Paper short abstract:

This study examines the uses of the coconut palm tree as the cultural and social aspect among the Bondei people in Tanzania. It analyses that under the many aspects of the use of the coconut palm tree, how people use tree according to the each part of it.

Paper long abstract:

This study discusses the uses of the coconut palm tree among the Bondei, living at little inner land from the Indian Ocean coast(Swahili coast) in Tanzania. The coconut palm tree is one of the most useful tree in the tropical area. The most cultivating area of it is the Southeast Asia, but it has been cultivated in the Swahili coast area for many years.

Bondei people use the parts of coconut palm tree as material of traditional house and food, for traditional faith and for getting cash. They make thatching roof, coconut taste food, oil and wine etc. from coconut palm tree. The coconut wine can be interact between people and ancestors. And coconut palm tree bring cash income to the people regardless gender and age.

According to the way of the deal in the use of coconut palm tree, there is deference between men and women. For example, men can cultivate coconut palm tree and selling sap to the local bar and coconut fruits to the town market, women can get income from selling coconut wine at the local bar and coconut fruit at the local market and coconut leaf thatches and use them at the house. It shows that men deal with it for more commercial and women deal with it for the domestic use and for small commercial.

In this presentation I focus on the use of coconut palm tree according to the each parts, and how people deal with each parts according to the gender.