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The green colour in the flag represents the natural vegetation present in the country.
The Golden colour represents rich mineral deposits of the country.
The Black colour represents the native swahili people of the country.
The blue colour represents the numerous lakes and rivers and the Indian ocean.
The Tanzanian Coat of Arms comprises a Warrior’s Shield which bears a Golden portion on the upper part followed underneath by the Flag of Tanzania
The Golden portion represents minerals in the United Republic; the red portion underneath the flag symbolizes the rich fertile soil of Africa; while the wavy bands represent the land, sea, lakes and coastal lines of the United Republic.
In the Golden part of the flag there appears a burning torch signifying freedom (UHURU), enlightment and knowledge; a spear signifying defence of freedom and crossed axe and hoe being tools that the people of the Tanzania use in developing the country.
The shield stands upon the representation of Mount Kilimanjaro. An elephant task supported by a man and a woman, with a clove bush at the feet of the man and a cotton bush at the feet of the woman indicating the theme of co-operation.
The United Republic motto – Uhuru na Umoja – is written in Kiswahili and it means ‘Freedom and Unity’.
Popular Bantu words in English language:
Banjo - the musical instrument
Bongos - the musical instrument, also means "brains"
Bomba - African derived musical form
Candombe - drum-based musical style that influenced the tango
Conga - tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum of African origin
Gumbo - spicy, hearty stew or soup
Jenga - derived from kujenga, the Swahili verb "to build"
Jumbo - the elephant; name means either "hello" or "chief"
Kalimba - thumb piano
Kwanzaa - matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits"
Mambo - "conversation with the gods"
Marimba - musical instrument
Rumba - dance style that originated in Africa
Safari - overland journey
Samba - the dance style
Simba - "lion"
Ubuntu - humanist ideology from Sub-Saharan Africa (Linux took the name from this)
Zombie - the dead dudes
James
Anonymous
March 13 2007, 18:39:27 UTC 5 years ago
Hello!
Hey James,I am a fellow future Health Education Peace Corps volunteer for Tanzania! I was doing my weekly search for PCV blogs when I stumbled across your blog. I was so excited to find that someone from our future PCV class (? - not really sure what they call groups of volunteers that enter the country at the same time) had created a blog. So I thought I would go ahead and introduce myself. First, my name is Kelly, and I am currently residing in northern Va (I know, not the two most exciting details to begin with but they seemed important and some what obligatory). I graduated from Sweet Briar College last May, and have spent the intervening months attaining my medical clearance. I was offered and accepted my invitation in mid January. So, I'm not quite sure what other information about myself I should include in my introduction, so I guess I should stop while I'm ahead. Anyway, I look forward to meeting you in June! If in the mean time if you have any questions (although I cannot guarantee the quality of my answers) or just want to chat feel free to send me an email, im or even give me call.
Cheers~
Kelly D. Crist
Future Peace Corps Volunteer, Tanzania
email: kellydcrist@gmail.com
aim: kellydcrist
Anonymous
March 15 2007, 14:50:40 UTC 5 years ago
I'm going to TZ too!
Hi James and Kelly,I also found this blog while doing my usual check for peace corps blogs. I am headed to TZ in june as an environmental volunteer. I am currently in a masters international program at the U of Montana learning international conservation and development. I am really excited to start the peace corps part of my degree! Anyways, I hope you are all as excited as I am! My e-mail is agifam@hotmail.com if anyone wants to chat!
Look forwarding to meet you guys.
Amy Quandt
Anonymous
March 18 2007, 13:43:42 UTC 5 years ago
See you at staging...
Jen
P.S.-How do you know the staging's at D.C. and not Philly?
Anonymous
March 22 2007, 03:48:15 UTC 5 years ago
going with you!
Hey!I'm going with you, too! I'm so excited - I've been trying to find others who are going, but so far I've only found one. She started a Yahoo group called peacecorps_tanzania2007 - has one already been started? If not, join that and we can chat about stuff. I'm so psyched - and scared!
Aubrey
aubrey.delaney at gmail dot com