Despite increasing foreign contact, Tanzania has persistently maintained its cultural heritage. Ancient rituals and customs are still observed by many tribes and daily life largely follows traditional practices. Life's most important events, birth, puberty, marriage, and death, are all celebrated through age-old traditional ceremonies. In Tanzania, as in many other African countries, the family is an extended one, including cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and even in-laws. The family clan remains a strong entity in most tribes. Family disputes are resolved by a panel made up of clan members and all events, be they happy or sad, are shared by the whole clan.
While changes are slowly affecting the lives of many Tanzanians, there are still some tribes who have remained untouched by modern life. The aboriginal bushmanoid Wa-Tindiga tribe even now exist mainly on roots and from hunting. Their homes are still the ancient, underground shelters they have always used. Another tribe, The Wa-Barbaig, are exclusively "pastoralists" living off meat and milk. Gradually, however, these tribes are responding to efforts by the government to resettle them in modern villages complete with medical and educational facilities.
