Tanzanian etiquette includes applause, raising hands and curtsying. Respect for elders has been a cultural tradition that Tanzanians have followed for generations. They possess a people-centred attitude and self-control that is tolerant and understanding of others. However, they don't value time very much.
Tanzanians are customarily taboo pointing their fingers, especially the middle finger, at other people or objects, as well as passing things or touching valuables with their left hand. In terms of names, titles, hair accessories, music and dance, etc., they have their own unique national characteristics, as well as special wedding and funeral etiquette.
As a country on the edge of the African continent, Tanzania has a pleasant climate and geographical advantages facing the Indian Ocean. Tanzanians are warm and friendly, down-to-earth, pursue an atmosphere of freedom and peace in their daily lives, and attach great importance to the unity and cohesion of the community. Their traditions are simple and unique.
Tanzanians value etiquette, respect for elders, love peace and freedom, and adhere to traditional values and customs. Their folk customs are deeply influenced by the unique environment and culture of this land.
Etiquette etiquette
Greeting someone is important in Tanzania, and saying "hello" while shaking hands is the best way to leave a positive, optimistic impression. However, the age and status of the two are different, so the way the two shake hands is also different. When meeting a classmate or friend, it is enough for two people to say "hello". At social events, people usually greet each other by shaking hands and hugging. In addition to this, they also use etiquette unique to their own country.
The first is to stand up and salute. Some tribes or ethnic groups have a custom when welcoming guests by patting their belly and giving them a warm applause before shaking hands with them. This action shows that they are sincere, sincere, and sincere.
The second is to shake a fist and salute. This is the most solemn welcome ceremony, where guests must raise their right fist and gently wave it as a sign of welcome.
The third is to bow. When women meet, they tend to kneel to each other in greeting.
The fourth is the cheering ceremony. Women in the village, in order to welcome a female guest, usually run around her, expressing their joy with rhythmic screams as they run.
Tanzanians believe that guests are the people they respect the most, so they generally address men as "daddy" and women as "mom". Even parents call their children "daddy" and their children "mommy." In Tanzania, people spend a lot of time and energy on relatives and friends, especially for relatives.
Respect the old and love the young
Tanzania has a tradition of respecting the old and loving the young since ancient times, and they regard their parents and elders as the most affectionate and trustworthy people. According to Tanzanian tradition, older people have high intelligence, they have high experience, and they can help the younger generation to solve their difficulties.
Respect for the elderly is reflected in the forehead of the elderly, and the elderly are served first during meals. In some tribes, when women spoke to old people, they would kneel or sit to speak as a sign of respect.
When the young man greets the old man, the old man will pat his two hands on the old man's forehead to show his blessing. When younger generations see their elders, they should greet them with honorifics, do not be rude in front of their elders, do not leave their seats before the elders leave, and do not stretch their legs or lean back when sitting down with their elders, let alone extend their feet to others.
Perception of time and values
Tanzanians have surprisingly self-control, they behave very cautiously in public, never disturbing others and never embarrassing others. Do not appear angry, frustrated, and impatient in public.
But he doesn't have much of a concept of time, so he's not in a hurry. Their understanding of the development of the world and life is also different from that of ordinary people, they will not focus on the long-term future, but look back on the past and think about the present, and few people will plan for the future.
Customs are taboo
In Tanzania, pointing a finger, especially the middle finger, at someone or something is considered rude. If someone points fingers at a person of high prestige, it is considered a direct crime.
In Tanzania, although fingering varies from ethnic group to ethnic group, the most common fingering is with palms facing down, five or four fingers facing up, and eyes fixed in front of you.
Tanzanian eating habits originated in ancient Africa. Eating together as a family originated from the ancient African custom of sharing food. It is taboo to pass items and food with the left hand, because the right hand is often in contact with people and is clean, while the left hand is often dirty and therefore unclean.
The younger generation should use two hands to receive the gift from the elder, if the gift is too small, you can use the right hand to receive it, never use the left hand to receive it; When you give your stuff to someone else, you should also use your right hand. In Tanzania, people use their left and right hands to do their daily tasks, such as shaking hands, lifting things, and eating, all with their right hand.
In Tanzania, people who practice Islam are not allowed to eat pork and cannot talk about pig-related topics. In terms of diet, I usually like to eat beef and mutton, and I like to drink coffee.
Generally, corn, rice, and sweet potatoes are the main food, and some tribes use grazing as the main food, and cattle and sheep as the main food. Some people make a living by fishing and eat fish and shrimp. And people who grow bananas mainly eat bananas. Its taste is generally heavier, not afraid of greasy, and likes to eat spicy food.
In terms of diet, the biggest taboo is not to eat birds, chickens, eggs, etc., and you cannot drink alcohol.
National characteristics
1. Name and salutation
Tanzanian names generally include their own name + father's name + grandfather's name, so there is no surname. The kinship between three generations of a person can be seen from his name.
For example, Eminem's own name is "Eminem Rauki Kwariva", Rauki is Eminem's father and Kwariva, Eminem's grandfather.
Usually there are only the first two, some people's names have religious overtones, such as their Christian names given when they were baptized in the Catholic Church, and others whose names are based on the place, time, environment, holidays, or names of people they worship and animals they love.
After marriage, the woman's name remains the same as her original name, or the husband's name is added to her name.
Tanzanians are called differently depending on the occasion. When addressing elders, you can address uncles, aunts, grandfathers, grandmothers, etc. according to generation; When addressing peers, you can address them by their first names; When addressing the elderly, respectfully address "Muze", which means elder.
Sometimes, people also call a married woman "mom" and her children mother. Among each other, "Ndura" and "Rafik" are the two most commonly spoken languages. "Ndugu" refers to brothers, sisters, compatriots, comrades; The word "Rafik" means "friend".
Ordinary people add "Ndugu" to their names in their honorific titles for national leaders to show their affection and respect.
2. Characteristic folk dances and inspiration
Tanzanian women pay attention to their hairstyles, colorful hairstyles make them look more spirited, their hair is short and curly, soft and stretchy, and can be used for all kinds of trendy hairstyles. Girls like to braided their hair into thin braids that are decorated with colorful beads at the ends.
Tanzanians have always loved music and are also good at singing and dancing. In Tanzania, dance has become an integral part of people's lives, and each tribe has its own traditional dances, some showing a person's life journey from birth to death; Some reflect major social events such as wars and harvests; In addition, the content of intercropping and sacrifice is also depicted.
In Tanzania, on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, roosters crow, girls dressed in colorful dresses, walking through the streets and singing mountain songs, are very lively.
Wedding ceremonies and funeral ceremonies
In Tanzania, some tribes hold a secret search for relatives when they hold a wedding, according to which the bride and groom are taken to the groom's village, but instead of going directly to the bride, they will find a secluded place near the bride for the bride to hide.
After that, the giftgiver will tell the groom the news, ask the groom to find her, and then bring her back. The groom can go to three places to find the bride, and if she still can't find it, ask her relatives to pick her up and go back seven days later until the groom finds her.
When getting married, relatives and friends usually choose to give gifts, such as some home appliances and the like, usually do not give gifts, and there are no taboos when giving gifts.
Some tribes in Tanzania believe that the death of one person is not just a disaster for their family, but a loss for the entire village, so the women in the village cry for the dead and then tell the people in the village that they are dead.
Hearing the news, everyone stopped what they were doing and went to the home of the deceased to mourn. During this time, the villagers had to bring water and food to the deceased, and to take all-round care of the deceased. After the funeral, the village caregivers could not return. At funeral times, relatives and friends will give the deceased a birthday gown.
After the funeral, the coffin is cremated with the deceased. Some tribes practice burial, which is followed by a sacrifice. Funerals are often held around noon, and the ceremony lasts for 5 days for men and 4 days for women.
Different countries, different people, have their own customs and cultures. We must have an inclusive heart and accept the cultures of all countries.
Respect each other and learn from each other. We should look at problems in an objective and equal manner, respect differences in behavior patterns caused by cultural differences, and humbly learn from the advantages of other cultures. The excellent culture of any country is the crystallization of human civilization in the world.
Respecting, cherishing and protecting the culture of countries and nations is a kind of global consciousness, an open mind and a noble mind. Different cultures collide, communicate, integrate and absorb each other, so that the world's culture gains new vitality.
[References]
1. Overview of Tanzania (Anthology), China International Culture Group Co., Ltd., 2009
2. Tanzanian Culture (Special Study), edited by Li Hua, China Social Sciences Press, 2008
3. Encyclopedia of African Culture, edited by Wang Yaohua, China Social Sciences Press, 2002
4. Tanzania in African Culture, edited by Li Ming, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2015
5. A Study of Tanzanian Customs and Culture, by Zhang Yunwei, Peking University Press, 2013