Tuesday, January 20, 7001

Bantu Migration to Tanzania (c. AD 1) - Zaramo




About 2000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people began to arrive from western Africa in a series of migrations. These groups brought and developed ironworking skills and new ideas of social and political organization. They absorbed many of the Cushitic peoples who had preceded them, as well as most of the remaining Khoisan-speaking inhabitants.



Tanzania has a large number of traditional instruments, many of which are specific to particular ethnic groups.



The Zaramo people, a Bantu people who are based in eastern Tanzania (particularly in the area between



Dar es Salaam and



Bagamoyo), perform traditional dance melodies such as Mitamba Yalagala Kumchuzi on



[Goblet drums, probably not from Tanzania]

tuned goblet drums,



[Cylindrical drums, ditto]

tuned cylindrical drums,



and tin rattles.