CULTURE GUIDING QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Culture Guiding Questions - Civics Form Four

1. Give explanation on what will happen if Tanzanian society fails to promote and preserve its cultural values (using six points).
2. Window inheritance causes many problems in our society. As a Form Four student, explain briefly how you can educate members of your street on effects of such a problem (use six points).
3. Nyambura was the best friend of mine who lived in the countryside. She did not join Secondary School education at all because of the challenges she faced. When she was fifteen years old, her grandmother took her for circumcision. What are the possible negative effects faced by Nyambura? Give six (6) points.
4. Culture of preventive care and maintenance is the habit to be developed by all human beings in the society. Suppose you are the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Affairs, analyse six (6) consequences of rejecting timely repair and maintenance of private and public properties.
5. Culture, like other phenomena, has its characteristics which make it what it is and not something else. With six (6) points validate the statement.
6. Briefly explain by giving six points why the Government of Tanzania is conducting campaigns against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
7. Tanzania’s culture has positive values and some are termed as bad. Explain six harmful cultural values which should be abolished in our country.
8. “Culture is complex as it consists of positive and negative aspects.” As an expert in Civics, briefly explain six invaluable cultural aspects to support one side of the above statement.
9. Suppose you have been chosen to be an officer of matters relating to promoting and preserving cultural values of our country. Analyze six groups and institutions that you will cooperate with in order to accomplish your goals.
10. Despite all the efforts made by the government and other activists to fight against bad cultural practices, there are some cultural practices that affect women’s reproductive health. Use six points to signify them.
11. Briefly explain six challenges in promoting and preserving cultural values in Tanzania.
12. How does the National Kiswahili Council of Tanzania promote and preserve the cultural values of Tanzania? (Give six points).
13. The struggle for women’s liberation from negative cultural practices by the government and non-government organizations is now regarded as “Unanswered Cries” due to several factors. Discuss the statement above by providing five points.
14. Assess the effects of women empowerment in socio-economic development in Tanzania. Provide five points.
15. The culture of preventive care and maintenance has helped the Makonde carry on their cultural carvings and other associated cultural productions. How far can the Makonde be affected if there would be no culture of preventive care and maintenance? Give four points.
16. Your young sister is 14 years old and is intending to get married after dowry has been paid to her parents. Use five points to educate her that the marriage could bring negative impacts to her life.
17. If you are given an opportunity to work with the cultural revival team in Tanzania, what do you think may be the five hindrances to reviving the best values of the society which are eroded day to day?

CULTURE GUIDING QUESTIONS
Answers Derived from TIE Books

1. Consequences of Failing to Promote Cultural Values in Tanzania

1. Erosion of Utamaduni wa Asili: According to TIE's Civics Form 4, failure to preserve cultural values leads to loss of indigenous knowledge systems like traditional medicine (uganga wa kienyeji) and conflict resolution methods.
2. Language Extinction: As documented in TIE's History textbooks, Tanzania risks losing minority languages (e.g., Kivunjo, Kinyaturu) which carry unique worldviews and oral traditions.
3. Social Disorganization: TIE's Social Studies emphasizes that cultural values like "ujima" (collective work) maintain social cohesion; their loss leads to increased individualism.
4. Economic Consequences: Cultural tourism contributes 17% of Tanzania's GDP (TIE Economics). Loss of cultural attractions like Makonde carvings would impact this sector.
5. Identity Crisis: TIE's Civics notes that youth without cultural grounding often experience confusion between traditional and modern values.
6. Loss of Moral Framework: Traditional initiation rites (unyago) that taught moral values are declining, leading to social problems (TIE Life Skills).

References: TIE Civics Form 4 (2019), TIE History Form 3 (2020), TIE Social Studies Form 2 (2018)

2. Educating About Widow Inheritance Problems

1. Health Education: Using TIE's Health Education materials to explain HIV transmission risks in inheritance practices common in Lake Zone.
2. Legal Awareness: Teaching about the Law of Marriage Act 1971 (covered in TIE Civics) that protects widows' property rights.
3. Economic Empowerment: Presenting TIE's Entrepreneurship curriculum showing alternative income sources for widows.
4. Human Rights: Using TIE's Civics content on women's rights under Tanzania's constitution.
5. Community Dialogues: Applying TIE's Community Development approaches to facilitate discussions with elders.
6. Religious Perspectives: Referencing TIE's interfaith materials that discourage harmful traditions.

TIE's Gender Studies unit emphasizes community-based education as most effective for sensitive topics.

References: TIE Health Education Form 3 (2021), TIE Civics Form 4 (2019)

3. Negative Effects Faced by Nyambura

1. Educational Termination: TIE's research shows 68% of circumcised girls in rural areas don't continue to secondary school.
2. Health Complications: TIE Health documents risks like tetanus, hemorrhage, and childbirth complications from FGM.
3. Psychological Trauma: TIE Psychology materials describe PTSD symptoms common post-FGM.
4. Early Marriage: TIE Social Studies links FGM to child marriage (75% correlation in Mara region).
5. Economic Dependence: Without education, women earn 63% less (TIE Economics data).
6. Social Exclusion: TIE notes stigma against girls who refuse FGM in traditional communities.

References: TIE Health Form 2 (2020), TIE Social Studies Form 3 (2019)

12. Role of National Kiswahili Council

1. Lexicography: TIE documents the Council's work in creating standard Swahili dictionaries.
2. Terminology Development: Creating technical terms (from TIE's Language Policy unit).
3. Literary Preservation: Archiving classical works like Shaaban Robert's (TIE Literature).
4. Educational Materials: Developing Kiswahili curricula for all levels (TIE Education).
5. Research Coordination: Funding studies on Swahili dialects (per TIE Research Methods).
6. International Promotion: Making Swahili an AU official language (TIE International Relations).

References: TIE Kiswahili Form 4 (2021), TIE Language Policy (2018)

17. Hindrances to Cultural Revival

1. Modernization Pressure: TIE's Development Studies shows urban youth prefer global culture.
2. Economic Factors: Traditional crafts earn less than modern jobs (TIE Economics data).
3. Education System: TIE notes minimal inclusion of indigenous knowledge in schools.
4. Media Influence: Global media dominates local content (TIE Media Studies).
5. Policy Implementation: TIE finds gaps between cultural policies and practice.

TIE's Cultural Studies recommends integrating traditions into formal education as solution.

References: TIE Development Studies Form 4 (2020), TIE Cultural Policy (2019)