Holding on to our roots. By Prudence Zoe Glorious

An old Swahili saying goes, “Mjasiri haachi yake asili halisi,na akiacha asili hana akili.” This translates to a Confident man does not abandon his roots and if he does so, he is stupid.
I start by proudly proclaiming that I am Tanzanian, a proud and essential part of the Swahili Culture.
Culture is what gives us an identity and makes up an integral part of who we are.
For us Waswahili, it’s that spicy pilau dish that only auntie can whip up perfectly, the vibrant Khangas we tie around our waist, our choice of words when reacting to a certain situation, our distinct greeting, “shikamoo”, the values we uphold: Respect, Unity and peace, our ingrained Altruism, the Kohl and the beauty rituals we fondly embrace, our hospitality and slow ways and the popular Philosophy by our founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere- Ujamaa.

Every culture, like my culture has its own distinct and beautiful ways that are supposed to be celebrated for their diversity. My roots are an inextricable and essential parts of my being. I am proud to blaze the trails that where set by the beautiful and soulful people before me. I am glad that so much of who I am is tied to that identity. I owe much of what I have become to it.

What I have decided, however, is that if those same roots create a setback, if those same roots will lead me down a long redundant road, if any of them are set to demean and discriminate. If after careful consideration, I found any to be inefficient, ineffective and unproductive. I will take the high road and detour to a better place. I will be free to incorporate aspects of other cultures that I deem fit. I will be free to act as that Bold Tanzanian woman I was taught to be.
I am bound, but yet unchained to my Swahili roots. I . I am bound, by blood, by soil, by beauty, by pain and by progress. However, I am free of any limitations that someone inside or outside of my community may seek to place upon me because of my race and gender. I am free from all the stereotypes and prejudices that come with being one of my people. I follow in the footsteps of the women who came before me, but I'm creating my own path and trying to make room for some younger Tanzanians along the way.

I look up to women like Dr Asha Rose Migiro, a Tanzanian Politician and also the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Dr Anna Tibaijuka. They inspire me because not only are they powerful, but they are also a part of that beautiful collage called Tanzania.


I know I can never be somebody else. I am me, I am strong, I am beautiful, a fighter, a lover, a sister, a daughter and maybe someday I might become one lucky man’s wife. So I learn and grow, I change and improve. And as long as I live, I will strive to be that beautifully authentic Tanzanian lady that has Emulated all the right people from every walk of life. A Tanzanian that objectively looks at her own culture and reassess it to fit her present day requirements. A Tanzania that supports all beauty that is her country but yet adopts other ethnic’s beauty. A Tanzanian that values her culture but is very open minded to good change. A Tanzanian that holds her head up high but still does not spite a Non-Tanzanian. A Tanzanian Ready to take over the world only to go back to where it all started – The beautiful, Tanzania
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