Figure 1.--This photograph was taken during 2015 in the Kinondoni District of Dar es Salaam.. As elsewhere in Africa, the children in urban areas now usually wear western style casual clothing. These children are playing with bottle caps and marbles. A HBC contributor tells us, "As a child I too played with bottle caps. Usually the rules were the same of the marbles games, but there were also varied specific games.

We do not yet have much information on children activities in Tanzania. Until after World War II, the primary activity was work and continues to be a major activity for many children. Since independence, Tanzania has built a public school system. As a result, scool is now a primary actibity for many Tanzanian children. Most now attended primary school, although the numbers reaching secondary and especially university schools is still limited. Education in rural areas and for girls is still a problem. We do not yet know much about games children play. Children as income levels rise have more play time. The principal sport in the country is football. Religion is another activity. Tanzanians mostly identify as either Christian or Muslim, although many continue to practice animist folk beliefs as well. This includes many who identify as Christian and Muslim. The Government has been largely respectful of religious liberty. A little less than a third of the country identifies as Christian, split between Catholics and Protestants. Catholic Christians slightly outnumber the Protestants. About a third of the population identify as Muslim. There are small numbers of minority relgious groups including traditional Africanist, Buddhist, and Hindus. Islam was the first major religion to reach Tanzania and East Africa in general (8th centyury AD). It was spread by merchants and slave traders. Christinity arrived with the Europeans, although did not make a major impact until colonization (late-19th centuty). We note missionaries who played an important role beginning in the mid-19th centuty.

Work

Until after World War II, the primary activity was work and continues to be a major activity for many children.

Schools

Since independence, Tanzania has built a public school system. As a result, scool is now a primary actibity for many Tanzanian children. Most now attended primary school, although the numbers reaching secondary and especially university schools is still limited. Education in rural areas and for girls is still a problem.

Play

We do not yet know much about games children play. Children of course play with what is available, espcially children nin relatively poor countries. Parents often do not have money to purchase toys. Here Tanzanian children are playing with bottle caps (figure 1). This is a declining avtivity as bottle caps are disappearing. Children as income levels rise have more play time. The principal sport in the country is football.

Religion

Religion is another activity in which children participate. Tanzanians mostly identify as either Christian or Muslim, although many continue to practice animist folk beliefs as well. This includes many who identify as Christian and Muslim. The Government has been largely respectful of religious liberty. A little less than a third of the country identifies as Christian, split between Catholics and Protestants. Catholic Christians slightly outnumber the Protestants. About a third of the population identify as Muslim. There are small numbers of minority relgious groups including traditional Africanist, Buddhist, and Hindus. Islam was the first major religion to reach Tanzania and East Africa in general (8th centyury AD). It was spread by merchants and slave traders. Christinity arrived with the Europeans, although did not make a major impact until colonization (late-19th centuty). We note missionaries who played an important role beginning in the mid-19th centuty.

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Created: 1:59 AM 9/11/2018
Last updated: 9:05 PM 11/20/2019