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Culture of Tanzania

Several tourists who spend their vacations in Tanzania would like to know some elements about the culture of the country. As a country in the Eastern section of Africa, the culture is quite dissimilar to many countries around the region. The literature of Tanzania for example offered the world a number of distinctive writers. We remember Shaaban Robert, the famous poet and writer. This renowned poet was responsible to develop the prose style of the Swahili, the main language of Tanzania.

Another famous Tanzanian writer is Mohamed Said Abdullah. Originating from Zanzibar, Abdullah is famous for his detective stories like Graveyard of the Ancestors and he is also considered the founder of the Swahili literature. With a wide collection of creations, Abdullah is popular as well among tourists who travel to Tanzania as some of his works were translated to many languages.

The most renowned writers of contemporary Tanzanian literature include Abdallah Gurnah who was born in Zanzibar in 1946. His best works include Paradise, which takes place in East Africa after World War I. This novel was nominated to win the UK booker prize in 1994. This is another novelist that is famous among tourists who go on vacations in Tanzania.

Another significant aspect of the culture enjoyed by various travelers who enjoy their holidays in Tanzania is the traditional music and dances of the country. The most famous traditional dance of Tanzania, the Ngoma, is featured with its subtle rhythm and smooth tunes. This dance, among many others, forms expressions of thanks and praise.

The Marimbas, this metal percussion musical instrument, is among the most famous instruments of Tanzania. It is popular as well to find the Marimbas accompanying many traditional dances escorted by the drums that is a vital element in the dances and the music that amaze travelers who tour Tanzania.

The Maasai Tribe has some wonderful dances and music that make tourists who travel to Tanzania feel as if they have left the world behind their backs and harmonize in wonderful music and dances.

Another famous element of the Tanzanian culture would be the sculpture and wood carvings. Together with Mozambique, Tanzania is famous throughout the East African region for its wonderful carvings of various sorts and type especially wood. A lot of tourists who travel to Tanzania love to buy some wooden carved items from the country as valuable souvenirs to take back home.

The center of wood carved products in Tanzania today is this section of Dar El Salam, the capital of the country, which is called Makonde. Huge blocks of African black wood are made into magnificent fancy carved products to be sold to tourists from all the world that enjoy tours in Tanzania. The motifs of these wood carved products commonly include faces, various images, and simple natural scenes.

Painting comes in second place in the types of arts famous in Tanzania. The most famous traditional style of painting is surly the Tingatinga that is in fact derived from the famous painter, Edward Saidi Tingatinga who started his creations in 1960s. Popular among tourists who go on vacations in Tanzania, the Tingatinga is featured for its square shape, bright colors, dominating animal motifs, and the singular colored background.

Although there are many places around Tanzania to purchase Tingatinga paintings, among the best places to get them is the Tingatinga Center, situated near the famous Morogoro stores at the heart of Dar El Salam. Many interesting paintings are also sold in at several cultural centers in Dar El Salam as well. It is quite recommended for travelers who go on vacations to Tanzania to buy paintings and wood carved creations.

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