Walk for Water

That's me, freezing cold but still with a smile on my face

Picture this...It's Sunday, March 25th, and I have to wake up at 9:00am!! I mean, I only slept at 3am in the morning and it's Sunday. What could possibly be so important?

I was going to participate in a charity walk organised by WaterCan, a Canadian non-governmental organisation dedicated to providing clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people.

In Africa, WaterCan has projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In Tanzania, it's working in partnership with WEPMO (A local NGO) to improve local residents access to clean drinking water in the Gongo la Mboto area.

The walk was a 6km one (the average distance walked by mainly women and children to access water for their families' basic needs). This was WaterCan's first organised walk in Toronto, and it was held to coincide with World Water Day (March 22). A total of $5448.56 was raised, which is just great and so worth the effort. It costs about $25 to provide clean water for one person in these areas.

I took my camera with me to share the experience.

Meeting point, prior to the start of the walk

An enthusiastic and loud group of walkers

Exactly what I was thinking as I walked past this building

We even had a police escort, stopping the traffic as we passed, Sweet!!

Yup! Your eyes ain't decieving you, they've got a Zanzibar on Yonge St. It's not what you think though, it's a strip club!! Have you guys been?

Mount Kilimanjaro

www.climbforcare.ca

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, situated on the North Eastern Tanzanian side of the Tanzania-Kenya border. Its peak stands at 5,895 metres (19,340 ft) and the mountain is actually a collection of three distinct volcanoes, evidenced by the presence of three large vents known as Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi.


The origin of the name Kilimanjaro is still a matter of debate - "Shining Mountain", "Mountain of Greatness", "Mountain of Whiteness" are some of the names derived from the Swahili and Machame dialects.

www.mountainclimbingadventures.com

The summit was first reached by a Marangu Army scout, Johannes Kinyala Lauwo, sometime in the late 1800's (the exact date is unknown). In 1889, he also served as the tour guide for the first ascent by a German geographer, Professor Hans Mayer, and his companion Baron Van Eberstein. Although this acheivement was well documented, there was no immediate rush from others wanting to conquer this mountain; in fact, it was over 20 years later (1912) before a path from Marangu was established. The first huts were built along the mountain at Mandera and Horombo, for the newly formed German Kilimanjaro Mountain Club (Tanganyika was under German colonial rule). Kibo Hut was finally built in 1932, and that is when safaris into the mountain started to be organised by hotels and individuals.

www.africanheart.com

www.wildfrontiers.com

www.africanheart.com

Facts and figures

Facts:
The highest peak in Africa
The highest freestanding peak in the world
The highest 'walkable' mountain in the world

Protection:
1921 : forest reserve established
1973 : park established
Park HQ Opened : 1977 (by President Nyerere)
Unesco World Heritage : 1989

Location:
Northern Tanzania : East Africa
2 50' / 3 20'S : 37 00 / 37 35'E

Areas
Park : 756 sq km / 75,353ha
Forest reserve : 929 sq km / 92,906ha

Altitudes:
Marangu Gate : 1,830m
Summit : 5,895m

Dimensions:
Kibo Crater : diameter : 1.9 x 2.7 km
Kibo Ash Pit : diameter : 350m

Rainfall at altitudes:
Forest Belt : 1800m : 2300mm
Mandara Hut : 2740m : 1300mm
Horobo Hut : 3718m: 525mm
Kibo Hut : 4630m : 200mm

Temperature:
Generally falls 1C with every 200m increase in altitude
Marangu Gate : 10C to 30C
Summit : -20C to 10C

www.africatravelresource.com

Swahili

Hi peeps, i received this great post, on swahili and thought , i just gotta share this with my readers. The post generally covers the origins of swahili and it's influences. Man does it go deep. "R" thanks girl!!
enjoy

Origins

The word “Swahili” is derived from the Arabic word “sawahil” which is plural for “sahil” meaning coast. When the first Arab Muslims fleeing persecution in Mecca arrived on the East African coast in the 7th Century, they named the people of the coast “Al Sawahiliyyah”. Contrary to popular perception, the Swahili people are an interestingly diverse people who are historically rooted as far north as Mogadishu, Somalia, and as far south as Sofala, Mozambique. Evidence of this is clear even today as many dialects of Kiswahili are spoken along the coastline. For example, the Chimwiini of Baraawe, Somalia speak a dialect of Kiswahili known as Kitikuu. This dialect is spoken all the way down to Lamu, Northern Kenya. Kingwana, another Kiswahili dialect is spoken in Zaïre and Congo.

A conservative estimate would state that there are about twenty Kiswahili dialects that are spoken along the Horn down to Southeastern Africa and into Central Africa. That being said, it is acknowledged that “Kiswahili sanifu” or standard Kiswahili is spoken in Tanzania. Specifically, it is Kiunguja, the dialect of Zanzibar, which was deemed standard Kiswahili by the Inter Territorial Language Committee in 1930. If one is ever blessed to visit Zanzibar, they are apt to hear the eloquence of both accent and speech in the Kiswahili language. As Shaaban Robert, renowned Swahili poet (God bless his soul) said in his poem called “Titi la Mama” (Breast of Mother), “One’s mother’s breast is the sweetest, no other satisfies” [English translation]. This was his metaphor for expressing the beauty of his mother tongue, a language which really serves as one of the main maps on the history of the interactions of East African people. His words were quoted by National Geographic (April 1975) in a feature on Tanzania (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), but they failed to give him proper credit.

It would be an injustice to speak about the Swahili people without mention of the moral fibre that brings to life the beauty of the people. The majority of the Swahili people are Muslims, which should not come as a surprise given the above discussion. For example, in Tanzania over 65% of the total population along the coast is comprised of Muslims, with Unguja and Pemba (the islands which make up Zanzibar) having 98% of its population being Muslim. The remainder is split between, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, pagan and other spiritual beliefs. It should be noted that by the 8th Century, Islam was strongly rooted along the East African coastline. Islamic tradition is so ingrained in the Swahili language and culture that both, in my opinion, would be lifeless without it. Islam was the water that nurtured the growth of the language and culture that sprang out of the coast. For example, many Swahili proverbs and sayings are borne out of inspiration from the Holy Qur’an. The mention of the virtue of patience in the proverb above causes one to reflect on Sura 2:177, Sura 3:17 and so forth. There is also a proverb that says, “kafir anayekufaa si muislam asokufaa” which translates “an unbeliever who benefits you is not the same as a Muslim who does not.” One can assume the proverb manifested through scripts from Sura 3:28 and Sura 4:139. There is also a colloquial saying, “Asiyepiga Bismillah kabla ya kula, hatoshiba” meaning “One who does not say Bismillah (In the Name of God) before eating will never be satisfied”. This saying is often told to children to teach them the importance of asking God to bless their food before eating it because it is God who fills us not food.

If one were to examine some Kiswahili words they will also notice the embedded influence of Islamic tradition. For example, the word “tawadha” which is used to say that one cleanse after helping themselves literally means to “wash ceremonially” [Islamic: prior to prayer]. Alasiri which means “late afternoon” also means “prayer between 3 and 5pm” [Islamic]. Shahada (testimony), sala (prayer), zakat/sadaka (offering/alms), saumu/saum (fast), haji (pilgrim/pilgrim to Mecca), are also Kiswahili words which are derived from the Arabic words used for the five pillars of the Islamic faith respectively. Finally, the example of one of my favourite Kiswahili words “binadamu” which means “person”. The word is derived from the Arabic words “Bin Adam” meaning “son of Adam”. This word serves as a stark reminder that all human beings come from Adam, the first man created by Almighty God. It continually validates both consciously and subconsciously the theory of creation and repudiates any other theories of how humans came about.

Even today, Islamic tradition is evident in the way of life on the Swahili coast. For example, in various cities and towns along Tanzania’s coastline it is common to hear people, regardless of their religious background, greet each other by saying, “Asalaam Aleykum” (peace be onto you) or “Salaam” (peace) or utter phrases such as “Allahamdulillah” (Praise be to God), “InshaAllah” (God willing), “MashaAllah” (It is the will of God), “Wallahi” (By God) and so forth. In fact, if one was to enter some Christian churches along the coast in areas such as Tanga and Zanzibar, the pastor would often say, “InshaAllah, we will see each other next week” at the end of service. I should also mention that Kiswahili was written using Arabic calligraphy for over 500 years until this was all changed in the early 20th Century under the British colonial rule. As far as consuming food is concerned, many Swahili people along the coast, regardless of religion, do not consume pork including other forbidden animals and fish (Sura 2:168, 172-3). As well, many butchers tend to slaughter their flock in accordance with the lawful requirements of the Islamic faith. I remember as a child, wherever I attended a festivity, a Muslim male would always be called to slaughter the animal at hand. Furthermore, Swahili people would never consider a cadaver (an animal that died of natural causes - Kiswahili: maiti/Arabic: maytah) edible. This would also be considered haram to consume. Concerning dress code, girls (and boys) more often than not are taught to dress modestly.

Growing up, most young girls including myself were required to wear loose clothes that covered the knee and concealed the bosom. We were encouraged to keep jewellery to a minimum and cover our heads with a cloth such as a hijab or khanga whenever attending ceremonies such as funerals or when guests where visiting the family. Furthermore, from a young age we were taught by the older women in the family on how to lower our gaze, for it is considered unwomanly to give a brazen stare to a man. This was (and still is to a certain extent) strongly emphasized when rearing a girl to become a virtuous woman who emanates with rahma (grace). All these common customs that the Swahili take for granted did not stem out of vacuum but were mainly influenced by Islam (e.g. Sura 24:31), which was the first religion to manifest on the Swahili coast. There are many other examples that can further illustrate this point but this suffices the issue.

Tanzania: An Introduction

Allow me to introduce you to my native country, Tanzania. This is a very brief overview of this expansive and wonderfully unique land. I hope that you will appreciate the facts relatively unknown by many. Enjoy!

Geography

The United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania in Swahili) is a country on the east coast of Africa. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south. To the east it borders the Indian Ocean. The country is named after Tanganyika, its mainland part, and the Zanzibar islands off its east coast.

Tanzania is the world's 31st-largest country. It is mountainous in the north-east, where Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, is situated. To the north and west are the Great Lakes of Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (Africa's deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish). Central Tanzania comprises a large plateau, with plains and arable land. The eastern shore is hot and humid, with the island of Zanzibar lying just offshore.

Tanzania contains many large and ecologically significant wildlife parks, including the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south. Gombe National Park in the west is known as the site of Dr. Jane Goodall's studies of chimpanzee behavior.

Zanzibar is the collective name for two islands in Tanzania, Unguja and Pemba. The word "Zanzibar" is derived from the Persian word Zangi-bar ("Coast of the blacks") and it is also known as Zanji-bar in Arabic. It is a common misconception even amongst Tanzanians that Zanzibar is an island on its own rather than it being a collective name of the Unguja and Pemba islands. The capital of Zanzibar, located on the island of Unguja is Zanzibar City. The City's Stone Town is a World Heritage Site.

About 50 kilometers to the north of the island Unguja, lies the island of Pemba also known as 'Al Jazeera Al Khadra' (The green island, in Arabic). This island is popular for large scale farming of cash crops such as cloves.

Mafia Island ("Chole Shamba") is located south of Zanzibar. Together with Unguja and Pemba they form the Tanzanian spice islands. Mafia is governed by the mainland ahas never been a part of Zanzibar. This island is a great retreat for scuba divers, game fishermen and those seeking simple relaxation.

History

In 1964, Tanganyika united with Zanzibar, forming the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, later renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania. In 1996, Tanzania's capital was officially moved from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, although many government offices still remain in the old capital.

Julius Kambarage Nyerere (April 13, 1922 - October 14, 1999) was the first president of Tanzania (In office Oct 29th 1964 – Nov 5th 1985). Popularly known as Mwalimu (Teacher) due to his profession before he turned in to politics, to-date, he is effectively known as the founding father of the nation.

Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the second president of Tanzania (In Office Nov 5th 1985 – Nov 23rd 1995). Often reffered to as “Mzee Rukhsa” (everything goes), he took the country through it’s first steps away from the socialist policies previously in place.

Benjamin William Mkapa was the third president of Tanzania (In office Nov 23rd 1995 - Dec 21 2005). During his term, he continued the liberalization of the economy that began under his predecessor. He privatized most of the state owned corporations and pursued free market policies designed to attract foreign investment.

Comrade Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the current president of Tanzania. He assumed office on 21st Dec 2005 after winning the elections as a candidate for the CCM (Chama cha Mapinduzi) party. His governing philosophy and political views are influenced by those of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

Culture

Kiswahili/Swahili and English are the two main languages spoken in Tanzania. It is the most widely spoken language of sub-saharan Africa. The name kiswahili comes from the plural of the Arabic word 'sahel' meaning 'boundary" or "coast" used as an adjective to mean "coastal dwellers".

Kiswahili is the language of education in the primary schools of Tanzania with English a subject in the curriculum. The curriculum is taught in English from secondary school (GCSE) through to University level. With over 150 tribes in Tanzania, traditional languages still do exist although their use is increasingly on the decline, particularly in the urban areas.

Standard Kiswahili is based on Kiunguja, the dialect of Zanzibar town. There are numerous local dialects of Kiswahili, including the following.
Kiunguja: spoken in Zanzibar town and environs on Zanzibar island. Other dialects occupy the bulk of the island.
Kitumbatu and Kimakunduchi: the countryside dialects of the island of Zanzibar. Kimakunduchi is a recent renaming of "Kihadimu"; the old name means "serf", hence it is considered pejorative.
Kimrima: spoken around Pangani, Vanga, Dar es Salaam, Rufiji and Mafia Island.
Kimgao: spoken around Kilwa and to the south.
Kipemba: local dialect of the island of Pemba.
Mijikenda, a group of dialects spoken in and around Mvita island. Includes Kimvita, the other major dialect alongside Kiunguja.
Kingare: subdialect of the Mombasa area.
Chijomvu: subdialect of the Mombasa area.
Chi-Chifundi: dialect of the southern Kenya coast.
Kivumba: dialect of the southern Kenya coast.
Kiamu: spoken in and around the island of Lamu (Amu).
Kingozi: this is a special case as it was the language of the inhabitants of the ancient town of "Ngozi" and is perhaps the basis of the Swahili language. This is the standard dialect used when writing swahili poetry.

Sheng: a sort of street slang, this is a blend of Swahili, English, and some ethnic languages spoken in and around Nairobi in informal settings. Sheng originated in the Nairobi slums and is considered fashionable and cosmopolitan among a growing segment of the population.

Despite increasing foreign contact, Tanzania has persistently maintained its cultural heritage. Ancient rituals and customs are still observed by many tribes and daily life largely follows traditional practices. Life's most important events, birth, puberty, marriage, and death, are all celebrated through age-old traditional ceremonies. In marriage, for example, the custom of giving dowry's is still respected. The aspiring groom still acquires his bride by giving cows, goats, local brew, hoes or machetes to his delighted father-in-law.

Yet, the practice of arranged marriages is gradually disappearing in many places, particularly the towns and cities. Here the younger generation is often free to marry for love alone. Today it is no longer strange for a Nilotic Luo from the shores of Lake Victoria to meet and marry a Bantu Ngoni from Lake Nyasa, even though traditional procedures will be adhered to on both sides. And, once married, old customs prevail.

According to swahili custom, the man is the master in the home and in all family matters. Most tribal traditions also allow him to marry more than one wife if he so wishes, although the advert of Christianity and modem civilization has convinced most to be content with just the one. Even Moslems, whose Islamic faith allows polygamy, are settling more and more for a one-wife family.

In Tanzania, as in many other African countries, the family is an extended one, including cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and even in-laws. The family clan remains a strong entity in most tribes. Family disputes are resolved by a panel made up of clan members and all events, be they happy or sad, are shared by the whole clan.

Folk tales are a common way by which the elders teach the young. Legends tell of cultural heroes and important ancestors who were intelligent, courageous and generous. Young people learn about these illustrious ancestors through story telling. Among the Bahaya, the young groom researches his family history that has been preserved and passed down through legends and chooses an important ancestor that he will try to emulate and that will be his role model. In a very real sense, these ancestors participate and influence the lives of people today. Heroes also include ritual specialists, not just political heroes.

Among the Maasai, for example, there is a traditional healer and ritual expert who is an important character in legends. The Chaga, who live on the slopes of Mt. Kilamanjaro tell many stories about the mountain; one of them is the story of Kibo and Mawenzi, the names of the two peaks. Kibo was very careful with her food while Mawenzi was a spendthrift and did not worry about storing and saving food for lean times. When she did not have enough to eat she would visit her sister Kibo and Kibo would always feed her. After three days in a row of Mawenzi coming over to beg for food, Kibo in anger hit her on the back with a spoon, this explains Mawenzi's rugged appearance today.

Sources: (wwww.globalvolunteers.org), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia,
www.tanzaniatouristboard.com/

Welcome to My Blog

Hi All,

Since arriving in Toronto, I've found myself eagerly searching for any information on the Tanzanian community that resides here. I must admit I was rather surprised to find that there was no information at all on the web, this can't be, I've heard there are loads of Tanzanians in Canada, surely there must be something out there. I did eventually find a few bloggers but I wasn't fulfilled. So I decided I was gonna try and do something about it. Build a website (but hold on, i thought, why don't you start with a blog first, see the response and then go for the website).

So here we are, I will attempt to provide you with various information about my beloved country Tanzania, my thoughts on relationships, life, technology, education.... yeah the list goes on and on. I hope this journey I'm about to take will increase my knowledge and entertain you at the same time. Feel free to comment on any article that is produced, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Keep your eyes tuned for the website!