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CULTURE
In Tanzania, They Called Me Muzungu - but I’m a Person of Color
Why I internalized the term
When we say muzungu we mean both a foreigner, and a white person who is not from Tanzania. But, now I understand, Lola — you are not muzungu.
-Micky Millian,
Program Manager at New Chapter Development for Youth
In January I spent three short weeks in the wondrous East African nation renowned for its spectacular landscapes, pristine beaches, and magnificent wildlife.
Prior to arriving in Tanzania, I did what I always do when planning a trip to a new country: researched local customs, checked out appropriate women’s attire, inquired about visa requirements, and picked up a few conversational phrases in Kiswahili, the native language.
So when I read about the word muzungu, I gave it little thought.
As a Boricua (colonizer classification: Puerto Rican), I proudly identify as a person of color. With olive skin, thick wavy black hair, high cheekbones, and a slightly broad nose, my features are not Euro-centric.
It’s obvious I’m not white. No one in Mama Africa would label me as muzungu, I thought.
But what I overlooked was the East African nation’s homogeneous population, and how…
