Role of traditions and customs

Before colonialism, Tanzanian communities had their own traditions and customs. However, traditions and customs of those communities differed due to the presence of different economic, social, administrative, and environmental systems. The role of traditions and customs of those communities focused on economic growth, promotion of moral values and good behaviour as well as passing on informal education and beliefs of a particular society. Generally, traditions and customs aimed at setting principles of life in those societies.

1. To honour and promote good behaviour;
2. To cherish hardworking. Work was regarded as the foundation of development;
3. To encourage equality in production, distribution of resources and their ownership;
4. To encourage the sense of dignity and respect to other people. This was done to encourage good conduct and discipline in a particular society;
5. To encourage good parenting and nurturing in the community;
6. To value indigenous knowledge and technologies in promoting development of a respective community.

1. Caring for the elderly, children, people with disabilities and the poor. The community was taught to serve individuals in those groups;
2. Accountability and hard working. Laziness and dislike of work were condemned in all communities. People were encouraged to love their work and work hard;
3. Respect to elders and older people in the community. Elders were respected and believed to be more knowledgeable than the younger ones. For example, parents were called after their children's names like Mama Maliganya, Baba Lugane so as to respect them as parents;
4. Cooperation in all matters of happiness and sadness such as wedding and funeral;
5. Hospitality to guests. Our communities were encouraged to love and help guests;
6. Good relationships in the community. Quarrels and conflicts were discouraged; and
7. Respect for traditional beliefs, ritual sites and ritual objects.

The role of traditions and customs was to provide education to the community. Education focused on teaching and passing on skills, experiences and knowledge of the community to the younger generations. The elderly and knowledgeable persons were responsible for the provision of education. There was no formal schools as those in the modern times. Young people were taught different skills and knowledge about war, hunting, traditional medicine and healing, blacksmithery, pottery, traditional beliefs and the history of the community. The teaching and learning were done in peer groups, at home and during initiation ceremonies.

1. Healing, especially in the prevention and treatment of various human and animal diseases;
2. Encouraging a spirit of cooperation, brotherhood and love;
3. Insisting on respect for human dignity and law observance; and
4. Security, defense and protection against natural disasters and enemies.

Parenting skills and experiences enabled the communities to maintain their traditions and customs in the process of upbringing children in the society.

1. Parenting began at conception to the puberty age when persons were identified as grownups or adults.
2. The process of parenting and nurturing focused on various things including food. For example, a pregnant woman was advised to eat certain kinds of food and perform certain activities in order to get a healthy baby.
3. Parenting was also done in order to instil good moral values and behaviour in the society. Family was the focal point of parenting and upbringing in the community.

In the pre-colonial societies, beliefs and religions were built on the foundations of the traditions and customs of the respective communities.

People believed in the existence of God or gods who had the power to control all things.

These beliefs influenced how people related with God, gods or great natural objects such as the sun, great mountains, caves, rivers, and forests. So, people believed that God or gods controlled and made final decision on everything in life. In this context, communities were taught and believed in their own traditional beliefs and worship.

Each community had its own way of worshiping known as rituals. These rituals were performed in special places, such as graveyard, under large trees, on mountains, in forests, in caves, at crossroads, in lakes, in oceans and on large rocks. Choice of the ritual place depended on the type of the ritual. These rituals were usually led and performed by elders or clan leaders. For example, The Nyumbanitu Forest in Njombe Region is one of the most popular ritual sites for many purposes.

1. blessings;
2. rain;
3. good harvest;
4. perhaps to remove misfortunes or tragedies in the community.

Communities also worshipped through their ancestors. During worshipping, people gave offerings such as animals, local brews and grains. All these were done for the sake of maintaining traditions and customs. The community believed that disobeying rituals would cause problems in the society. Even when tragedy happened, the community members believed that it was the result of not worshipping. Ritual traditions and customs in the community were passed on from one generation to the next.