Transactions of the Finnish Anthropological Society No. 38The research area of this study was once the focal point of colonial penetration in East Africa. The author traces the evolution of ethnicity from the 15th century until the post-colonial period. She argues that ethnic group identification is used as a self-referent. People??'s perception of the present is a reflection of the colonial practice of dividing people into tribes. Yet, villagers in the Bagamoyo District stress commonality -- another dimension of ethnic consciousness.