R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The culture of Tanzania is different than the culture in America. Neither is necessarily better than the other. They are different. And yet, each contains both good and bad qualities. Part of the training we do with our church planting students is to have them identify some biblical and unbiblical aspects of their culture. The answer most often given for the good they see in their culture is the respect Tanzanians show their elders. After only a few weeks in the country, we can see that respect is indeed evident in this culture.

During our first lesson of Kiswahili, we learned a very important phrase that we have since used every day here.  When we first greet someone who is older than us, before saying anything else, we say “Shikamoo” and their response is “Marahaba.” (The oo at the end of Shikamoo makes the sound like the o in Omega and Marahaba is pronounced phonetically). The translation to English means “I give you my respect” and the response is “I accept your respect.”  When children first wake up and greet their parents, they say Shikamoo. If grown adults visit their parents, they say Shikamoo. And especially, if we greet someone who is a Babu (grandfather) or Bibi (grandmother), we definitely need to say Shikamoo!

In addition to giving respect by saying Shikamoo, each of the 120 tribes in Tanzania has its own way of respectfully greeting someone. For instance, the Chagga shake hands with their right hand while placing their left on their forearm. In the Maasai, children give their heads to the adults who then accept this sign of respect by touching the child’s head with their right hand. And the people of the Sambaa tribe shake hands and curtsy to offer respect to each other.

Respect is so important in this culture. Disrespecting someone takes a long time to overcome. Thus, it is imperative that we say Shikamoo and learn the different ways to greet each tribe here so that we too can show the utmost respect to our Tanzanian brothers and sisters!