Ndizi zilipokua zinanichefua tumbo, nilikuwa natembelea hapa. Big up mdau akida kwa kujenga choo hiki kwa bibi kabarenge.Tuesday, September 29, 2009
kyoroni
Ndizi zilipokua zinanichefua tumbo, nilikuwa natembelea hapa. Big up mdau akida kwa kujenga choo hiki kwa bibi kabarenge.
usafiri kijijini
Kwa usafiri huu, kelele za global pollution hazitakuwepo. Kwanini Dar Es Salaam usafiri wa baiskeri siyo maarufu? there's serious dent on our city plan!!!! pale uingereza mwendesha baiskeri anapewa heshima yake kama mwenye gari. hapa Tanzania? baiskeri ni ya vijijini.Lakini kama Msomi Ali Mazrui alivyowahi kusema, 'The only thing we as africans need to change is our own changebility'; muda wote tunabadilisha mazingira yetu yaendane na mazingira ya wanaotutawala.
Leo Dar inangara kwa prado, Vx, hammer, na magari kibao ya Fwd kutoka japan, wakati hao hao wageni waliotupa baiskeli ndio wanaotupa magari. Bado barabara zetu hazikutengenezwa kwa ajili ya waendesha baiskeri. Barabara hasa za Dar ni nyembamba kuruhusu magari na baiskeri kupita kwa wakati mmoja. Na hata pale mjasiri anapoamua kuendesha baiskeri, ana hatarisha maisha yake kwa vile madereva wetu wanatumia njia hizo hizo zinazotegemewa kutumia waendesha baiskeri.
kanisa katoliki kabarenge
Big up to Fr Deusdedit Byabato, mtu mzima huyu alizaliwa na kusoma na kukulia kijijini kabarenge. Sasa anaeneza injili Illinois, USA. Mtu kwao bwana amerudisha fadhira kwa ku facilitate ujenzi wa kanisa la kisasa hapa kijijini. Dini imekubali bwana.Miaka 17 iliyopita nilipokuwa naishi kijijini hapa, tulikuwa tunasali katika kanisa la miti na matope lilisokafiwa majani. Ingependeza kama wadau wengine waishio ughaibuni wangependelea nyumbani kwao kama Fr Deus. Tunao Madaktari, wahandisi, manesi, na kada nyingine nyingi tu walioko pembe zote za duniani. Wherever we go, home is the best!
UKRISTU UMETUKUKA KAGERA
si nilikwambia, dini imeshika sana kwetu. Hapa ni nyumba iliyojengwa na Babu ya mama yangu mzaa mama yake, Ta Marciale Mutefunya. Ninaaambiwa nyumba hiyo ilijengwa kwa mawe matupu. Hata miaka hiyo hayati mzee huyo alijua diversification. Alikuwa mwalimu, mkulima, na mshonaji. Si unaona sasa nyumba yake bado inatesa pale kijijini kanyigo!!VITA VYA KAGERA
Haya ni mabaki ya kanisa katoliki la kyaka, bukoba vijijini. Nduli Iddi Amin alilipiga mabomu kanisa hili katika ile vita ya mwaka 1978. Ni mwaka huo Baba yangu, Hayati Robert Rweyemamu alinifuata nitoke kijijini kabarenge na nirudishwe Dar Es Salaaam. Bado ningepona kwani Nduli hakufika kijijini kwetu.contradiction is here toooooo!
Katika majanga yaliyoikumba mkoa wa kagera, hili la UKIMWI haliepukiki, 'tikiliwaigambo'. Lakini naona hii ina contradict na jinsi dini ilivyoenea mkoani hasa vijijini kwetu.zahanati
Natamani Hayati bibi yangu Ma Anna Maria Marciale angekuwa hai na kuiona zahanati hii. Miaka hiyo naishi kijijini kabarange, bibi yangu alikuwa ndiyo chief 'surgeon' wa kijiji. Akiwa ni nesi mstaafu kutokea hospitali ya rufaa ya muhimbili, bibi yangu alikuwa ndiyo mtaalam pekee aliyekuwa anasaidia akina mama kujifungua na kutoa huduma nyingine za kitabibu. Miaka 17 baada ya kifo chake, kijiji kina hii zahanati. Lakini bado umeme ni shida, yaani hakuna. Nilipokuwa kijijini nilipewa stori moja na mjomba yangu aliyesema kuwa at one point alileta majeruhi na wakatumia taa za gari yake ili dactari aone vizuri hali ya mgonjwa. Tuna safari ndefu.KABARENGE
Nyumbani kwa bibi mzaa mama, kijijini kabarenge, kata kilimilire, jimbo la Nkenge. Jimbo la Mheshimiwa sana Dr. Dedatus Kamala, waziri wa Uhusiano wa Africa Mashariki. Kama nilivyoondoka kijijini hapa miaka 17 iliyopita, bado maji ni shida, ingawa distance ya kufuata maji kwa kiasi nimeambiwa imepungua.SELEMALA
mdau yupo pale centre, Kagondo, karibu na kijijini kwangu kangantebe. Kagondo ni karibu na hospitali nilipozaliwa ya kagondo. Eneo hili lina umeme na panaonekana pana signs za mjini mjini. Mdau ana order ya kudeliver hiki kitanda kwa mteja soon. He's comfortabe when you compare to other village folks who depend on matoke and kahawa for survival. Nakurusha mdau.kata mti, panda mti
Nishati yetu kwa ajili ya kupikia bado ni primitive, tunakata mti lakini hatupandi miti. Hapa ni nyumbani kwangu, kijijini kangantebe, wilaya ya Muleba, Mkoani Kagera. Hongera sana kwa bro. Albert huwa anapanda miti sana akija kijijini.ujasiamali
Kijijini kangantebe, kata muhutwe, wilaya Muleba, Mkoani Kagera. Ni jirani yangu pale kijijini. Anashona masweta lakini in a very minor scale.Anatamani aongeze kipato zaidi kwa kutotegemea zao la ndizi lililoletwa na wakoloni. Tukipata umeme kijijini shughuli kama hizi zitaongezeka zaidi na hapo ndipo wanakijiji watakuwa na uwezo wa kuuziana bidhaa wenyewe kwa wenyewe na kuuza hata kwa vijiji jirani. Come on, umefika muda sasa wa kutotegemea soko la kahawa la Ulaya na Marekani.SECONDARY KAGONDO
Tunapigana kujenga hii maabara ya shule ya secondary ya kagondo. Very optimistic indeed!
kijijini kilimilire, nyumbani kwa marehemu bibi yangu, hayati Ma Anna Maria Marcialle. Mjomba wangu Victor Akida anafanya kazi ya ziada to keep the place alive. mbuzi meheee! sikuona watu wengi wakiwa na mifugo. Ile cancer ya kupenda ndizi itachukua muda kutoweka. Nina uhakika diversification is the way forward.
Monday, September 28, 2009
ujasiamali
harufu ya ujasiamali haiishii mijini tu, kwani hata kwetu jamaa anatoka kagondo kuchaji betri ya gari. Pale kijijini mshikaji ana saloon hivyo anacharge betri ili awakarabati mabishoo wa kijijini kwenye saloon. Lau kama tungeweka umeme kijiji kinge diversify na kuachana na uchumi tegemezi wa ndizi na kahawa.
MAJI BADO NI TAABU
Jamani watoto! inabidi wacheze kidari pooo! na ukuti ukuti wa meme wa meme! na wa mjini sikuhizi wanacheza na computer games. Lakini hapa kangantebe watoto wanachota maji. Maji ni shida lakini kijijini kwetu kuna nafuu ukilinganisha na sehemu nyingine za Mkoani Kagera.matoke weeeeeeeeeee!
Chakula niliagiza pale hotelini kagondo. Kagondo ni kitongoji kilichoendelea zaidi katika kata ya Muhutwe. Pana umeme na nadhani kijiji kangantebe kimelaaniwa kwani siyo mbali kutoka kagondo! kwa nini hatuvuti umeme? Its a million dollar question. Sahani ya ndizi ni 1500/=, tuliambiwa hawakuwa na sahani ya watu wawili lakini nilichoka nilipoletewa hiyo sahani ya mtu mmoja. Ni mlima uliosheheni. Tulikula watu wawili na kusaza.
ardhi inalipa
Hapa kagondo, nanasi nne (4) ni shillingi 1000/=. Kama Tanzania ingeweza kuboresha miundombinu na kuwezesha hizi nanasi kufika mijini kwa urahisi wote tungefaidi. Wakulima kijijini na walaji mjini. Lakini kwa mwendo huu wa masaa 30 ya kufika kijijini kutokea dar es salaam, mkulima hatazidi kudodewa na hayo matunda yake yasiyo na dhamani. Na siye mjini tutazidi kuona matunda ni anasa. Labda siku moja kutakuwa na viwanda vya kusindika matunda pale Bukoba mjini na kupunguza ile msukumo wa vijana kukimbilia Dar Es Salaam kuganga njaa. labda viwanda vikiwa vingi pale Bukoba Mjini kutaleta hamasa ya vijana kujishughulisha na kilimo cha matunda kijijini badala kungangania ndizi na kahawa.
hospitali nilipozaliwa
Hospitali ya kagondo,mojawapo ya hospitali kubwa mkoani kagera. Bado yavuma ingawa kizazi hiki hakikubali kutoka mjini na kwenda kujifungulia kijijini kama walivyofanya wazazi wangu miaka 39 iliyopita.
Hata kukiwa kubaya ni nyumbani tu.
Nyumbani kwetu asilia. Kijiji kangantebe, kata muhutwe wilaya ya Muleba, mkoani kagera.
KWENDA KWETU, MSAFIRI NI ZAIDI YA KAFIRI
Baada ya safari ya karibu masaa 30, nilifika kijijini kwetu kwa kupanda pikipiki iliyonipitisha na kunipandisha mabonde na milima. Lazima niseme kwamba naogopa sana kupanda chombo cha moto kinachoendeshwa bila kufuata minimum standards kama kuvaa helmet. Hapa Kagera pikipiki ni usafiri rasmi wa kuelekea migombani kusikopitisha magari. Sidhani kama dereva wangu alikuwa na leseni. Mmmh lakini nilifika salama. Hapa nyumbani maisha ni kudra ya Mwenyezi Mungu.Saturday, September 26, 2009
NARUDI KWETU MKOANI KAGERA
Safari ya masaa takribani 30 ilianza kwa kukerwa na wachuuzi waliotembeza bidhaa nisizohiitaji.Masaa 30 ni mara tatu ya safari ya kutoka Dar kwenda London, Uingereza.
NARUDI KWETU MKOANI KAGERA
Safari ya takribani masaa 30 ilianza kwa kukerwa na wachuuzi wa kila kitu nisichokihitaji.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
10 YEARS ON! MWALIMU MEMORIES STILL ALIVE
At any given time, the job of the leader is to mobilise citizens. He's a visionary, the one who shows the way, we expect a leader to lead us into unforceable future. Without effective leader people will be mobilised by external forces whose interests most of the time won't stand on the national interests.
American philosopher Edmund Burk once said that there's a big difference between real leader and a fake one! The real leader has a vision and would do whatever possible to maintain and adhere to the laid down ethics. Fake leader wont look beyond today's life. And because fake leader is after today's life, he relies on deceit and manipulation.
The late Julius Kambarage Nyerere( The first President of Tanganyika) was a visionary leader, not a ruler! Tanzania had a political independence in 1961 after four decades of British rule. Julius Nyerere had a task of leading his people. Mwalimu ( swahili name for a Teacher) wanted to create african socialism and believed this to be good for the fragile and immature nation like Tanganyika.
Can we still see signs of his vision? Yes we can! Tanzanians are united as a nation relatively well compared to other neighbours notably Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. Citizens living in this country can not realise/ appreciate our unity unless they cross the border to other nations. I lived in United Kingdom for nine years and interacted and even lived with other africans in the same house. I resided with kenyans, Ugandans, and Zimbabweans. A Luo doesnt mingle well with Kikuyu, Shona cannot befriend Ndebele and Baganda does not speak the same language with Acholi. My friend from Kenya even wondered when I referred a Tanzanians as 'ndugu' (comrade) "Is she your sister? He asked suprisingly!
But that historically admired unity is increasingly withering away! and visionless leaders that we have now can not escape a blame!
It was not by accident that my uncle( A haya) married a nyakyusa, nor its not coincident that my auntie married a nyasa. My uncle met his future wife in Ruvu National service camp while my auntie mate her other half at The University of Dar Es Salaam. Nyerere was a man on a mission, personal mission of uniting Tanzanians, on this spirit He initiated a programme of all academicians to service their nation through a military service known as NATIONAL SERVICE (JKT). From 1971 all graduates were required cumpulsorily to attend the service. This imparted a sense of national unity among the already polished intelligencia groups of our society. I attended a national service in three camps, notably Ruvu( Pwani), Nachingwea ( Lindi) and Mgulani ( Dar Es Salaam). Todate, I have friends that we could not meet in a formal education system. Nationals service crossed all sections of peopl, it was compulsory with no classes, religious, or sex discrimination. These resulted into one identification, i.e We're all Tanzanians. I can vividly remember those revolutionary songs, kwata! work in the field, etc that echoed national spirit. While in London I met an old friend from National service, a one year stay with the army had necessitated a long lasting friendship. Children of famous leaders, businessmen,peasants forgot their different status quo and paradded to correct 'kichele' ( monthly pay) in those camps.
Politically, yes we can embrace multiparty system, and shun away old fashioned single partism, but still Nyerere insisted on effective grassroot political mobilisation that was well organised. Summon a standard seven pupil and ask him/her to name his ten-cell leader? or his councillor, or warden leader? He wont have a clue. Ironically the same lad will line up the eleven team members of Manchenster United!. I believe effective politics starts from grassroot. president Kikwete can not be at my ward at all times to mobilise locals on the importance of environment, but ten-cell leader can do. These days I dont see grassroots leaders and instead religious groups run the show. For example catholic church mobilises its followers more effectively than political leaders. Yet the church can not pioneer causes of national interests such as Kilimo Kwanza, kata mti panda mti,kilimo cha kufa na kupona, elimu ya watu wazima, etc.These were slogans with national interests that mobilised Tanzanians a great deal.
Should we be suprised that religious leaders are now introducing 'waraka' to their followers as we approach next general election? Please not! they've got their believers in custody at a time when there's a gap in genuine leadership. Tanzania has a non-religious nation is increasingly disappearing and here comes religious royality among citizens. Believers are taken in captives and waste hours praying instead of fulifilling national duties.
Culturally we are doomed as well! the other day I attended a party and there was a 15 years girl giving a key note speach to the guests. Ironically she apologised of not being able to speak swahili and instead insisted on english!!!!. Yes she studies at one of the poshy english medium schools, but will this girl interact with her colleague at Kilimilire primary school ( Kagera Region) in three years time? Are these two Tanzanians? Can we say that english medium schools are home grounds for future leaders?
Look at the state of our youth! its like a bunch of sheep with no shephard. They're all mobilised by globarization that can not remember a thing about Tanzania. We'd national motivational songs back in the days. Songs like ' Alisema, alisema, alisema Nyerere, alisema vijana wangu wote mmelegea sharti tuanze mchakamchaka'. Instead of singing these songs our youth are carried away by western media and enjoys premier league and beauty pegeant.
Economically we are losers as of now more than ever before. Again our leaders do not make any effort to preserve national treasures such as minerals and other resources. The soundbites of ufisadi enriches pages of our daily newspapers.
As it is! Tanzania is whithering and it withers for good. God forbide.
God bless this great Nation.
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, May the Lord Bless you.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
ULINZI NA USALAMA WA DAR ES SALAAM NI UOZO MTUPU!!
Nimekuwa nikiishi nchini Uingereza kwa takribani miaka tisa! ni miaka mingi ukizingatia kuwa niliondoka mwaka 1999 nikiwa na miaka 29. Maisha yamebadilika sana katika nyanja zote! Mojawapo ya sekta ya umma inayonipa mashaka makubwa na kuhatarisha usalama wangu hapa nyumbani ni chombo cha polisi!
Ndio Uingereza inaitwa nchi ya dunia ya kwanza, lakini hili siyo kisingizio kwa kwa nchi yangu Tanzania kuwa na secta ya usalama hisiwajibika kwa wananchi wake.
Utawala wa sheria ni mpangilio wa utaratibu ambapo matukio yanayotokea kila siku yanaendana na sheria. Tunapokuwa hatuna sheria kila mtu atafanya anachotaka kufanya na hapo ndipo mnyonge anapodondoshwa na mwenye nguvu. Kiujumla serikali haiwezi kuwa kamilifu kama hakuna utawala wa sheria.
Ninaishi Dar Es Salaam, mji mkuu wa Tanzania wenye wakazi takribani millioni 4, na wilaya tatu za kiutawala, i.e Temeke, Ilala, na Kinondoni. Dar Es Salaaam kama ilivyo miji mingine duniani inapaswa kutawalaliwa na utawala wa sheria.
Majuzi jirani alivamiwa na vibaka wakati alipokuwa anaelekea kazini. Cha ajabu ni kwamba ukiwa barabarani utakutana na idadi kubwa ya askari wa usalama wa barabarani wakipunga magari yapite. Idadi hii haina uwiano na idadi iliyopo kwenye vitongoji vyetu.
Kibaya zaidi, hali imekuwa tete kiasi kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida hana elimu ya uraia inayomuelimisha kutambua kuwa polisi anawajibu kwake. Leo hii nikivamiwa na majambazi nikiwa natembea mtaani siwezi kutupia lawama jeshi la polisi kwa kushindwa kusimamia amani na usalama wangu. Tunapofika kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida anakosa imani na polisi basi ni vigumu kwa mwananchi huyo huyo kuwa na imani na serikali iliyopo madarakani. Kwani Polisi ni chombo muhimu sana cha dola.
Matukio tunayoyaona kwa wananchi kujichukulia madaraka mikononi na kuwachoma moto watu wanaoshukiwa kuwa ni majambazi ni hatari kwa usalama wa Taifa. Sifahamu ni lini nitachomwa moto. Au kirahisi kirahisi mtu niliyemzidi akili kwa kitu fulani chochote tu, anaweza kutuma wahuni wakapiga kelele mwiziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii huyoooooooooooo! na nikachomwa moto kirahisi sana.
Juzi lilitokea tukio ambalo lilinisikitisha sana. Rafiki yangu ninayefanya naye kazi aligundua kuwa mke wake ananyemelewa na rafiki yake kipenzi. Kilichoendelea ni kuwa huyo rafiki yangu alipanga na mke wake waweke mtego kwamba huyo mke wake akubali kutoka na rafiki yake waende nyumba ya wageni ( Geust House). Rafiki huyo alichukua mapolisi wawili wakavamia hiyo nyumba ya wageni na kumpiga huyo mgoni wake na kumjeruhi vibaya sana. Mgoni huyo aliugulia siku tatu majeraha ya kupigwa na polisi. Je huo ulikuwa ni utawala wa sheria? Is this not the assault case? Hii ni nchi ya wastaarabu? Kibaya zaidi pale kazini hakuna mtu aliyekuwa na busara na kuona tatizo katika ule uamuzi wa polisi waliopewa dhamana ya kuhakikisha kuwa nchi inakuwa na sheria na utaratibu. Maswali ya hekima inabidi yaulizwe.
Je, ni uvunjaji wa sheria kwenda nyumba ya wageni na mwanamke zaidi ya miaka 18?
Ni sheria ipi inayompa madaraka polisi kumpiga raia kwenye nyumba ya wageni?
Je, siyo ukweli kuwa kesi hiyo ingepelekwa mahakamani yule mgoni angeshinda?
Kuna tatizo kubwa la weredi ( Professionalism) hapa Tanzania. Jeshi la Polisi lina tatizo hili kwa kiasi kikubwa. Wenye upeo mdogo wa mawazo watasema kwamba tatizo hili linatokana na kipato kidogo wanachopewa polisi wetu. Tatizo siyo kipato, kama mtu anaona kazi fulani haina maslahi kwanini hasiiache hiyo kazini na kufanya kazi nyingine?
Mungu ibariki Tanzania, Mungu ibariki Afrika.
Ndio Uingereza inaitwa nchi ya dunia ya kwanza, lakini hili siyo kisingizio kwa kwa nchi yangu Tanzania kuwa na secta ya usalama hisiwajibika kwa wananchi wake.
Utawala wa sheria ni mpangilio wa utaratibu ambapo matukio yanayotokea kila siku yanaendana na sheria. Tunapokuwa hatuna sheria kila mtu atafanya anachotaka kufanya na hapo ndipo mnyonge anapodondoshwa na mwenye nguvu. Kiujumla serikali haiwezi kuwa kamilifu kama hakuna utawala wa sheria.
Ninaishi Dar Es Salaam, mji mkuu wa Tanzania wenye wakazi takribani millioni 4, na wilaya tatu za kiutawala, i.e Temeke, Ilala, na Kinondoni. Dar Es Salaaam kama ilivyo miji mingine duniani inapaswa kutawalaliwa na utawala wa sheria.
Majuzi jirani alivamiwa na vibaka wakati alipokuwa anaelekea kazini. Cha ajabu ni kwamba ukiwa barabarani utakutana na idadi kubwa ya askari wa usalama wa barabarani wakipunga magari yapite. Idadi hii haina uwiano na idadi iliyopo kwenye vitongoji vyetu.
Kibaya zaidi, hali imekuwa tete kiasi kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida hana elimu ya uraia inayomuelimisha kutambua kuwa polisi anawajibu kwake. Leo hii nikivamiwa na majambazi nikiwa natembea mtaani siwezi kutupia lawama jeshi la polisi kwa kushindwa kusimamia amani na usalama wangu. Tunapofika kwamba mwananchi wa kawaida anakosa imani na polisi basi ni vigumu kwa mwananchi huyo huyo kuwa na imani na serikali iliyopo madarakani. Kwani Polisi ni chombo muhimu sana cha dola.
Matukio tunayoyaona kwa wananchi kujichukulia madaraka mikononi na kuwachoma moto watu wanaoshukiwa kuwa ni majambazi ni hatari kwa usalama wa Taifa. Sifahamu ni lini nitachomwa moto. Au kirahisi kirahisi mtu niliyemzidi akili kwa kitu fulani chochote tu, anaweza kutuma wahuni wakapiga kelele mwiziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii huyoooooooooooo! na nikachomwa moto kirahisi sana.
Juzi lilitokea tukio ambalo lilinisikitisha sana. Rafiki yangu ninayefanya naye kazi aligundua kuwa mke wake ananyemelewa na rafiki yake kipenzi. Kilichoendelea ni kuwa huyo rafiki yangu alipanga na mke wake waweke mtego kwamba huyo mke wake akubali kutoka na rafiki yake waende nyumba ya wageni ( Geust House). Rafiki huyo alichukua mapolisi wawili wakavamia hiyo nyumba ya wageni na kumpiga huyo mgoni wake na kumjeruhi vibaya sana. Mgoni huyo aliugulia siku tatu majeraha ya kupigwa na polisi. Je huo ulikuwa ni utawala wa sheria? Is this not the assault case? Hii ni nchi ya wastaarabu? Kibaya zaidi pale kazini hakuna mtu aliyekuwa na busara na kuona tatizo katika ule uamuzi wa polisi waliopewa dhamana ya kuhakikisha kuwa nchi inakuwa na sheria na utaratibu. Maswali ya hekima inabidi yaulizwe.
Je, ni uvunjaji wa sheria kwenda nyumba ya wageni na mwanamke zaidi ya miaka 18?
Ni sheria ipi inayompa madaraka polisi kumpiga raia kwenye nyumba ya wageni?
Je, siyo ukweli kuwa kesi hiyo ingepelekwa mahakamani yule mgoni angeshinda?
Kuna tatizo kubwa la weredi ( Professionalism) hapa Tanzania. Jeshi la Polisi lina tatizo hili kwa kiasi kikubwa. Wenye upeo mdogo wa mawazo watasema kwamba tatizo hili linatokana na kipato kidogo wanachopewa polisi wetu. Tatizo siyo kipato, kama mtu anaona kazi fulani haina maslahi kwanini hasiiache hiyo kazini na kufanya kazi nyingine?
Mungu ibariki Tanzania, Mungu ibariki Afrika.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Memoirs of my village life.
Few months after the start of the brand new year, 1970 so I'm told, the expected Mom, Ma Fraisica Rweyemamu travelled to her husband's homeland, rural Kangantebe in Muleba district for maternity reason. There in her womb a very tiny human was struggling to breath. I was born on the midnight, 29th march 1970 at the mission hospital known as Kagondo hospital.
One vital observation; My Dad was wealthy, affluent, and educated. Robert Rweyemamu, ( Bob) belonged to African emerging bourgeoisie class. By late 1960's he was among very few properly polished journalists in the country. Ben Mkapa( retired President) was his colleague at Daily News. He was residing in an up-market location, Upanga,( Seaview). With the above colorful personality, why did he send heavily pregnant wife to the rural kangantebe for delivery? Surely fransisca could have been attended prestigiously at neighbouring Aga Khan hospital. The answer paints a picture of our well being as a country by then. Tanzanian rural was far better as compared to the present one. Kagondo hospital in Kangantebe was well funded by catholic missionaries at time when medical care was at its peak. The goverment had yet to nationalize commanding heights of the economy. MyDad was really proud of his home land;Mtu kwao bwana. Would you tell florian to send his beautiful wife to kangantebe for delivery? big joke!
Life has changed a great deal for the last 40 years or so. Tanzania economy by then was at per with South Korea on GDP terms . As of now we 're at the bottom four while South Korea is among the flourishing emerging economies.
One vital observation; My Dad was wealthy, affluent, and educated. Robert Rweyemamu, ( Bob) belonged to African emerging bourgeoisie class. By late 1960's he was among very few properly polished journalists in the country. Ben Mkapa( retired President) was his colleague at Daily News. He was residing in an up-market location, Upanga,( Seaview). With the above colorful personality, why did he send heavily pregnant wife to the rural kangantebe for delivery? Surely fransisca could have been attended prestigiously at neighbouring Aga Khan hospital. The answer paints a picture of our well being as a country by then. Tanzanian rural was far better as compared to the present one. Kagondo hospital in Kangantebe was well funded by catholic missionaries at time when medical care was at its peak. The goverment had yet to nationalize commanding heights of the economy. MyDad was really proud of his home land;Mtu kwao bwana. Would you tell florian to send his beautiful wife to kangantebe for delivery? big joke!
Life has changed a great deal for the last 40 years or so. Tanzania economy by then was at per with South Korea on GDP terms . As of now we 're at the bottom four while South Korea is among the flourishing emerging economies.
Baby florian stayed in the village up to the age of 4, playing and going to the booze with babu Ta
Joseph Kachunkwa Kambuga. The late Ta Kambuga would'nt leave me at any given time, not in the banana field nor in his own rubisi joints! I was his constant companion.
Though great enthusiasts of their haya heritage, my parents, Mr and Mrs Robert Rweyemamu could'nt resist temptation of living without their own flesh and blood, I joined them in a that sparsely populated Dar es salaam city in 1974. As a family we kept a vigil of visiting kangantebe on regular basis up to the age of 7 when it was decided that I had to stay with my grandmom for a year. This was an important time to learn haya language and its sacred culture.
Ma Anna-Maria Marcialle was a strong and a well disciplined grandma. She treated her grandchildren not softly but with an iron hand. She instituted her own law and order to be followed by all of the grandchildren in the homestead. Customs such as not to talk while eating, catholic prayers, and hard field work could not be diverted by members of the house. Together with my brother Albert we had a hard time coping with those military disciplinary standards.
Life wasn't thrown to us on a golden plate. Just as other kids in the village we're expected to get up early on every morning ready for school. Akabanga( Hill) primary school was a walking distance by village standards. We'd that advantage of having urban parents, thus our school bags were relatively good, shoes were nice and uniforms had that modern touch. Yet we thought that uniformity was necessary, it would'nt be proper to wear shoes in a class full of bare-footed pupils.That was Nyerere spirit, the ujamaa nature, we're all equal, HAKI ELIMU. One thing would definetely prove us wrong, JIGGERS. Every now and then those harsh eyes of our gran could search for jiggers in our toes, or sometimes one would be spotted squezzing his feet along the wall enjoying the feeling of a immature jigger, whips would follow without notice.
Yes, we'd a relatively upper hand when compared to other kids in the village! yes we enjoyed tea with occasional taste of sugar when mom or other urban relatives visited. Yes we enjoyed ekibuza amagezi ( rice) on chrismas times, but still village life was tough. We'd to fetch water as far as nyankele( a distance location) and we're good in positioning a bucket on the head. Of course grandma was lucky among village women, she'd a good number of grandchildren that her tasks were a bit relaxed. In most rural africa water is an issue and Kilimilire was'nt an exception. The commodity was really precious that proper bath could be enjoyed on saturdays' ready for sunday service. We're not expected to wash clothes on daily basis as a good measure of minimizing consumption of water. And mind you! my grandma was rich, she could afford to hire a shamba boy. Bukoba has classes and among the lowest rank, Burundi folks counted as our servants. They would tend farms, fetch firewoods, and brew rubisi ( local brew).
And food! no I could not enjoy banana at all! this was a typical staple food and balance diet was not in my gran vocabulary. Banana left over in the morning ( ebihoro), banana with beans in the afternoon, and again banana with beans for supper. Occassionally we would enjoy fish or meat with banana. In those days I would wonder why the field was not short of banana. She would get up every morning with a machete( panga) and definitely lunch was guaranteed. Perhaps lack of mixed culture was a reason for the malnutrition. Kagera of 70's was typical haya! unlike Dar Es Salaam that was multi-cultured with lots of tribes, haya remained sole controlling ethnic group in that part of Tanzania. In Dar Sukuma brought ugali,haya brought matoke, makonde brought chashwnuts, and pogoro came with cassava but haya culture remained intact. The result to urban kids was not very impressive, my baby sister, Devota was malnurished as she stayed in Kangantebe for some months. When my mother went to fetch her, she sobbed sadly, her daughter's chicks were disfigured, stomach blown out of proportion, and skin could be mistaken of the an old woman.
It was not that land was not fertile, it was not that other crops could not withstand the soil, the reason of a single diet was rigidity of haya. A family eating ugali was seen as impoverished! maize were grown not as staple meal but just for taste. Of course soil could not support rice cultivation, but come on haya, cassava was plenty and this could give us ugali wa muhogo. Fruits like oranges, pawpaws, apples, mangoes, avacado, pineapples and lots of others could be seen rotting in the field. There was no reason at all for my baby sister to get malnutrition. We would eat mangoes not in an organised way as a part of the dinning menu but on the field as one passes along. Again lack of external cultural infusion could be a reason for this poor dieting! a white man influenced appetite of the urban dwellers like Dar es salaamites. Visits dining tables of most urban families, and fruits will be part of the menu. Furthermore technology has a role to play here, we have lots of food processing gadgets in our urban families that make life more easier.
Tanzania is most disorganised country! yes indeed it is. While Mwanza, Shinyanga, and Tabora accomodates lots and lots of cows, other regions are left out. Kilimilire as a village is really left out. Kagera is a periphery region, a region that is not connected to other areas logistically. Kilimilire has lots of fruits rotting in the field while sukuma keep cows for prestige. My grandma had no option of selling his fruits so as to get money of buying meat, but sadly enough supply of meat is still not adequate to fill the demand, hence manultrition.
Economically Kilimilire was a single crop subsistence agricultural village. I would'nt find any other activitivity apart from banana plantation. We'd only one cooperative shop that served the whole village with the same merchandise like matchboxes, sugar ( bought on xmas time), and keresone.
And what about electricity?
As a little lad, vibatari complicated my stay in the village. Even todate, electricity availability is mainly in urban centres that its only 11% of Tanzanians enjoys this service. I remember walking in the darkness with a torch that chances of being knocked down by poisonous snake seemed to be very likely.Forget about evening studies, it was really difficult to enjoy studies in the darkness, those vibatari strained my precious eyes and again grandma would'nt allow me to waste kerosene on studies.
Amid all of the above hurdles, something along was looming, an event that would transform my life for good!
Closing months of 1977 were clouded with rumours of imminent war with our neighbouring country, Uganda. If those hearsays were true there was a danger of Ma Anna Maria village to be among the first casualties.Already Kilimilire was on alert and there were some signs that Amin would strike. I remember one day as we're saying evening prayers the sound of helicopter was heard on top of our corrugated roof. My uncle alarmed the devoted gran, "Mae lekela enshala twafaaaaa" ( Mom stop praying we're dying). Stupidly I rushed towards the compound and observed a soldier eating banana. Later on we come to realise that the helicopter belonged to Tanzanian forces.
Closing months of 1977 were clouded with rumours of imminent war with our neighbouring country, Uganda. If those hearsays were true there was a danger of Ma Anna Maria village to be among the first casualties.Already Kilimilire was on alert and there were some signs that Amin would strike. I remember one day as we're saying evening prayers the sound of helicopter was heard on top of our corrugated roof. My uncle alarmed the devoted gran, "Mae lekela enshala twafaaaaa" ( Mom stop praying we're dying). Stupidly I rushed towards the compound and observed a soldier eating banana. Later on we come to realise that the helicopter belonged to Tanzanian forces.
My Dad, journalist with information on the tips of his fingers couldn't take those rumours lightly.The family life was at stake, thus one early morning while washing our feets ready for school, a big man, heavely bearded, ( My Dad) appeared in our compound,i.e eirembo!. It was unexpected visit, what brought him to kilimilire? We'd no mobile phones that he could've phoned beforehand, even letters could'nt reach us on time.In our angelic mind his visit could not be imagined, there he was looking for his two precious sons, albert ( 9) and florian (7). Of course Grandma pleaded to him that if war was the case, then why should he not take all of the children? The answer was NO. If my dad was responsible enough, so should be the other parents. We're gone in an hour.
The rest was history, the war lasted for a year, and I would only follow the battle episode from afar ( Dar Es Salaam). I felt sorry for other kids in the village, and most importantly my own extended family.
My last visit to Kagera Region was 18 years ago! Gosh 18 years, its a hell of a life time!. My nephew, Nisela who lives with me was born that year.
1991 was a year my lovely grandmom passed away, hence a visit.
kagera town was really dusty, I could only spend some hours walking around that dingy town centre! goverment buildings were old and dilapidated. Haya folks mind you, I am not publishing that ugly picture of ours worlwide with bad intention, but this is a reality.
Yes, I found old and outdated buildings, but modern construction technology is not ours! it was brought by colonialists and we are only trying to imitate other people's invention. Yes we jumped into Toyota Hilux of our Babu Ta Alfonce as if we were lose cargo! again cars were only brought into our land recently by colonialists. It was only when I arrived at Kilimilire village that our own heritage/ civilisation could be seen.
One of those assets that haya people are really proud of, is the language.We're good with our venercular, we're really proud bwana!, even in Bukoba town the language would be spoken in market place, police post, bank office, post office and more importantly in church. I attended a church service in my mom's village, kilimilire and all of us would sing angelically haya songs loudly. Priests were expected to know the language and of course one wouldn't think of having a sukuma priest in that village. Todate, haya tribe is among very few local languages published worldwide. We have our own version of bible, misale ya waumini and lots of other publications. While in UK, a good friend of mine, Raymond Mwombeki gave me a wonderful little book, enshererwa ne enshwerere lya buhaya, a very good book that transfers rituals and customs from one generation to another. Todate, its not by accident that wahaya speak their language fluently.
We had a good funeral of my grandmom! mind you I was the eldest among the grandsons and daughters, I was expected to dance for the departed Ma Anna Maria-Marcialle. Mmmh I was shy and ignorant of haya dance though now I adore those songs very much. We buried Ma Anna at her own homestead( obwaifo) with attendance of her siblings, Fr Deo Mutefunya omu bajungu ( now deceased), Ma Marcelina, Ma Kandida, Ma Matrona, Ta Alfronce, and Ta Paulo. Note that Ta and Ma represents titles, just like englishman would say Mr or Mrs! who told you that haya are not civilised, think again. Also present were her own sons and daughters, Ma Fulai ( haya version of Fransisca), this is my own late mom, Ta Deus Kaizilege( my departed uncle), Ta Fred Luiza, Ta Salvandi Rwegasira, Pelagia Blassius ( deceased), Patricia Blassius( deceased), Victor Mgodo, and Afredina Alfonso. According to haya and most of african tribes its a curse not to attend funeral of your own mother, thus a reason of that big occassion. All of her sons and daughters had travelled from as far as Dar es Salaam just to attend that last celebration of their mother. What about food & drinks! oh Lord! we'd plenty, we eat matoke bwana, and that is a thing I miss about bukoba, women as far as nyankele na akabanga gathered at my grandmom's house and prepared big dishes of matoke, fish, meat, nsanyuse, ntongo, biimba etc etc etc. Goats were slaughtered, chicken ambushed and a cow was slaughtered too. Perhaps it was supposed to be called a party, not a funeral. By then I could'nt think of that to be a wonderful thing, but now after living with white people for so many years I envy our natural richness.
Forget about GDP, forget that slaggish talk about africans surviving on less than a dollar per day, by then Haya were naturally rich! those matoke were expensive and are still expensive by global standards. Visit TESCO supermarket in London and you'll spend a fortune buying just a bunch of banana. There I was at Kilimirire village eating matoke not as a fruit but as a staple food. One would compare that staple with mashed potatoes. English man, might be having snacks in the afternoon, but a haya man enjoys a big meal consisting of matoke ( a bowl full of banana) and fish! Those bibi's and mama's who cooked at my grandma funeral did not charge a penny and yet we ate to the full. Yes, even by today's urban standards, we hire people to cook at our funerals and weddings. It is not that way in the naturally rich Kilimilire village. People junga elyalwa and cook ekitoke and then present to the family at no cost. Add up the value of that and you'll get the real GDP of kilimilire folks!!!! it's well above one dollar per day. Only today, after living in a capitalist society that I appreciate our own wealth. Think of kumoisa ( a traditional ritual of cutting the hair of the family after burial ceremony) that ritual was performed free of charge! who says that barber service is free in modern world? In calculating GDP of most of african villages a white man standard does not take into consideration lots of services rendered freely.
I stayed in the village for two more days, and then I decided to visit my father's village, Kangantebe. Very early in the morning, I boarded a bus known as Champion. Mmmh I had to wait inside a bus for one hour or so! a patient driver was waiting for some famous faces(abarangira) i.e mamwinyi to board the bus as the service was the only one on that day. While waiting, banana bunches were being packed on board ready to be transported to the town market. Around 06.30 we started the journey.
It has been 18 years since that last visit! Is kagera still the same? I will have to visit one of these days.
ciao for now!
My last visit to Kagera Region was 18 years ago! Gosh 18 years, its a hell of a life time!. My nephew, Nisela who lives with me was born that year.
1991 was a year my lovely grandmom passed away, hence a visit.
kagera town was really dusty, I could only spend some hours walking around that dingy town centre! goverment buildings were old and dilapidated. Haya folks mind you, I am not publishing that ugly picture of ours worlwide with bad intention, but this is a reality.
Yes, I found old and outdated buildings, but modern construction technology is not ours! it was brought by colonialists and we are only trying to imitate other people's invention. Yes we jumped into Toyota Hilux of our Babu Ta Alfonce as if we were lose cargo! again cars were only brought into our land recently by colonialists. It was only when I arrived at Kilimilire village that our own heritage/ civilisation could be seen.
One of those assets that haya people are really proud of, is the language.We're good with our venercular, we're really proud bwana!, even in Bukoba town the language would be spoken in market place, police post, bank office, post office and more importantly in church. I attended a church service in my mom's village, kilimilire and all of us would sing angelically haya songs loudly. Priests were expected to know the language and of course one wouldn't think of having a sukuma priest in that village. Todate, haya tribe is among very few local languages published worldwide. We have our own version of bible, misale ya waumini and lots of other publications. While in UK, a good friend of mine, Raymond Mwombeki gave me a wonderful little book, enshererwa ne enshwerere lya buhaya, a very good book that transfers rituals and customs from one generation to another. Todate, its not by accident that wahaya speak their language fluently.
We had a good funeral of my grandmom! mind you I was the eldest among the grandsons and daughters, I was expected to dance for the departed Ma Anna Maria-Marcialle. Mmmh I was shy and ignorant of haya dance though now I adore those songs very much. We buried Ma Anna at her own homestead( obwaifo) with attendance of her siblings, Fr Deo Mutefunya omu bajungu ( now deceased), Ma Marcelina, Ma Kandida, Ma Matrona, Ta Alfronce, and Ta Paulo. Note that Ta and Ma represents titles, just like englishman would say Mr or Mrs! who told you that haya are not civilised, think again. Also present were her own sons and daughters, Ma Fulai ( haya version of Fransisca), this is my own late mom, Ta Deus Kaizilege( my departed uncle), Ta Fred Luiza, Ta Salvandi Rwegasira, Pelagia Blassius ( deceased), Patricia Blassius( deceased), Victor Mgodo, and Afredina Alfonso. According to haya and most of african tribes its a curse not to attend funeral of your own mother, thus a reason of that big occassion. All of her sons and daughters had travelled from as far as Dar es Salaam just to attend that last celebration of their mother. What about food & drinks! oh Lord! we'd plenty, we eat matoke bwana, and that is a thing I miss about bukoba, women as far as nyankele na akabanga gathered at my grandmom's house and prepared big dishes of matoke, fish, meat, nsanyuse, ntongo, biimba etc etc etc. Goats were slaughtered, chicken ambushed and a cow was slaughtered too. Perhaps it was supposed to be called a party, not a funeral. By then I could'nt think of that to be a wonderful thing, but now after living with white people for so many years I envy our natural richness.
Forget about GDP, forget that slaggish talk about africans surviving on less than a dollar per day, by then Haya were naturally rich! those matoke were expensive and are still expensive by global standards. Visit TESCO supermarket in London and you'll spend a fortune buying just a bunch of banana. There I was at Kilimirire village eating matoke not as a fruit but as a staple food. One would compare that staple with mashed potatoes. English man, might be having snacks in the afternoon, but a haya man enjoys a big meal consisting of matoke ( a bowl full of banana) and fish! Those bibi's and mama's who cooked at my grandma funeral did not charge a penny and yet we ate to the full. Yes, even by today's urban standards, we hire people to cook at our funerals and weddings. It is not that way in the naturally rich Kilimilire village. People junga elyalwa and cook ekitoke and then present to the family at no cost. Add up the value of that and you'll get the real GDP of kilimilire folks!!!! it's well above one dollar per day. Only today, after living in a capitalist society that I appreciate our own wealth. Think of kumoisa ( a traditional ritual of cutting the hair of the family after burial ceremony) that ritual was performed free of charge! who says that barber service is free in modern world? In calculating GDP of most of african villages a white man standard does not take into consideration lots of services rendered freely.
I stayed in the village for two more days, and then I decided to visit my father's village, Kangantebe. Very early in the morning, I boarded a bus known as Champion. Mmmh I had to wait inside a bus for one hour or so! a patient driver was waiting for some famous faces(abarangira) i.e mamwinyi to board the bus as the service was the only one on that day. While waiting, banana bunches were being packed on board ready to be transported to the town market. Around 06.30 we started the journey.
It has been 18 years since that last visit! Is kagera still the same? I will have to visit one of these days.
ciao for now!
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