THE BAGAMOYO FESTIVALS ENDS

ARTS AND CULTURE FESTIVAL ENDS

The 34^th Bagamoyo Festival of Arts & Culture which kept the Bagamoyo Residents and visitors entertained for seven days ended last Sunday with prospective improvement in the next festivals.

Almost thirteen stage performances were held on Saturday and followed by equally exciting stage performances on Sunday from evening hours to midnight. The normally quite beach-side TASUBA institute was humming with movements of hundreds of visitors, ngoma beats and blaring loud speakers playing loud music.

A group of Magicians from the defence forces of JWTZ held the on-lookers spellbound when the elderly looking magician dressed in glittering red attire pierced two sharp long nails through the neck of a woman. During the performance the elderly woman moaned in pain (dramatic voice) as she sat still on a stool facing the audience. Minutes later she was up and about acclaiming cheers from the audience.

The other captivating performance was story-narrating ngoma dance involving married couple and the punishment delivered by the villagers for tradition violation. This kept the audience well entertained.

The “Pamoja Dance Group” from Kenya was  a stage pantomime (drama without utterance of speech) by disabled wheel-chair person whose lower limbs appeared to be paralysed. He was dejected with his sorrowful life and most of the time looked to the cealing as if appealing or complaining to God about his hopelessness. He cried and wailed until a dwarf lady passed by and both fall in love with each other. They are united emotionally and somehow his prayers were answered!

Almost thirty Shaolin students (karate) from Zanzibar took the audience by surprise when small children could performance act of defence even when fighting an elder person. The swiftness with which they threw their limbs in defence was a great show to watch. The Shaolin kids ranged from the age of five years to elderly age.

Story & Pix by Abdul Hai

The TPDF magician performing an act of magic by piercing steel wire in the neck of the woman sitting on the stool.

The "Shaolin Kids" from Zanzibar performing their marshall physical movements showing acts of defence against an intruder.

The cat-walk pantomime by TASUBA ngoma dancers BAFIMA.

EID AL HAJ

Bagamoyo: Thousands of Muslims at Bagamoyo joined hands with millions of Muslims throughout the world to observe Eid Al Hajj prayers on Thursday morning. The performance of Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islamic Faith which is pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia and takes place during the last month of the Islamic Calendar.

At Bagamoyo, hundreds of Muslims including women and children gathered at Masjid Rehman where the Eid Al Hajj prayers were conducted in the morning just after sun rise.

The Imam of the Masjid Rehman, Ustad Haji Abdul Rehman delivered the Sermons after prayers. He narrated the religious hadith behind the story of how and where the ritual of Hajj performance started with the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). He was instructed by Almighty God to slaughter his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) but as he was about to carry out the command of God, a replacement was made and a sheep took the place of Hazrat Ismail (AS). And hence Muslims follow the religious tradition and slaughter either goat, sheep or camel and distribute the meat to those who deserve to be given a portion of it and close relatives and friends.

Ustad Haji Abdul Rehman also reminded all Muslims to abide by the principle of maintaining peace and tranquility during the forthcoming General Elections in the country which was, as at yesterday only  29 days to go. 

The Imam of Masjid Rehman, Ustad Haji Abdul Rehman delivering the Sermon after Eid al Hajj Prayers at Bagamoyo on Thursday morning. Hundreds of Muslims attended the prayers.

Muslims at the Eid Al Hajj prayers at Masjid Rehman at Bagamoyo.

Muslims greeting each other after prayers.

After conduct of Eid Al Hajj prayers, those who could afford to slaughter goat, sheep or cow were seen busy performing the religious event.

In Saudi Arabia, media reported that as the Hajj Pilgrimage time came close to the last stages, a serious unexpected  human stampede occurred and about 707 people died. Many others were also injured during the stampede and were promptly taken to hospitals for further treatment. Three Tanzanians were reported to be among those injured. A few days earlier, due to heavy storm and gush of wind, a huge crane which was involved in construction works at Makkah, collapsed and killed 107 people and also many others were injured during the accident.

Story & Pix by Abdul Hai

34th BAGAMOYO ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVALS

More than 59 local Tanzania arts and cultural groups and including six groups from African countries are participating in the 34th Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Festivals at Bagamoyo. The seven days festival is attracting hundreds of people every day and night.

Cultural events including local "ngoma" dances, stage dramas, musical performance are held at the TASUBA theatre from 8.00pm to midnight hours.

Commercial stalls are open to the public from morning hours and many attractive items are on sale at reasonable prices. Some trade consulting firms are also at the festivals.

A stall which deals with tips on trade terms displays its advertisement at the TANTRADE Kiosk.

Stall attendants at the TANTRADE Stall attending to customer queries and registration process of clients.

Colourful khanga and vitenge stalls at the arts and culture festival at TASUBA.

 

BAGAMOYO ARTS & CULTURAL FESTIVALS AT TASUBA

A cultural performance was one of the events at the opening ceremony of the 34th Bagamoyo Arts & Culture festival at TASUBA College at Bagamoyo. The opening ceremony was performed by the former Principal of TASUBA Mr. Rashidi Masimbi who has gone down in history as one of the Pioneers of this annual event now in its 34th year.

Another action-packed photograph of a local cultural "ngoma" by TASUBA students.

Makonde carvings, beads, tingatinga art works, khanga and vitenge clothes are on display and are sold at reasonable prices at the many stalls. the stalls are open for the public during the day time at the college.

34TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAGAMOYO FESTIVAL ARTS & CULTURE

One of the Pioneers of Bagamoyo Arts and Cultural Festivals, former Principal of TASUBA Mr. Rashidi Masimbi performing the opening ceremony of the 34th Festivals at Bagamoyo.

Chief Guest Mr. Rashidi Masimbi flanked by Chairman of the Board of TASUBA Mr. Gonche Materego (right) and Director of Department of Culture Development from the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Mr. Hermen Mwansoko watching a cultural stage event.

34^TH BAGAMOYO FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CULTURE

ONE WEEK OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT

20^TH TO 27^TH SEPTEMBER AT TASUBA, BAGAMOYO

 The Bagamoyo Festival of Arts & Culture now running in the 34^th year since it was started at this historical coastal town has  improved by leaps and bound. The festival is not only entertaining the public but is also involved in promoting the arts and culture.

The right person who took the limelight as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was the first Director of TASUBA, Mr. Rashidi Masimbi who had taken the lead role in organizing the first such festival almost three decades ago. He had every right to look proud and satisfied at the achievement the festivals had reached.

This festival attracted 59 local arts, cultural, NGOs and business enterprises. It also has some sort of international flavor with participation of  two arts/culture groups from neighbour Kenya, Zimbabwe, Congo, Namibia and South Africa. South Korea was also listed among the foreign participants but was not confirmed at the site.

There is every night stage performance of cultural dances, heart-throbbing circus performers, live musical performances and many variety of performances by arts and culture groups. The gates for viewing the events on the stage open at 8.00pm and goes on to midnight. A very small amount of entrance fee is charged.

The commercial activities of sales of variety of  kitenge and khanga clothes, local makonde carvings, tingatinga paintings, herbal-made cream are conducted in the morning hours. This year, the commercial activities are carried out in the spacious hall indoors in comparison to the previous years which were kept in open ground. 

The public has the opportunity to choose a variety of food and drinks

entertainments from several kiosks organized by local business people.

STORY BY ABDUL HAI

BAGAMOYO NEWS

SOME PICTURES FROM TASUBA INFORMATION DEPT.

LIONS DONATE TO BAGAMOYO ARTISTS

Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Host donated various kinds of drawing stationary to Mkongojo Arts Group of Bagamoyo as an observation of International Literacy Day. 

The various drawing items like large manila white boards, multi-colour pencils, crayons, sets of painting brush were all donated by Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Host. The club members were accompanied with District Governor Lion Haiderali Gangji, Second Vice District Governor Lion Rizwan Qadri and Cabinet Treasurer Lion Mohammed Lalji.

The Chairman of the registered arts group Mr. Siasa Kondo Sultani and Secretary Mr. Boniface Kasturi Mwiru thanked the Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Host and the top leaders of the Lions Club International.

More than 80 primary school children are learning the basic know-how of drawing on paper and canvas at the Mkongojo Arts Group for free. The group were seriously short of drawing stationary such as colour pencils and water colour drawing boxes. All these items were donated to the Lions by Fly Dubai Airline Agency.

The Mkongojo Arts Group intends to train the children and their works along with the group's art works are expected to be displayed at an exhibition on 20th November during the International Children's Day at Bagamoyo.

Later, the Lions donated two goats meat to IMUMA Centre which takes care of destitute children, among them some orphans. There are 44 such juvenile children at the centre and are under the care of Matron Aisha Saidi. The word IMUMA is a short form of Iman (faith), Upendo (love) and Matumaini (hope).

The entourage of the District Governor also visited and inspected a famous beach hotel, Travellers' Lodge where they intend to hold a three-day leadership seminar for Lions from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Seychelles and South Sudan. A total of sixty people and four tutors are expected to attend the seminar. The proper date and time-table of the seminar was being worked out.

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

Chairman of Mkongojo Arts Group Siasa Kondo Sultani speaking at the presentation function where Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Host presented drawing items for the children who are learning the ABC of fine art in Bagamoyo.

Seated in the middle is District Governor (with hat) Lion haiderali Gangji and on his immediate left is  Region Chairman Lion Yusuf Dalal and next to him is 2nd Vice District Governor Lion Rizwan Qadri. On the left is the President of the L.C. Host from dar es Salaam.

A glimpse of the function held during a clear Sunday morning. Thirty two children learning basic fine arts were presented with drawing stationary.

 

ACADEMIC STUDIES BEGIN

Bagamoyo: The academic studies at African Institute for Mathematics Studies -Next Eisntein Initiative - began at Bagamoyo this week with fifty students from thirteen African Countries taking part. Tanzania is the fifth country to have AIMS and next country to get this facility will be Rwanda, according to the Rector of AIMS in Bagamoyo, Professor Mark Roberts.

Academic classes at AIMS started this week at Bagamoyo, at the Alfa Zulu Complex.

 

FUTURE AFRICAN SCIETISTS

FIFTY FUTURE SCIENTISTS BEGIN CLASSES

Fifty Postgraduate science students, the future African Scientists in the making,  have started their academic studies at the African Institute for Mathematics (AIMS) at Bagamoyo.

The students arrived last week and have begun their studies at the Alfa Zulu complex, a huge four storey building a few meters facing the Indian Ocean. The students are from thirteen African countries, including Tanzania. Tanzania is fifth country to accommodate AIMS and the next country to get such an institute will be Rwanda.

The Rector of the institute, by qualification a Professor of Mathematics, Mark Roberts said that nine Tutors from Cameroun, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and United Kingdom  will be arriving at Bagamoyo to give their tutorial lectures in their field of speciality.  Seven academic operational staff will be part of the management of this institute which aim at producing high level African Scientists.  AIMS  has, so far, produced over 731  scientists in 41  African countries.

More information: Initially, the African Union and AIMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening the teaching and learning of science, technology, mathematics and engineering on African Continent. The MoU was signed in Ethiopia. As a result sometime in 2003, the first country to benefit was South Africa as a Pan African Centre.

A lecturer from South Africa and the United States, qualified in computer field,  are  expected shortly at Bagamoyo. They  will join hands with Mark Roberts to conduct lessons on computers to suit the academic studies.

The Postgraduate  Science Students are from Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Democratic Re[public of Congo, Burundi, Mozambique, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.

During the coming days, AIMS in conjunction with Ifakara  Health Institute and the cultural college TASUBA will organize themselves in public engagement activities. The common platform will be a sort of a club under the name of Bagamoyo Science Engagement Club.

More information: The old historical German Boma was planned to accomodate AIMS but despite slow renovation work, it still stands with lots of works pending. This was the headquarters from where the German ruled over the then  Tanganyika and Bagamoyo was given the status of Capital due to its importance in the 19th century. Later when Tanganyika became trust territory under the British, the same BOMA was also used as a Government Office. And after Tanganyika achieved independence in 1961, the office of the Bagamoyo District Commissioner was located in this complex. Extensive renovations were made, time and again.

 

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News