An Analysis of the Vitality of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ngoni People of Tanzania: Lessons for other Ethnolinguistic Groups

Abstract

The current article looks at the vitality of the intangible cultural heritage of the Ngoni ethnolinguistic group of southern Tanzania to show how a contact situation combined with internal dynamics in the community shape the future of intangible cultural heritage of the group. Using questionnaire, interview and observation methods the findings show that there is insufficient intergeneration transfer. The study does so by studying how intergeneration transfer of values such as language use, knowledge of stories, taboos, dances, sayings, and rituals among the youth is indicative of their level of vitality. Additionally, the ever-increasing contact between Ngoni and Swahili cultures affects the situation and makes the future blurred and hazy. Some aspects of the intangible cultural heritage have been more affected than others, which may suggest their eventual disappearance. In such a situation, documenting such traditional values seems to be the most plausible action before they finally perish altogether.