Dynamics of local dwelling culture into cities a case of nomadic maasai human settlements in Tanzania

This research investigated dynamics of local dwelling culture into cities with a case study of nomadic movements from rural to urban areas which is a result of shortage of grazing land, prolonged drought, livestock diseases and vigor for urban life. The Maasai nomadic pastoral people, were selected to be a window through which reasons associated with nomadic movement to cities and the changed dwelling cultures were found. Case study research method was employed in five urban centers in the Dar es Salaam city, the largest commercial city in Tanzania. Multiple data collection tools were used including interviews, observations, informal conversation, and literature review. It was found out that a good number of nomadic people are moving to cities to find non-pastoral job employment. Traditional rural pastoralism which aimed at searching for grazing land has been replaced by urban search for urban job employments, dwelling opportunities and gathering places for social interactions. Observed that small scale business places for the urban migrants performs both working and dwelling functions. The study revealed several influencing factors on the dynamics of urban dwelling culture such as changed pastoral life, limited livestock dependency, and adherence to advanced urban communal social life.