Folktales and legends in Tanzania

Diksha

Moderator

Member since 01 September 2017

Trou aux Biches, Pamplemousses

Diksha

27 November 2019 05:31:28

4832

Diksha

27 November 2019 05:31:28

4832

Trou aux Biches, Pamplemousses

Hello everyone,

Time to spark your imagination! Below is a list of questions to pique your interest in folktales and legends associated with Tanzania.

1. Name 3 popular legends that have been passed down from generation to generation in Tanzania.
2. Name 2 famous legendary, heroic characters part of Tanzanian folklore.
3. Which are the villains which feature in local folktales?
4. Have any legends/folktales led to common superstitious beliefs or practices observed today in Tanzania?
5. Have you come across any folktale with a message which has struck you as interesting?

Thanks for participating,
Diksha

AlanM

Active member

Member since 07 March 2013

Dar es Salaam

AlanM

05 December 2019 11:32:09

AlanM

05 December 2019 11:32:09

Dar es Salaam

Hi Diksha.

That's a really interesting question. I have been in Tanzania more than 6 years and have never heard of any traditional legends. There may be many such but I have not heard of them.

There are more than 100 tribes here so I doubt there are any widespread legends but there could be. In fact both christianity and islam have largely obliterated most tribal cultures wherever they have been established. Some people even say that before the advent of christianity "we were like animals." Islamic communities are in a similar state of loss of their own historical cultures.

Anybody else around that can throw light on these questions?