Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tanzanians are famous for their proverbs. They're used for everything
from instructing children to letting one's spouse know that you are an-
noyed with them. Many are printed around the edges of
kangas
. For a
sampling, see
www.glcom.com/hassan/kanga.html
and
Muslims, who account for about 35% to 40% of the population, have traditionally been
concentrated along the coast, as well as in the inland towns that lined the old caravan
routes. There are several sects represented, notably the Sunni (Shafi school). The popula-
tion of the Zanzibar Archipelago is almost exclusively Sunni Muslim.
About 45% to 50% of Tanzanians are Christians. Major denominations include Roman
Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican, with a small percentage of Tanzanians adherents of other
Christian denominations, including Baptist and Pentecostal. One of the areas of highest
Christian concentration is in the northeast around Moshi, which has been a centre of mis-
sionary activity since the mid-19th century.
The remainder of the population follows traditional religions centred on ancestor wor-
ship, the land and various ritual objects. There are also small but active communities of
Hindus, Sikhs and Ismailis.
Historically, the main area of friction has been between Tanzania's Muslim and Christian
populations. Today, tensions, while still simmering, are at a relatively low level, and reli-
gion is not a major factor in contemporary Tanzanian politics.
The Role of Women
Women form the backbone of the economy, with most juggling child-rearing plus work on
the family
shamba
(small plot), or in an office. However, they are near the bottom of the
social hierarchy, and are frequently marginalised, especially in education and politics. Only
about 5% of girls complete secondary school, and of these, only a handful goes on to com-
plete university. While secondary school enrolment levels are low across the board, girls in
particular are frequently kept home due to a lack of finances, to help with chores, or be-
cause of pregnancy.
On the positive side, the situation is improving. Since 1996 the government has guar-
anteed 20% of parliamentary seats for women, and almost one-third of members of the
current National Assembly are women. In education, the 'gender gap' has been essentially
eliminated at the primary level.
