Trivia
The current flag is a mix of the flag of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
Technical Specifications
Adopted | 30th June 1964 |
---|---|
Proportion | 2:3 |
Design | A green and blue triangle separated by a black yellow-edged diagonal band. |
![](/media/ttsdgh05/flag_of_tanzania.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442160962530000)
Brief History
Under Omani rule the Sultanates of Zanzibar would fly a simple plain red flag. In 1891 the Germans took over Tanganyika and merged it with Burundi and Rwanda to created German East Africa. The flag flown during this period was a white field with a black cross and the top left portion was red with five five-pointed stars.
![](/media/2y0lpu0o/1896-1963_zanzibar_under_british_rule.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442161530370000)
The Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar (Up to 1891)
![](/media/a21juaow/1891-1919_flag_of_german_east_africa_company.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442161920730000)
The Flag of German East Africa (1891 – 1916)
When the German Empire collapsed after World war One Britain took over control of Tanganyika and a British Red Ensign was adopted with a white circle that featured a giraffe. In 1951 Tanganyika became a sovereign state and a new flag was adopted that was a green and black with yellow-bordered stripes.
![](/media/x04lpl3p/1919-1961.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442162801030000)
The Flag of Tanganyika Territory (1916 – 1961)
![](/media/hxlbzqdo/1961-1964_tanganyika.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442163399470000)
The Flag of Tanganyika (1961 – 1964)
When Zanzibar gained independence from the British Empire in 1963 a new flag was adopted that added a green circle and two yellow cloves added to a plain red field. When the area became the People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba in January 1964 a new black-yellow-blue horizontal tricolour was adopted.
![](/media/s30ly5qj/1963-1964_sultanate_of_zanzibar.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442164102070000)
The Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar (1963 -1964)
![](/media/jg1m4d2h/1964_jan_flag_of_zanzibar.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442164488800000)
The People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba (12th January – 29th January 1964)
In the same month the flag was changed again to a blue-black-green horizontal tricolour. When Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika, to crated Tanzania, the new flag adopted elements of the two previous flags. The final flag was a green and blue bicolour with a diagonal black bar with a yellow-border. The green represents the vegetation, black represents the people, blue is the ocean and yellow is the riches.
![](/media/cymdjy3r/1964_flag_of_zanzibar.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442165219130000)
The People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba (January – April 1964)
![](/media/ttsdgh05/flag_of_tanzania.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442160962530000)
The Flag of Tanzania (1964 to Present Day)
In 2005 to celebrate Zanzibar being a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania a new flag was adopted for that region. It is the previous blue-black-green horizontal tricolour of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba with the flag of Tanzania in the top left hand corner.
![](/media/3uipqf2h/flag_of_zanzibar.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442168123700000)
![](/media/5zzfj41j/coat_of_arms_of_tanzania.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132442068095230000)
![](/media/5g0dducz/presidential_standard_of_tanzania.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1530&height=0&rnd=132439467925430000)