QUESTION TIME: Is the local identity in your country perceived as strong? Are there Western influences that affect local habits and trends?

Although Western Influences are there, a local image has been strengthening over the past decades. Some insights can be gleaned from my article here:

https://emkambo.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/to-what-extent-are-food-vendor…

Best, 

Charles

Según la Constitución Política del Estado la identidad  se lo define como plurinacional, multiétnico y plurilingüe, que se refleja en la diversidad cultural. A su vez está la cultura citadina que es una mezcla de culturas y costumbres. En ambos casos si son influenciadas por la cultura occidental.Esta influencia va creciendo a medida que la gente se va integrando al sistema de comunicación y consumo. Pues mientras más acceso tiene a los medios de comunicación (transporte, telefonía, internet, tv y radio) más expuesto está a la influencia consumista.  Eso se refleja en los índices de migración a los centros poblados que brindan todas las condiciones de poder vivir, si no en las mejores condiciones, pero sí mejor en sus comunidades rurales.

The first thing that identifies our country is 'Swahili language'. Tanzania is known to be the home of this interesting language which has united Tanzanians together acrosss the whole country. This is contrary to other East African Countries such as Kenya and Uganda which do not have a common language uniting all the citizens.  

As a matter of fact, western life style has also influenced our local habits in different areas of life such as eating, dressing and dancing. In music for example, the youth who compose the biggest part of the population, prefer a western music style; the music beats and the singing style is more less the same as the western one. It is very difficult to find a local radio playing a traditional music or song nowadays. Most youth view traditional music as out fashioned.

The dressing style is purely western except to the Masai people who still put on traditional attire.