Traditional foods across Swahili-speaking communities of Eastern Africa provide a wide variety of plant-based dishes that support healthy diets, nutrition experts say. Many of these foods are already deeply embedded in daily meals and can play an important role during periods such as Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season when many people reduce or avoid…
Arusha is currently ranked as the fifth strongest regional economy in Tanzania, after Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya and Morogoro. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it has a GDP of TZS 7 trillion (approximately USD 2.8 billion) and contributes about 4.5–5.0 per cent of the national GDP. This contribution—roughly one-twentieth of Tanzania’s…
It is truly fascinating when we reflect on the depth of wisdom that is embedded in the numerous proverbs and sayings that come to us from all cultures and traditions. These proverbs grew out of the experience of our ancestors and especially on their continuous reflection on that experience. It is sad that the present…
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The recent acquisition of a controlling stake in Kenya’s Nation Media Group by Tanzanian businessman, Mr Rostam Aziz, may signal a subtle but significant shift in the dynamics of East African regional integration. Mr Aziz last week secured majority control of the Nairobi-based media conglomerate, one of the most influential news…
Differences in how we operate phone calls overseas and back home are influenced by the culture of etiquette. Originating in French (i.e. “estiquette”) means sticking to rules as required by King Louis 14th’s court during the 17 century. A Swahili equivalent is “adabu” – itself hailing from Arabic “adab”… When people from home call, the…
Near the bus stop, a group of males and females are laughing, chatting, holding vessels of alcohol. As the bus rolls in, the group hops in, each clutching Strongbow cider cans like weapons of mass destruction. Seated on the upper deck of this red London bus, behind you, the gang laugh and talk animatedly. Conversation…
As Lent and Ramadan continue, many families in Arusha and across Tanzania are turning to lighter, plant-based meals, warm soups and herbal drinks. A common question I receive during clinic hours is: Can garlic, turmeric and ginger help stop early flu – especially when symptoms begin in the throat? Let us examine the science calmly…
Recent media coverage across East Africa has highlighted one of the most serious financial crises the EAC has experienced since its revival in 2000. Some media houses went as far as suggesting that the organisation was on the brink of collapse. This troubling situation has been caused by arrears amounting to $89 million with the…
Anaemia is a common health problem in children that often goes unnoticed. It occurs when a child’s blood contains too few healthy red blood cells or insufficient haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. Without enough oxygen, the body and brain cannot function optimally, which can affect growth, learning and overall health. The…
Any country contemplating leaving the East African Community (EAC) would do well to think twice before making such a move. Granted, it is not a perfect co-operation pact but admittedly it remains one of the most advanced intergovernmental partnerships on the continent. During the recently concluded Summit, the former Chair, President William Ruto of Kenya,…
