The Forgotten History Of Tanzanian Music | John Kitime | TEDxUniversityOfDarEsSalaam

TL;DR

Music played a crucial role in shaping Tanzanian history, uniting tribes, and influencing culture.

Transcript

[Applause] need la la Nik Ando for music music music music have you ever tried to think of what how what the world would be without music I don't think you ever have it's like people never think how would the world be without the air we breathe you don't think about it you just enjoy it let's do this how many of you like bong of Flav please raise y... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫚 Tanzanian music has deep roots in tribal traditions, with each tribe having its distinct style like gasa.
• 🎼 German colonization introduced marching band music, leading to the creation of Benning music that spread across regions.
• 🖐️ Bening music played an important role in uniting Tanzanian youths and spreading the Swahili language.
• 🎼 British colonization attempted to suppress Bening music due to its unifying effect on the youth.
• 💃 Traditional dances like Manda and Linga have roots in Bening music, showcasing its lasting impact on Tanzanian culture.
• 🎼 The history of music in Tanzania highlights its importance in shaping identity and cultural heritage.
• 🎼 An archive of Tanzanian music materials preserves the rich history and diverse musical traditions of the country.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did music play a role in uniting Tanzanian youths from different tribes?

Music, particularly Bening music, brought together Tanzanian youths from various tribes by serving as a common language and spreading Swahili as a unifying factor.

Q: What impact did German and British colonization have on Tanzanian music?

German influence introduced marching band music and led to the creation of Bening music, while British colonization suppressed Bening music due to its unifying effect on Tanzanian youths.

Q: How did a young girl's love for singing lead to the emergence of Bening music in Tanzania?

A girl named Chu, who loved to sing, joined a singing group, which turned out to be a school, where she learned to read and write, later becoming part of the movement that created Bening music.

Q: How is traditional Tanzanian music different from contemporary music?

Traditional Tanzanian music, known as gasa, was more than just music, representing cultural rituals and occasions unique to each tribe, unlike contemporary music influenced by colonial powers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Music in Tanzania dates back to tribal times, with each tribe having its unique style of music called "gasa."

• The influence of German marching band music led to the creation of Bening music, which became popular and helped spread the Swahili language.

• The British colonization led to the suppression of Bening music, but its influence is still seen in traditional dances like Manda and Linga.