Kenyans and Tanzanians: the Disparities (part 1)

There are some behaviours, reactions and ways of life that are uniquely Tanzanian and Kenyan respectively. In this post (and subsequent ones), I endeavour to look at how these two East African peoples are different.

COURTESY:
Ask any Tanzanian and you'll be told one thing about Kenyans: "Kenyans are very rude, arrogant and not courteous."
"Why?" you may ask. It is said that Kenyans use rude, commanding language when they are asking for something (and they mean to be polite!).
Picture this:
A.
In a restaurant in Nairobi, a Kenyan is asking to be served a cup of tea.
Kenyan: Hello, we leta chai ninachelewa. Harakisha basi!
In a restaurant in Dar es Salaam, a Tanzanian is asking to be served a cup of tea.
Tanzanian: Habari za saa hizi. Naomba kikombe cha chai ya rangi.
B.
In a mathree (matatu) in Nairobi, a conductor is asking for fare from the passengers.
Conductor: Leta pesa yako na ufanye fasta (bring the fare and be fast at that). Fare ni mbao (twenty shillings) sitaki mtu ambaye anajifanya hajui fare ni chapa ngapi!
In a Daladala in Dar es Salaam, a conductor is asking for fare from the passengers.
Conductor: Naomba nauli yako. Nauli ni mia mbili hamsini (approximately Ksh 14).

In Tanzania, it is an unstated 'law' that you have to greet each and every person you come across as you go about your business. Greetings for people who are older than you start with "Shikamoo". For example, " Shikamoo Mzee Juma."
In Kenya, things are virtually different. It is "not a must" for one to greet everyone they meet on the way. You greet only those who are your acquaintances and are familiar to you. There are no specific greetings for people who are older than you. There are two widely used greetings in Kenya (and to people of all ages and sizes). These are:
i). (If one says "Sasa" you say "Fit"). This is akin to the "Mambo" "Poa" that Tanzanians use.
ii). Habari gani? (This is akin to the Habari za saa hizi? or Za saa hizi? that Tanzanians use.

For those Kenyans who are planning to visit Tanzania, please learn the art of greeting people often and to those older than you say "Shikamoo."
For those Tanzanians who are planning to visit Kenya, please don't get angry when someone walks past you without exchanging 'pleasantries'. That is our way of life here.

I had a rough time once (when I was visiting Tanzania) due to not greeting some old men who were seated somewhere as I passed. Incidentally, I didn't know the exact location of where I was going (somewhere at Kunduchi) so I had to go back the way I had come and at least ask someone to direct me. I remembered that I had seen some old men somewhere along the way. When I got to where they were seated I greeted them (with a humble Shikamoo!) and asked them for the direction of where I was going. They exchanged glances, scowled their faces and continued talking. I stood there awkwardly waiting for God-knows-what. One of them cleared his throat and told me:" You passed here without even greeting us and now because you have a 'problem' you have come to us. What do you expect us to do? Do you want us to associate with a rude fellow like you? I don't think you are a Tanzanian. Next time greet people whether you need their help or not. African culture dictates this!" And with that he directed me to where I was going (he literally took my hand and led me to where I was going). Before leaving, I 'served' them with my profuse apologies.

Do you have more you can share with us on Courtesy?Send Your Email Here(undaunted_2006 at yahoo dot com) and I'll post your observations.

FOOD:
In Kenya, when you are cooking sukumawiki (kales) and meat, you mix everything in one sufuria.
Things are done differently in Tanzania. Sukumawiki and meat stews are cooked in different pots. During mealtime in Tanzania, there are more bowls on the dining table than on an average Kenyan's table. These bowls may contain i) Maharage (beans)* (Kenyans call it Maharagwe).
ii) Mchicha *(Kikuyus call it Terere).
iii) Dagaa *(Kenyans call it Omena).
and
iv) Meat stew

My take is that Tanzanians are more nutrition conscious than Kenyans. Another thing, They use coconut "milk" in most of their food preparation and the food that is cooked with this "additive" is wonderful to the taste, take my word for it!

I know of a Kenyan couple who crossed the border into Tanzania with the sheer intention of looking for a maid from Tanzania. When I asked them of their reasons for going to such lengths and incurring all that cost, they looked me straight in the face and said: "We went to Bagamoyo (in Tanzania) for our honeymoon. We loved the food we were served. It was a whole new experience. We need this Tanzanian touch in our very home in Nairobi thus the need for a Tanzanian house maid."

This is the first part in a series of posts looking at the differences between Tanzanians and Kenyans.
Do you have more you can share with us on Food (or any other difference you have noticed)? Send me an Email and I'll post your observations here.