Why Tanzanians Carry Everything On Their Heads

[@stinka4079]

Such gentle people. Thanks to them for sharing part of their culture.

[@UshioKiss]

I didn't know they used the pad thing to help -- that makes a lot of sense! Human heads aren't usually perfectly flat, so when my sisters and I tried to walk with books on our heads like princesses in movies learning etiquette, they'd fall. It's a different reason completely, and this looks much easier (especially after you get used to it), but I still find it interesting.

[@panzerfaust5046]

if she dropped that lady's stuff this would be the most awkward story

[@amayabrown5632]

I was thinking the same thing lmao

[@strixcz]

I hoped for some deeper insight than just "it's a part of their culture." :D

[@BexLP]

Me too, like, answer the question you set yourself in a bit more depth woman. It wouldn't have become cultural if there wasn't a purpose!

[@MentalPistol]

@@BexLP Cant give away all the secrets of the universe

[@biblemiracle.wordpress.7759]

Compare to ancient Egyptian women...

[@biblemiracle.wordpress.7759]

Yésu yitna. Christ arrive. Christ is coming. Luc 21 : 11, 27... La 7ème trompette. Révélation 14 : 14 1 Corinthiens 15 : 50 1 Thessaloniciens 4 : 16-17

[@TraVoltage]

One could notice that you never carried anything heavier than a phone.

[@dullhk]

the perfect balance, adeptness and carrying capacity make me wonder if it's more ergonomic to carry things with a head.

[@thewingedpotato6463]

I'm sure your neck having to undergo 10-100x the strain it's meant to will still agree with you 10 years from now.

[@fg2hj]

In Nigeria we do it too. I think it's to free your hands; multitask.

[@fg2hj]

We also put children on our back for the same reason.

[@EvilJapanesePie]

You poor thing, I would hate to live in Nigeria. Stay strong.

[@fg2hj]

Keep your pity to yourself. I live in Ohio.

[@originaldelta]

+fg2hj lol trust my naija folks to put ppl in their place.

[@EvilJapanesePie]

fg2hj HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I FEEL PITY FOR YOU EVEN MORE NOW!

[@matrix-theoriginal.7266]

For those wondering why they do it: It’s simply because it’s more comfortable,after you get used to it and mostly because you have free hands for taking and giving money or anything else. Sometimes they walk with these for really long rides,having those in the hands would get uncomfortable if for such a long time,trust me. It’s not “cultural” , simply the people of the place (and the entire continent ,we have these in almost the entire north and central Africa) are used to it because it’s convenient.

[@cengelwaj.chengelwa749]

Usually head-loading starts when one is a child and one eventually develops balance and gait that creates efficiency and effectiveness as one carry loads: load on head, baby on back, sometimes even pregnant (at times altogether) ... it's been a convenient way of carrying loads with ease ... a pretty much traditional and culturally determined form of "technology."

[@dylancollette9045]

Loving Laura's trip to Tanzania. Every video posted is highly informative and entertaining

[@perfectperfecto]

+Dylan Collette except this video lol

[@VoidUnderTheSun]

+Seeker Stories, It's not only Tanzania who does this. I can personally attest that this is common practice in South Africa as well, and probably many other regions of Africa as well...

[@TruthShallPrevail4]

Common in India and I'm sure other countries as well. Salute to women and mothers. Let's see men do these chores.

[@VoidUnderTheSun]

+TruthShallPrevail4 Yep, though it happened in India too, many places I'd expect. However with your second point, I don't think that men CAN'T do that, I just think in many places men have an overinflated ego coupled with a pride that stop them doing if. As well a socialital pressure telling them it's only a thing women 'should' do.

[@UshioKiss]

+UnderTheSun It probably in the title because they have a crew in Tanzania lately, hence these recent videos. It's very cool to learn about other cultures! It's actually pretty widespread, though, and I'm sure even in older western cultures this was common, but practiced maybe differently? Same for the east and probably indigenous American groups. (At least they would carry babies on their back for the same reason.) (Of course, I expect it to be more common in Africa and South East Asia today. I'll ask my mom about her county.) I also don't think it's an ego, necessarily, for men, but moreso there wasn't a social need, since people do this to keep their hands free and women are doing a lot of work and multitasking with family and stuff. It's not like it's perfect but it's the reason as far as I can tell.

[@KlearChristal]

+UnderTheSun Why do you detest it? It doesn't harm any other people? Do the men not do it as well?

[@VoidUnderTheSun]

KlearChristal What? I never said I detest it. TruthShallPrevail4 said that men could not do these chores and I was arguing that men were just as capable. I'm siding with equality here.

[@bloocantaloop]

They do this in Madagascar too! It is an easy way to carry heavy objects over long distances and it puts less strain on the back.

[@chromatic91]

I always carry stuff on my head... makes it so much easier, especially heavy stuff like beds xD

[@story3877]

kinda curious about the effects on their spine as they age. It's got to be compressing something, right, especially heavier loads. Granted they're not hunched over, so that might help??

[@johnl1685]

I bet some of those women are looking around thinking:. " Hmm.. now where did I leave that basket?".

[@Moro2Death]

Great video, please do more videos on countries in Africa. I feel like coverage about Africa falls way to short.

[@pieter5867]

So, why do they do it?

[@stealthactivated820]

+Pieter Knepper Because it's part of their culture i think ?

[@artistsociety]

+Stealth Activated you saying I love you to your mom is part of our culture does it awnser why we do it

[@stealthactivated820]

Artist Society Yeah that's why i said "I Think" on the end

[@storiesofastranger]

+Artist Society Why do you wipe your ass with paper?

[@artistsociety]

I use water my dear

[@jesshu22]

Even in India, people carry things on their heads

[@filds1]

Its because of heavy load. I tried few times with dog food 10kg. If your back is straight and you balance it righ all load goes into your leg muscles. It doesnt actually harm your spine compare to when you carry it with your arms

[@0zero560]

I refuse to believe that carrying 10 kg’s of dog food with your head can turn you into an orthopedic doctor or did you look it up and if so, why?

[@thewingedpotato6463]

@@0zero560 Apparently all that weight gets magically redistributed to your feet as if the neck/spine didn't even exist, like how they're going to be after doing this for decades.

[@fmissark]

You'll see this in many parts of the world actually

[@saintlikegrimm]

Not in Canada.

[@TermiNation_45669.]

The majority of the time, its woman in African countries

[@JayG0o]

I am a man and find it useful, and practising it now with a cushion on my head at home 😀

[@Swirlworld77]

As a Guyanese woman I have to say that African women are TOP TIER. There's absolutely no comparison. ❤

[@skipperbee]

This is so cute how those women teach her and watch like a toddler taking their first steps🤣

[@bloodandwinearered]

Well this was a fun video. Enjoyed it very much.

[@bleh1037]

They do it because when you lift bodies above your centre of mass it be much easier to lift than lifting it below your centre of mass (near legs). Hence its more comfortable

[@razoredge435]

They do this in Caribbean too. Part of our African culture retained through the generations.

[@iknowyouwanttofly]

I so badly want to learn this hate groceryshopping bags digging in to my hands.

[@timothybooker5168]

They do it because it’s easier to carry. Especially heavier objects. The farther above your center of gravity, the easier it is to carry. I learned that working construction carrying heavy lumber on my shoulder. The lumber felt heaviest when I tried carrying it at waist level.

[@thewingedpotato6463]

The farther above your center of gravity, the easier it is to fall over too.

[@CamCat13]

Since I saw the girl in The Jungle Book carry water on her head, I gave it a try. I carry things on my head from time to time. It's less strain on my muscles in my arms

[@jagathv5384]

A lot of African and South Asian people do this actually. It is easier to balance the weight on your head rather than strain your hands by carrying it. It seemed pretty obvious why they did it :/ Or maybe that's because I'm just used to seeing this

[@ratheonhudson3311]

I guess it's like how people usually go for a handshake while other people go for a hug or a kiss. Thanks for sharing this. I didn't think of it this way.

[@omvalmiki401]

actually they do it because it is far easier than carryin anywhere else on body , your movement will not get hampered, if you cannot carry on head you can not hold it elsewhere on body.

[@MonkeyTurtle100]

When I was there, they said its just cause its really easy, they said most people could carry about 100kg on their heads if they'd been eating well

[@bluemoondiadochi]

I'll paste part of a comment i found as a reply, which impressed me and which points out at the the actual reason why this is done. It's by Mary Anne Brown and I quote: "Because otherwise how would the woman handle all those babies they need to hang onto?? I'm not trying to be funny-I'm absolutely sure that's how it got started. I have seen where they wrap the toddler (3 yr. old) in a sling on their back and then the new baby in a sling on their front. Then they are balancing their belongings on their heads and walking long distances." This makes the head a logical place to carry bulk and carry small children when traveling since times we were hunter gatherers.

[@kimt1776]

Total badasses.

[@dukenegju]

Great! How to do the scarf that works as kind of a buffer, the round shaped one? Love

[@DOC7ORT]

still the question not been answered !... :)

[@QarthCEO]

+Bonquiqui That's a bullshit answer. The question still remains, why?

[@MagpieEpicdude]

+Xaro Xhoan Daxos Due to tradition

[@QarthCEO]

♫Epicsauce4000♫ Why?

[@MagpieEpicdude]

Xaro Xhoan Daxos That is the why some people adhere to traditions they were taught as children. At least most of them and the traditions of their culture in general. There's not really much to say.

[@topgunnah9509]

+Xaro Xhoan Daxos the same answer to "why do you follow your parents religion or beliefs?" Because you just do

[@tomsgrexit]

Native Americans also used to do this!

[@ak88669]

Now I know a trick for carrying my books at school. 😎

[@malebitsatimbuktu3352]

Lols

[@malebitsatimbuktu3352]

Actually that got me thinking...

[@hippieHawk]

The head thing.. what is it made of and how is it made?

[@wonderman1918]

Best host on the internet

[@agnesowiti9656]

Not just tanzania but most African countries and that includes Kenya where I come from

[@maskenmakkan]

they have a magnet on their head i tink

[@domtorres779]

btw of all the countries, why Tanzania?

[@jesshu22]

Because they are in Tanzania.

[@cruse1177]

why not

[@EvanEvans9]

They carry things on their heads because they never invented the wheel.

[@ChristianJiang]

Even in North Korea-I've seen many videos of the countryside and they all carry their stuff on their heads...

[@laurenj432]

This is impressive. It’s not an easy life they have.

[@followingjesus2028]

Beautiful women! Jesus loves you! I hope to visit this beautiful country someday.

[@ghnativeukslave]

I can do this, I use to fetch water from the stream with holding it on my head.

[@WhosThatPokemon2024]

They have to put things on that bucket to maintain the balance

[@thewingedpotato6463]

Ergonomics > 'Culture' It's the 3rd world for a reason, stuff like this is the prefect explanation as to WHY.

[@svetlanab2072]

Какая там статистика по остеохондрозу?

[@kennyapsangco9920]

It's easier though than using a heavy backpack

[@BossFight101]

0:07 0:08 0:47

[@geraldsoria1764]

They must have really good posture

[@gaurdiantome8352]

I was sleeping.

[@martincasco4775]

Here in Paraguay the chiperas do it too

[@raoulduke8720]

They carry a lot more than that, I've seen them carry like 10kgs of bananas

[@TrayTray-d1x]

They’re of God 🔥

[@thetillerwiller4696]

I wanna do this 😂

[@joeyo691]

Bet their necks are strong as hell

[@cruse1177]

the only thing i carry on my head is laundry

[@saintlikegrimm]

The only thing I carry on my head is..... ...my hairs.

[@user-vd7tu7kz4j]

Did anyone notice the black lady had a knife in her hand

[@shubham.rajmane]

visit rural india..you'll find the same thing

[@CarsonSchmidt419]

Laura Ling's stories are great :)

[@RohanOfficial]

My family's country :P

[@TheAlderMonster]

I am sorry but that is nothing. Go check guatemala city. I saw women carrying stuff on their heads without the little flat cloth in between AND the most impressive was a lady, crossing a heavily transitted street of 3 lanes, carrying cups of juice on a tray, on her head and was not using her hands at all!!!

[@putinisaterrorist2047]

This is nothing? Dude in Africa there are women who carry more stuff. I was in Angola and i seen a woman carry a freaking fridge on her head out of her house.

[@MyThoughtzAndOpinionz]

Caribbean’s do this too. It’s very effective. So why not do it?

[@TheAceOfOnes]

Who’s here from Kill Tony lmao

[@cebolenkosingcobo5122]

This is not a Tanzanian thing for women to carry women in other African countries carry things on their heads. I'm a Zulu in South Africa and my wife/girlfriend can carry a 20 liter bucket of water ln her head.

[@taylerkzz2818]

Center of gravity

[@gunnarmeissnest1654]

google says it convenient for them when no access to cars or animals like horse or donkey

[@sidiye7829]

the video is fun to watch, but basically provides no substantial information about why do they do this head-carrying, only one sentence mentioning “a culture”...

[@eleo_b]

It must be great for posture

[@iamd.e.e.p4707]

Why is it crazy?

[@millaganwillagain]

So you didn't answer the question at all!

[@martino.malley9276]

Jambo. Jambo Habari. Matako Mzuri.

[@algrimthestrong]

It's easier to fight off a lion attack with two hands.

[@Jkp1321]

It's not good for you though. In the long term it creates back and neck pain and even deformation of the spine

[@blue_cameron]

No it doesn't

[@thewingedpotato6463]

@@blue_cameron Please tell me how compressing the spinal column for extended periods of time does NOT have a detrimental effect.

[@nobloodforfoil]

..cmon now this is embarassing.. has 'Ms. Ling' REALLY not EVER needed to carry anything on her head before?? ..'Lifestyles of he rich', smh.. ..when ur poor, and u have no vehicle or anyone to help u out, the ONLY easier way to carry heavier things(like dog food, or bags of potatoes, etc, etc), is on ur head..

[@AgnusCavichioliPereira]

Hm... Actually it REALLY depends on the place. Here in Brazil, NO ONE, no matter how poor, carry things on the head. We tend to use just the hands, and sometimes we put the things over our shoulders, but you'll probably never see a Brazilian carrying things like in this video.

[@MsMimo07]

maybe because they are too poor to affort a car or a motorcycle to transport their stuff...

[@AF-Twice]

They carry things on their heads because they need their hands free to do other dumb things with them.. jk.

[@jello7177]

It's an african thing

[@domtorres779]

first like and view

[@domtorres779]

v first