Kenyans and Tanzanians: the Disparities (part 4)

This is yet another post that endeavours to look at the differences between the peoples of these two East African countries. My aim here is neither to create acrimony between Kenyans and Tanzanians nor to make people of one country feel inferior to people of the other country. That has never been my aim. Neither will it ever be the aim of these series of posts in particular nor this blog in general. We are different, there's no doubt about that. Nevertheless, we ought to accept each other, our differences notwithstanding, and work towards a common goal.

Signal to driver or Kiss?

If you have ever been to Dar es Salaam, then you have ever seen and heard what I'll mention here shortly.
Daladala (or Matatus/Mathrees as they are popularly known in Nairobi) touts mostly use their mouths to signal to the driver to stop and/or to start moving the vehicle. You don't get the drift, I know.
These Kondas (touts) twist their mouths (almost pouting the lips) and try to suck in air between their lips to produce the sound that tells the driver what to do! If you were not looking at the conductor, then you would think that he is kissing a woman – 'serving' a kiss with the lips of both parties tightly pressed together (for that is how it sounds like!).

Some Europeans were travelling to Posta (where most of the important offices are located in Dar es Salaam) some years ago. Out of the blues, they heard a strident sound reminiscent of some bedroom sounds that they were used to hearing. All of them turned almost instantly and in unison. They faced the Daladala's doorway from whence the 'sound' was coming. They saw the conductor, a lanky man, theatrically producing the sounds (effortlessly, it seemed to them) signalling the driver to pull into the lay-by for there was a passenger alighting. (A lay-by is the space next to a road where vehicles can park out of the way of traffic). These Europeans had little else to do but to shake their heads in wonder and grin like a Cheshire cat.

In Nairobi, touts and conductors whistle, "bang" the vehicles or talk loudly (shout is the word to use here) to signal the driver to stop to pick a passenger (or to allow a passenger to alight) or even to start moving the vehicle. None of the sounds they produce sound anything close to a kiss!

Are You a Tanzanian or a Kenyan?

In Kenya, the citizens are issued with National Identity Cards (mandatory for those Kenyans who are 18 years old and above). It also goes without saying that one has to carry it around, especially if one anticipates to be out late at night. It saves face when one meets with those guys who are eager to arrest guys 'on sight'. When they ask: "Wapi Gibande yago?"(Where is your identity card?) You flash the small card that says you are a Kenyan and they let you walk away.

In Tanzania, there are no national identity cards (but the government is planning to start issuing its citizens with the cards in the near future. At least that is what Tanzanians have been promised by the Fourth Phase Government).
Some of the Tanzanians I asked how they would tell a Kenyan from a group of people said they would listen to the people speaking and voila! they would pinpoint the Kenyan to me. This interested me and I asked one of them to tell me how he would do it. "I would listen to the people talking. I know a Kenyan's Kiswahili and English. It would not be hard to get 'your guy'."
Incidentally, even the Tanzanian immigration department has perfected the art of listening to the Kiswahili (Or English) of a person and instantly state whether that person is a Tanzanian or a foreigner. Another method these immigration guys use is to ask you where you come from. If they have doubts with what you state to them (especially if you tell them that you are a Tanzanian and they smell a rat), they ask your district of birth, village and even the name of your chief. By then, if you are not a Tanzanian, you will be squirming in your shoes.

Read the previous posts on the differences between Kenyans and Tanzanians by clicking on these links:
Kenyans and Tanzanians: the Disparities (part 1).

Kenyans and Tanzanians: the Disparities (part 2).

Kenyans and Tanzanians: the Disparities (part 3).