Cross Cultural Dialogue in Tanga, Tanzania

On June 11, 2022, I was the featured guest speaker at the first meeting of Cross Cultural Dialogue, a group based in Tanga, Tanzania. Here is what group coordinator Georgina Harris Hill wrote on her Facebook page about the event:

Tanga’s first official cross cultural conversations meet up with special guest speaker. Professor Joseph Mbele was our guest, several months ago I connected with him online after reading his book; Africans and Americans embracing cultural differences. Teaching and living in Minessota at a university there but from Tanzania originally his book is a unique perspective on cross-cultural interactions. 

Having lived cross culturally my whole life this topic has always been a deep interest of mine, so discovering his work was exciting and I began sharing it widely with others. 

I had started already informal gatherings with a few friends who had a shared interest but when I heard Joseph was coming to Tanzania and we had a chance to hear from him and buy his books, I got into motion organizing a group meet up and extended the invite to him to come to Tanga. Thankfully he accepted. 

The attendants were from different parts of Tanzania, Germany, Russia, Barbados and Latvia but between us all had lived all over the world. But all currently call Tanga home. 

Talking culture can be stressful or at least awkward and maybe a bit taboo but this great group all had so much to share. 

Listening to professor Mbele talk about the importance of embracing cross cultural differences allowed us all to freely discuss our own unique experiences we faced living, working and communicating cross culturally. 

We got a chance to see and frame them in a new light and validate our experiences. 
We laughed at how we misjudge and label one another and ways to talk, see and understand cultural differences in a way that unites and builds bridges. We shared stories and insights and I think we all left with excitement to meet up again and continue this important conversation! 

Thankful to Professor Mbele for taking the time to come and meet us! And so excited for our next group meet up. One thing I love about living in Tanzania is it has taught me so much about stepping outside my comfort zone and introduced me to some incredible people and cultures!

I really recommend reading the books available on Amazon--Mbele's books

Or at Novel idea in Dar Es Salaam or Arusha for Tanzania based folks