts. 

We are focusing on evangelizing the Arusha region and these numbers give you an idea of how large of an area is being covered.

Arusha is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions.  The regional capital and largest city is Arusha.  Other towns include Monduli, just west of Arusha, Longido and Loliondo to the north, Mto Wa Mbu and Karatu to the west and Usa River to the east.

The People in the Arusha Region and its Districts

Christian (30%), Muslim (35%), and Indigenous beliefs (35%)

Religious practices in Tanzania include:


Indigenous Beliefs

Most indigenous beliefs profess the idea of a high god, similar to Christianity and Islam. Many Tanzanians will give their children a name from a grandparent or great grandparent in addition to a Christian or Islamic name. This name reflects a relationship with the ancestral spirit world. Furthermore, many Tanzanians seek the help of diviners and traditional healers for help in case of sickness and misfortune.                        

Christianity

There have been many “Christian” missionaries that have entered Tanzania. The most prominent ones include Seventh Day Adventist, Catholics, Lutherans, and Pentecostals.

The first known attempt of the church of Christ to enter Tanganyika was in 1948 when Eldred Echols went to Dar es Salaam to obtain permission to enter and preach. Permission was not granted. Tanganyika citizens could not sell land to a foreigner. The church of Christ found a couple of farms which had been owned by Germans since before World War I. Some American congregations bought these so our missionaries could enter the country.                                                         

Islam

Islam first appeared in Tanzania during the late medieval period when Arab traders established commercial stations in Zanzibar and along the mainland coast. Arab slave traders subsequently helped spread Islam to the country's interior. Although Muslims did not establish missionary societies, Islam gradually spread throughout Tanzania. Today most Muslims inhabit Zanzibar and Pemba, or live in or near Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Tabora, Tanga, and Kondoa.

Economy

The currency is in Tanzanian shillings. The exchange rate is around 1,300 shillings per $1 America dollar. Cost of living varies on if you live like we do in the U.S.: Running water, electricity, 3 bedroom house or you could live with no water, electricity, 1 maybe 2 room hut or house with a tin roof. A bundle of bananas may cost only 50 cents, but a bottle of mouthwash may cost $9 and cake mix $5. If you have any Western type conveniences, it will cost you. Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Tribes

There are more than 120 different tribes in Tanzania. In the Arusha region there are four major tribes: Masai, Meru, Mbulu, and Mangáti tribes. The Masai tribe dominates the large area in Arusha Tanzania. In the Arusha region the Masai tribe is dived into two branches: Wamasai and Waarusha .Wamasai practice a nomadic type of life. They don’t usually make permanent settlements. They are mostly found in the places where population density is low. Waarusha are found mostly in highland areas. They practice small-scale farming of cattle and crops.

Language

More than 40 million people live in Tanzania. Kiswahili or Swahili is the official language although english is a must in the business world; Arabic and numerous other local languages are spoken as well. The population is overwhelmingly native African (99%), most of whom are Bantu (95%). Most all of the words in Swahili end in a vowel.

Jambo: Hello
Karibu: Welcome
Asante: Thank You

Wildlife and Parks

The Arusha region is a popular tourist destination and is the centre of the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit. Nearby national parks, include Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha National Park, and the Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks.

Cultural Differences

Something I found interesting was how much a woman can carry on her head. They can carry just about anything, from their groceries to a bucket of water.

The life expectance is around 53 years of age. So seeing an elderly person wasn’t as common as we see in America. Some other differences include seeing Africans using their hand to eat instead of utensils. They often eat outdoors sitting on the ground.

Also it is not uncommon to see someone of the same sex holding hands. It is seen more common in men than women. This is a sign of friendship.

(Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.)

Another difference that I don’t think I will ever get use to is the independence of the children. It is very common to see very small children walking themselves to school or a child taking care of baby, even having them strapped to the back,

There are also Masai children that herd cows miles and miles to water ponds and back home again. Many times you will see them wearing shoes made of rubber from an old car tire.

Food

The most popular food in Tanzania is ugali, which is made by boiling corn maize meal until it forms a dough-like substance. It is often eaten as a side dish with stew, vegetables or meat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available as well as corn roasted on the streets. Another Tanzanian favorite is the well-known beans and rice. Tanzanians also like goat, chicken and mutton. Another popular dish is Pilau, a rice dish made with curry, cumin, hot peppers and cinnamon. Tea is a very important beverage and it is consumed when people are socializing.

Water

Access to safe water is limited for the poor in rural areas where clean water is needed for domestic use, crop production and adequate sanitation. Water-borne diseases account for over half of the diseases affecting the population. And these diseases affect more than 80 percent of Tanzania's population living in rural areas. Some women carry buckets of water for miles, usually on their heads. Few towns have adequate sewage systems. Water, especially in rural areas, is subject to contamination. Water polluted with human and animal waste is frequently found being used for laundering, bathing, and even drinking.

                It goes without saying that we boil and/or filter all of our

                water for cooking and drinking.

Children and Orphans 

The children of Tanzania have a special place in my heart. They make unique homemade toys to keep themselves entertained. An old suitcase, scrap metal and a stick, or old wire formed into a little car. When watching them you quickly learn that they have nothing, yet they are so content. They find joy in everything that they do. We could learn a lot by looking at the life of a child. More pics- Children

Drastic poverty has an effect on mothers beyond what is imaginable. I have witnessed a mother begging an American visitor to take one of her many children back to America with her so that her child could have a better life. Things as this truly do break your heart. With the AIDS population growing rapidly in Africa, babies are being left without anyone to care for them. I have heard of a baby who was placed with her mother in the grave because no one would take the child because the mother had died of AIDS. (It is not a common known fact that the mother and child share different bloodlines so that the child may not be HIV positive.) Luckily, someone rescued this infant and took it to a local orphanage. Babies have also been found on piles of rubbish and in bushes, left to die. The number of orphans out way the orphanages available leaving babies with no one to car for them and children on the streets. The best orphanage that I have seen is the Cradle of Love baby home located just outside of Arusha. These babies are properly cared for by receiving the appropriate healthcare, nutrition, love and attention that they require.

You can visit the Cradle of Love website here:

Cradle of Love Baby Home

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would have to say if you REALLY want to know what Tanzania is like, then you have to come see it for yourself. We would love to have you stay with us. If you can’t come for a visit then I hope you have enjoyed learning about the country through this webpage. Bookmark it and comeback anytime. If you would like to know more about the people or country of Tanzania or you would like to see something else on this page, please contact us.    EastAfricaMissions@me.com