Stories about Tanzania
Feminist music icons from around Africa to celebrate this International Women's Day
Whether it is speaking out against sexual abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), celebrating sexual identity, or promoting gender equality, to these African feminist singers, music is the ultimate weapon.
#AfricansInUkraine: We are students, we don’t have guns
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused displacement of thousands of people. Among them also an African diaspora which had to mobilise informally while also dealing with racial discrimination on the ground.
Does language policy in Tanzania discriminate against community languages?
We argue the language policy in Tanzania is discriminatory as it prioritises Swahili, and by doing so, negatively impacts communities who don’t use Swahili as their main language.
July 7 declared World Kiswahili Language Day: A new project seeks to better understand present day dialectal variations in Swahili
"Our hope is also for Swahili to be celebrated in its complexity — with its many varieties and dialects, with the diverse groups of Swahili speakers..." –The Project Team.
Preserving Africa’s musical heritage by combining traditional folk music with modern sounds
There has been a lot of renewed interest among African musicologists, historians, and enthusiasts to record, digitize, and archive traditional music and ancient sounds from indigenous communities in Africa.
These African animators are saving their native languages using cartoons
Animation is an effective way of teaching young Africans life skills and languages that are often not taught in schools, as most African governments adopt official languages while discouraging native ones.
Post-Magufuli, will Tanzania review its repressive online content regulations?
Tanzania's content regulations are often used to undermine and clamp down on digital rights and freedom of expression. With a newly sworn-in president, will the government review these repressive laws?
Transition in Tanzania: From President Magufuli to President Hassan
To some, Magufuli is remembered as a “true African statesman'' and pan-African putting Africa first. Other remember him as a “populist” president who promoted nationalism — above all else.
African media perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the continent, report finds
The report released in February 2021 offers a deeper understanding of why poverty, war, disease and failed elections continue to dominate media coverage of Africa.
Freedom of expression in a downward spiral in Southern Africa, says new study
Outdated laws, exorbitant fees, and stifling of dissent have ramped up violations to the right of free expression in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In Tanzania, full-throttle COVID-19 denial leaves citizens without access to public health information
Since March 2020, the Tanzanian government has gone silent on the coronavirus with no data released to the public on infections or deaths.
Iconic House of Wonders collapse leaves Zanzibaris wondering about fate of cultural heritage
The House of Wonders collapse left many wondering about the fate of Zanzibar's cultural heritage.
Tanzania launches mobile app to help victims report gender-based violence
The Taarifa (Information) mobile app will allow GBV victims to report their cases and access critical information. During the pandemic, reports of GBV decreased by 30% in Tanzania.
Shutdowns, throttling and stifling dissent online: Africa’s new normal, Part II
Weaponizing digital blackouts or social media clamp down by Algeria, Ethiopia, Guinea, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania is an ominous sign of a deeply problematic system of governance.
Shutdowns, throttling and stifling dissent online: Africa’s new normal, Part I
African governments are using school examinations and politically charged moments as an excuse to effect digital blackouts or clamp down on social media.
Tanzanian poll is likely to usher in a new era of authoritarianism. Here's why.
"Any resemblance that Tanzania has borne to a liberal democracy seems to be slipping away. Not only is the apparent scale of election manipulation unprecedented," writes Dan Paget.
Internet throttling, SMS blocking in days leading up to election in Tanzania
With just 24 hours before election day, internet users in Tanzania and Zanzibar, have reported widespread limited access to internet services including social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
Two Tanzanian musicians turn to opposition politics to improve their communities
Two musicians get political in this year's general elections in Tanzania. "As a musician, I'm the voice of the people ... getting into politics [allows me] to bring real change."
An earthquake shook Tanzania. A new law prohibits citizens from speaking about it online.
Revised online content regulations in Tanzania prohibit talking about pandemics, natural disasters or politics without government approval. Is it possible to control essential online conversations? If so, at what cost?
‘Wiki Loves Africa’ 2020 features images of a continent on the move
"Wiki Loves Africa," encourages people to contribute Africa-relevant media to Wikimedia annually around a particular theme to fundamentally change how people both within and outside Africa see the continent.
Tanzanians debate the meaning of new ‘lower-middle-income’ World Bank status
The World Bank’s updated classification of Tanzania as a middle-income country has evoked a national debate about what development means and how it should be measured — as election season approaches.
