Teach new generation Tanzania’s culture

TANZANIA: “HERE is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.

Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance,” once said Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909.

His school of thought when narrowed down should teach everyone that patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to one’s country.

This attachment can be a combination of different feelings for things such as the language of one’s homeland, and its ethnic, cultural, political, or historical aspects.

As Tanzanians, who are the citizens of the beautiful land in the East Africa, home to the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, we should from the grassroots religiously own and guard the country.

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This should start from teaching children our great heroes-how the founding father of the Nation, Mwalimu Juilus Nyerere and his team fought the colonialists to bring independence.

We should teach them good morals, ethics and peace which Tanzanians are known for in the Great Lakes Region and beyond.

As these are being taught among others, we must tell them to be proud of Tanzanian (African) culture, because no culture is superior to others.

Equally, in the modern world of globalization, we must point to them the difference between civilization and westernization, which are two worlds apart and people often confuse to be one thing.

We must tell them the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, because it keeps our integrity as a people.

Repeatedly, we must tell children as they grow up that every country has its own culture and national identity that sets it apart from other societies.

It can be defined as the language, beliefs, values, and norms that combine to make up the way of life in any society.

Every culture has its unique way of viewing the world, solving problems, and different takes on religion. Culture also identifies who a person is or where they come from.

That alone is worth preserving. Safeguarding all the various cultures from around the world will help to protect the native viewpoints.

If we don’t stop to consider the importance of cultural preservation, all these age-old traditions and heritage will start to disappear and we will lose our identities.

As parents and elders, we must set examples to our children and juniors that culture is an essential part of who we are. It is the way we (Tanzanians) see the world and our place in it.

Culture shapes our thoughts, our feelings, and our behavior. It is what holds a group of people together and sets them apart from other groups.