The Secret History Behind Tanzania's Flag
Tanzania's flag is two flags in one.
When Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania, a new flag had to represent both. The design was adopted on June 30, 1964. The green and black come from the flag of Tanganyika, and the blue from the flag of Zanzibar, arranged along a diagonal band, which makes it stand out among national flags.
Green is read as the land, black as the people, blue as the sea and the lakes, and the yellow edge of the band as the country's mineral wealth.
The diagonal is one of the few on national flags, and it was chosen to be distinctive.
The date printed on every Tanzania design in our catalog, December 9, 1961, is the day Tanganyika became independent, the root of the modern country.
Two flags, one band, and a union that gave the country its name.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.