Tribal Conceptions of Happiness and Wellbeing in Tanzania

The global development of happiness studies is driven by top-down conceptualizations of wellbeing, but indigenous interpretations remain neglected and inconclusive. There is a need for dialogue between Western-defined universal measures of happiness and life satisfaction and local conceptions of wellbeing, especially in non-Western cultures. In Tanzania, the application of Western science to indexes which measure wellness has weaknesses because much of the research has not focused on cultural and social activities, family goals, and tribal cultures that all promote wellbeing in Tanzanian culture.