INTRODUCTION

There have been conflicting views as to whether Swahili is a derivative of Arabic or strictly Bantu (a language family which belongs to the Niger-Congo group). Not only is it believed that Swahili is a mixture of Arabic and African language and culture, but it is also thought that a distinct Swahili people do not exist. Through the exploration of Tanzania's culture, religion, artistry and politics I will attempt to determine the autonomy of this culture and its people.