20 | The Lion King
Country Focus
Economy
• Overall, Tanzanian macro-
economic performance has
been strong, with inflation
declining to single digits and
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth projected at about 7%
in the medium term. The main
drivers of growth are telecom-
munications, transport and
financial intermediation,
manufacturing, construction,
and trade.
• Recent discovery of natural
gas is expected to play an
important role in Tanzania’s
socio-economic transforma-
tion over the medium term.
Tanzania continues to do
well in maintaining overall
macroeconomic stability which,
along with institutional and policy
reforms, has been a fundamental
factor behind strong economic
growth rates in recent years.
Culture
The United Republic of Tanzania
is a multicultural country with
a long history. The country is
made up of 120 ethnic groups.
Each of these ethnic groups
has its original history and
cultural diversity. Kiswahili is the
national language in Tanzania
and it is also spoken by majority
of people in Kenya, Rwanda,
Uganda, Zambia, Sudan,
Mozambique and Congo DRC.
The Maasai/Masai people,
who originate from Northern
Tanzania and Kenya, are
globally recognised for their
strong cultural values. They are
dominantly pastoralists who
migrate looking for grass and
water for their animals. They are
globally recognised for largely
preventing the dilution of their
culture from modern influence.
The common food consumed
at dinner, lunch, or breakfast is
cooked rice and cooked flour
meal (Ugali).Also majority of
Tanzanians eat sliced and fried
Potatoes commonly known as
Chips with Eggs or Chicken. In
the morning, the common food
is boiled meat (Supu) from Cows,
Goats, and Chicken with pepper
as breakfast.
As a way of greeting, people
shake hands, a symbol of
togetherness and personal
recognition of someone’s values.
The common greeting is “mambo
vipi” meaning “how are you?”
Football is the preferred sports
among Tanzanians. It is played in
every corner of the country. Two
popular local football teams with
large fan base are “Simba Sports
Club” and Young Sports Club”.
Religious groups in Tanzania
The two dominant religious
groups in Tanzania are the
Muslims and Christians.
Cultural affinities have largely
flickr.com/photos/86368962@N00/4177864623/
flickr.com/photos/egui/
Above:
The sun slips below the
horizon on the Rufiji River in Selous
Old Fort in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
