Zaramo

Ethnicity Zaramo is one of the most influential in Tanzania, the majority are Muslims, the expansion of Islam was very strong all along the coast, mainly in urban areas. By the fifties of the last century many also converted to Christianity and even many Muslims stopped going to mosques and women stopped marrying for the Muslim rite. They are of Bantu origin, mainly from the Dar es Salaam region, on the eastern central coast. Most of them speak Swahili and very few still speak Kizaramo, reserved mainly for some religious rites. The Tsaramo society has been essentially matrilineal, that is, the children belong to the mother's mother and clan and inherit through matrilineal, mother's or mother's uncle. Until their colonization by the Germans suffered the ravages of slavery by the Swahili Arab traders and to defend they were forced to build embalmed, pangone, fortified and to survive they dedicated themselves to fishing and cultivation. But as in almost all African peoples there is syncretism with their ancestral animistic beliefs, so they continue with their initiation rites to enter into adult society of both men and women. The mwali neophytes before being subjected to circumcision to enter the society of men hold a ceremony that lasts several weeks, Nhulu, led by an instructor, Mhunga, who trains them in the knowledge of traditions and sexual formation. They stay for a while in the initiation cabin, kumbi, where they receive training without being able to bathe for two weeks. Once the training is received, they can take a bath again and their instructor burns the cabin and the mwali hold a dance, miga, already in their village together with their mothers for later to celebrate the mlao dance that will allow them to definitively join the society of adult men. The initiations are held in cycles of every three years. Female initiation is mainly aimed at knowing everything about fertility since female fertility extends from a long period, from having its first menstruation to being a mother, and grandmother and this long initiation that begins with the first menstruation ends when her grandchildren reach adolescence. It is a continuous learning. Also neophytes are called mwali. During the actual period of initiation they remain in detention at the mother's house for two weeks to one year, under the instruction of an aunt, shangazi, who will teach her everything necessary to become a full woman, from the care of the house, including domestic occupations, to the care of children. After the formation, a symbolic death is carried out, the death of the girl to reborn the society of adults. They receive the split under the mkole tree from the hands of the mnhunga, scissor or scissor, to be returned to the family after the celebration of the mbwelo bale. At present, Zaramo they are mainly engaged in agriculture, millet, maize and rice, occupying the cassava an important place in their production, they also produce other cereals and fruits that they devote to their consumption and sale. Fishing is one of the main activities of the Zaramo off the coast.