Department or Program

History

Abstract

For a long time, scholars of Tanzania have pondered questions of identity and nationhood. They

have covered a breadth of different ethnic groups and explored how they articulate their

identities through both material and non-material culture. They have, however, forgotten food.

My thesis aims to fill an important gap in this body of work by bringing food to the forefront of

the conversation. My central question is: What roles has food played in shaping and imagining a

Tanzanian identity across ethnic, racial, and migratory boundaries? I argue that food is a medium

through which the Tanzanian people negotiate their identities both locally and globally. The first

part of the thesis focuses on Tanzania from the 1500s to 1961, when the nation gained

independence. I trace Tanzania’s pre-colonial history through to independence in 1961, while

exploring the impact of these major historical moments on the food landscape of Tanzania. The

second part of the thesis delves into the independence era, focusing on the Ujamaa and the

tensions that come from defining a new nation. I then dive into the present day and demonstrate

how food continues to define Tanzania’s national identity

Level of Access

Restricted: Campus/Bates Community Only Access

First Advisor

Otim, Patrick

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Number of Pages

57

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file 

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