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Tanzania tribes, cities near extinction
2006-07-30 10:35:09
By Peter Msungu
When one talks of Tanzania tribes becoming extinct, he or she should also be thinking of many old and historic cities in the country which have made no headway since independence in 1961.
To many Tanzanians, this may be news, as they hear or read about it for the first time. For tourists and other foreigners who have had occasion to visit some sites of tourist interests around the country, will testify that there are very prime areas on the mainland which have not moved from point A to B. They have remained intact as if the wind of change has not touched them.
We are refering to historic places like the Old Korogwe, Kilwa Kivinje, Kilwa Masoko, Mafia Island, Tabora, Lindi and Mikindani, just to mention few.
’’If you knew Old Korogwe of 1962/3, and you go there today, you will be surprised to see the same type of structures. They have remained intact and mostly at the same place they were located 50 years ago.
If there has been any changes, such changes would normally be roofs which involve replacement by new iron sheets,’’ explains Hamisi Juma, who has been shuttling between Dar es Salaam and Tanga for the last 30 years.
’’I have vivid memories of the one time famous Korogwe hotel, where in the early days of independence, some VIPs from the then ruling TANU party, were barred entry, just because they were Africans.
The Hotel was for the use of Europeans only,’’ narrates Hamisi Juma, whose father happened to have worked at that hotel as assistant cook.
The hotel is still there unchanged. If there are any noticeable changes, it could be in the areas of new paint, staff, new menus and what have you. Otherwise it is the same old wine in a new bottle.
Korogwe is not the only town in our country which are lagging behind in development economically, culturally and as far as infrastructure is concerned.
You have Mafia Island, Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mikindani, and to a certain extent, Tabora and Kigoma.
In all these places it is a disappointing story. One comes across the oldest Arab Buildings, some of which are termed ’Bomas’.
Joseph Komba is a resident of Lindi and he describes the township as a ’sinking boat’ needing urgent help to rescue it from sinking.
He informs that for the last many years the town has had no commuter buses (Daladalas) and the residents go about their activities undisturbed.
’’In Lindi it is not a sin to even stop the R.C,s or D.C’s car and ask for a lift to his office,’’Komba revealed to the Observer, adding that stopping big people’s cars is no big deal for it is very normal.
’’Imagine a township with only one or two butchers to cater for the needs of so many L:indi township residents, and the country has been independent for the last 43 years or so: Would you say authoritatively that the town is developing? No, it is sinking,’’Komba argues.
Few Kilometres away from Lindi on its eastern side, you have the fast disentergrating former Arab built settlement of Mikindani, with some of the most attractive structures, including the Old Boma, which has now been refurbished and its appearance is more international and appealing. But the rest of all the other buildings and structures, remain the same.
If, again, there are any changes, it would have involved changing ’Makuti roofs’ into iron sheet roofing. There are no high rise buildings in both Lindi, Mtwara, Kigoma or Kilwa Masoko and Kivinje.
It is a bit unfortunate that when in Dar es Salaam people are competing to put in place high rise buildings, in other places residents are now changing their roofs from coconut leaves to iron sheets.
’’To say the least, this is very unfortunate as our friends would appear to be in their infancy as far as development is concerned,” remarks one Ward secretary from Mbezi Luis.
So much for the so called sinking or shrinking of historic towns, let’s now talk about some tribes that are about to disappear from our midst.
Let me put precisely, they could be declared extinct anytime from now, of course leaving behind their dialects with siblings and grant children.
Information has it that, along with the fast sinking cities it is also envisaged that some tribes in our country will become extinct in the next few years, although their dialects will continue to remain.
Historians are telling that among the tribes to disappear include Wasegeju, Wahazabe, Wamang’ati, Wadigo, just to mention these. You also have in the list Wabarbaig, who we are told have since changed their name to Wahazabe or Wairaq.
One researcher who preferred anonymity for the reason that he is not empowered to reveal information on tribes that are feared will be extinct in the near future, said a head count is planned for all such tribes and may take place in two years time.
He said they had to push forward the time frame due to intermarriages that have been taking place between some of these tribes.
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