Tanzania People’s Culture

The diversity of Tanzania culture appeals to a large number of people coming from distant areas across the globe. The various forms of Tanzania culture are language, painting, sculpture, national anthem, popular dance music and art.

Tanzania’s culture is a result of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. Tanzania is one of the least urbanised countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Today these traditional African ideals are being deliberately adapted into what would be referred to as modern life. Read more

Maasai people and culture

The Maasai of East Africa are the most photographed and famous of all of Africa’s tribal people. When it comes to tourism they are as important to an East African safari as lions and elephants.
When most foreigners talk of African culture they are usually refering to the likes of the maasai.

Although development through tourism has begun to change some aspects of their lives, and even some maasai men and women have being able to scale the corporate and political ladder, generally the majority of them have nevertheless manage to live a life close to the land and their traditional culture. Read more

African Food Mystery Meals

Even though you are not likely to be offered most of these meals in a five star hotel or a resturant in down town Africa, these meals indeed are traditionally eaten in the countryside. In central Africa snakes and especially vipers which locals consider very tasty are eaten.

Gorillas and Monkeys

If you care to sample your closest relative then Guinea-Bissay is the place to be for a taste of monkey brain. Gorilla hands are also eaten in the Congo However eating your close relative is never a good idea from a conservation point of view and also if you care for your health. Monkeys have been known to transmit all kinds of diseases including ebola.

Cats and Dogs

One man’s pet is another man’s meal. Ghana’s Volta Region is the place to eat pussy (tastes like chicken) In Nigeria dog meat which is roasted like beef is also belived to improve your sex life.In fact Nigerians have dog meat terminology

404: A dog is also called 404 after the French-built Peugeot pick-up van, a tribute to a dog’s ability to run fast.

Headlights: A dish with the eyes of a dog as the most prominent component.

Gear Box: Dog’s liver, heart and kidneys (usually more expensive than ordinary meat)

Tyre: A dog’s legs. Some claim that eating a ‘tyre’ makes you a fast runner

Telephone: A dog’s tail

Sentencing: The act of clubbing a dog to death rather than slaughtering it.

Termites

In some parts of Kenya, cameroon, uganda and Malawi termites are a favourite especially during the rainy season when young boys and girls will often light kerosene lamps to attract winged termites which are then collected and either pan -fried or eaten alive with a little salt or chilli to taste and a bottle of beer to wash it down.

Locusts and Grasshoppers

The tought of eating locusts isn’t that bad when you think terrestrial prawns and they are quite tasty when fried in butter.

Rodents

There is a west African dish called akrante or “grasscutter” a giant size rat like creature. Its meat is particularly fine, but it’s the fur that is contained in it’s sauces and stews which make it an unforgettable dish. Further South there exists a fragile balance between man and rodent where occasionally mice populations reach plague like numbers eating grain and local are left with nothing much to eat but the rats and mice. In Malawi and Mozambique you could be treated to barbecued mice.

Mopane worms

These giant grubs also known as macimbe are eaten in Zimbabwe and other parts of Southern Africa. Deep fry or roast then add a bit of salt to taste and you are good to go.

Bugs insects and Other crawlies

For fried beetles head to Zimbabwe hard on the outside gooey in the inside. cooked grubs and giant grilled rhinoceros beetles are eaten in Congo, butterful larve in Burkina Faso, and millipedes in Namibia.