Saving tribes with art

Modern artist aligns with traditional culture

By Mjeuri

Three indigenous Tanzania tribes won some unusual support in their fight against extinction – artist Mjeuri explains what his crusade is all about.

Tanzania is home to 120 ethnic groups each with its own unique language, customs, and way of life. In a rapidly changing world, some of them are at risk of disappearing, their traditions fading into history. Is it still relevant – or even correct – to talk about tribes today? Absolutely! Although non-tribalism has been a cornerstone of our national identity, I believe tribal knowledge remains essential to our cultural heritage. After all, these communities hold valuable knowledge about sustainability, nature, and human resilience that should not be lost.

My deep fascination with culture led me to focus on three particularly distinctive tribes: the Gorowa, Ihanzu, and Hadzabe. My journey began through my collaboration with Prof. Andrew Harvey from Frankfurt, a researcher specializing in endangered languages in Tanzania. He shared with me stories that I was asked to illustrate.

But as an artist, I needed more than words. I needed to see, feel, and understand the communities behind these stories. This quest for authenticity brought me to staying with them.

Ihanzu: the masters of rain

The Ihanzu people are known for their rain-calling rituals, a sacred practice passed down for generations. Their ceremonies are deeply tied to weather patterns and the fertility of their land. They inhabit the Singida Region not far from our political capital Dodoma and number 10,000 to 15,000 people.Historically, they made drums using human skin, a pratice of course abandoned.

Hadzabe: true hunter-gatherers

Living near Lake Eyasi in the Arusha region, the Hadzabe are among the last true hunter-gatherers in Africa. One of Tanzania’s smallest indigenous groups with around 1,500 individuals, they have resisted modernisation. One of the most fascinating aspects of their culture is their click-language, As many traditional communities, they are under threat due to land encroachment and climate change.

Gorowa: the storytellers

The Cushitic-speaking community is known for warrior traditions and a deep oral storytelling culture. Their warriors used rhino skin shields, now discontinued due to conservation efforts. For the pastoralists, their cattle are still a key symbol of wealth. It is believed that the Gorowa who still number about 50,000 people may be descendants of the first-century inhabitants of Tanzania, making them the more intriguing.

As an artist and researcher, my goal is to preserve and share the stories of these tribes through illustrations, paintings and exhibitions. If we do not document and protect their heritage now, future generations may never know the depth of Tanzania’s cultural diversity.

Mjeuri Abubakar Tarimo, 30, is an artist and activist based in Dar es Salaam. @mjeuri_Art

+255765606471

abubakarimjeuri@gmail.com