Religion...

   
   

   Tanzania is full of many different beliefs and customs. Tanzania is not exempt from the stories of the past that play different roles in the present. Tanzania has many opportunities for influence from other countries. Being that Tanzania is a coastal country there have been a few religions to influence the people on top of already having indigenous cultures. Africa in general has many different indigenous groups of people. Some of them have been preserved others have been faded out over the years. Never the less, Tanzania has its roots in these people groups with many choosing to place their beliefs in other powers.

    Tanzania's religion can be divided into muslims, Christians, and indigenous people. Tanzania has many tribes with the Massai being a well known one. The muslims in Tanzania are thought to have been decendants of Aga Khan's spiritual leadership. This may have roots in Jainism, Hinduism, and Roman Catholicism. Zanzibar is the place that most of the muslims of Tanzania call home. It is estimated that about 99% of the muslims in Tanzania live in Zanzibar.

    Christianity is also a religion of Tanzania. It is thought to have been introduced around the beginning of the 16th century via the establishment of Francisan mission. Then an actual Christian foundation was founded in 1934. Islam was first seen in the late medieval period during the establishment of Arab commercial stations in Zanzibar. Religious tension is the same today as it was years ago. There is no surprise that Tanzania has conflict with its people. Tanzania has a constitution that allows its people to have freedom with their religion however the hostility among the people does sway people to often choose the safer religion.

   The Massai tribes much like the other tribes believe in a higher god but it is not always classified as the God of Christianity or the gods of muslims. The Massai are a people group who live off the land which is a way of life for many of the tribes of Tanzania. The Massai believe in one God called "Engai". They believe there are two sides of this God; kind and vengful. Within the tribe they have a patriarchal society; this includes a spiritual leader called "Laibon". This person does not necessarily have a high status in the tribe; they only carry prophetic or healing power among the people.

   Among the Massai tribe there are others who live off the land, have myths or stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. They tend to be spiritual people, connecting with the land and taking from it what they need. Today, there are many conflicts with religion and attempting to take land from the tribe people. It is clear that religion plays significant parts in the lives of Tanzanians. It has caused fights and in worst cases death. Some Tanzanians have adopted modern ways of beliefs and others have fought hard to maintain the history of the people.