On September 17, 2024, Oxana Ivanchenkon has presented a report “Formation of the Tanzanian nation in the conditions of ethnoracial stratification: field study results” in the frames of scientific seminar “Culture and Society”. The report was based on the field research conducted in Tanzania in November 2023 (Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-18-01091), during the study 33 interviews were carried out in Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo cities.
Since the collection of field materials for this study will be continued this year, during the seminar preliminary results were presented. Most respondents agreed that Tanzanian nation exists and it unites all the citizens of the country, however, at the same time they emphasized the importance of traditional cultures of Tanzanian tribes and the necessity to preserve them. Today the interest for the traditional ethnic cultures of Tanzania is gradually increasing. Many middle-aged Tanzanians are planning a trip to their homeland, they are interested in the history of their tribe and express a desire to learn their local language.
Regardingbthe question about the future development of united Tanzanian culture and the traditional cultures of Tanzanian tribes, opinions have divided equally: half of the respondents agreed that ethnic cultures will disappear over time, giving way to a unified Tanzanian culture. They explained this situation by the following factors: many interethnic marriages, constant migrations to the large cities, where it is difficult to maintain contacts with relatives in the village and follow tribal customs, the influence of “western” culture and globalization. At the same time, other respondents said that ethnic cultures will never disappear because they have existed for centuries and they are an important part of the heritage and knowledge of one's own roots.