17 July 2018 Tripindigo 5 min read

Tanzania is said to be the heart of Africa. The home of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro, and the beautiful wildlife of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and much more.

Of course, there is much more than mountains, and the origin of the “Hakuna Matata phrase”.

There are some that only those who grew up and live in Tanzania will understand.

Lets begin with somethings you will recognize:

1. Every house in Tanzania must have one of these to go with the bread

Blue Band

2. You can not go through a day without using a product from Azam. There is no escape.

Azam Product Chain

3. When someone says they will be there in 1 hour and shows up 3 hours later. This is called “Swahili Time”

4. When you try to call and ask where they are:

Tanzania Weddings.

5. When you thought you had saved some money

Then you receive these cards from family, friends, co-worker, a neighbour from across the third street, church member and that one person you met at a party once.

6. You can at least take solace that the wedding food and drinks will cheer you up.

Wedding Buffet

When it comes to Sports and Entertainment Tanzanians understand that:

7. There is no rivalry more fierce, no event that brings Tanzania closer and stuck to the TVs and Radios than when these two are playing each other.

8. Of course, the fans do not disappoint

Simba and Yanga Fans

9. You know that you in for pure comedy gold and laughing till your ribs hurt when these two show up.

There is no bigger source of joy than the weekend coming through.

10. After a long week of work and “Furahi Day” (Friday) finally comings around.

11. As soon as you leave work, It is time to make the call.

If you were a child raised in Tanzania, then you know that you heard these saying:

12. If someone jumps over you then you will remain short until he/she jumps over you again.

13. Wearing Red clothes during a thunderstorm will get you struck by lightning

14. Every Tanzanian parent had excellent grades and was first in class.

Using Our President as inspiration.

15. As a grown adult living in Tanzania, every time you want to spend money, just think to yourself, what will our budget-minded president do in this situation. #WhatWouldMagufuliDo

When it comes to family, Tanzanians understand that:

16. Eating with or shaking the hands of your elders with your left hand is a sign of the highest disrespect

17. When you received money as a child and your mother told you she would hold for you

18. You can’t have a family reunion without playing cards. You know the one game that you are guaranteed to play is “Last card”

19. It is all fun and games and until someone shouts “Last Card”

If you want to know more about Tanzania, then you know what you must do.

Have we left anything off the list?

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