ALL WELL WITH POWER SUPPLY!

Bagamoyo: As promised by the Branch Manager of TANESCO, electricity supply was again restored at Bagamoyo town and some surrounding areas after repairing the main fault.

The three electricity poles which had collapsed were replaced by the Emergency Unit of electricity supply firm. Supply became normal after 8.oopm.

"NO ELECTRIC SUPPLY DUE TO FALLEN POLES"

FALLEN ELECTRIC POLES DISRUPT SUPPLY

Bagamoyo was a total black-out on Tuesday night after disruption of electric supply caused by the collapse of three electric poles in a remote area. The twelve hours during the day time of Wednesday was a similar story of “no electricity”.

The Emergency Unit of TANESCO supported by their well-qualified  engineers were busy throughout the day to replace the three fallen electric poles. It was said that one of the wooden poles  broke into two pieces but all in all, work was in progress by the time this story was written.

The Branch Manager of TANESCO, Mr. Edward Eustard  said his work force was expected to accomplish the  difficult task before sun-set of Wednesday if all went well. The location of the site where the poles collapsed were somewhere near Kitopeni. The main electric supply to Bagamoyo main town and the surrounding areas passes through this location.

Work could have finished earlier but due to the fact that the site could only be located or approached during day time, considerable time had elapsed before actual  repair work had started. 

Bagamoyo had  experienced heavy congestion of cloud during the early part of the Wednesday morning but there was no rain to disrupt work of the TANESCO Emergency  Unit.

Story by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

"SALT AND HONEY" BY MOHAMED YUNUS RAFIQ

THE AFRICAN FOLK TALE: “LESSONS OF SALT & HONEY”

The African folk tales are often narrated by elders with lessons to learn and live-by. The “Lessons Of Salt & Honey” is one such folk tale which narrates about life tribulations however bitter or sweet it may be.

The one narrating this African tale is Author Mohammed Yunus Rafiq, thirty-nine years old PhD candidate, residing with his family at Bagamoyo. The story book is both in English and Kiswahili languages and is published by the literary journal publishers based in Kenya “Jalada”. The edition is free-on line publication and can be located under www.jalada.com

The book can easily attract wide readership for Tanzania children or for that matter children in East Africa can enjoy reading the African folk tales. The Author has written three previous books including “Hope’s Hunter” and “Landscapes Of The Heart”. His son Jahangir (13) has also written a book for children of his age published by Amazon Publisher on line. The book is titled “Why Humming Birds Hum”.

Mohamed Yunus Rafiq is a Tanzania Writer and independent documentary maker. Prior to his career in film and creative writing, he worked in development and youth issues for over ten years in Tanzania. He is also author of poetry collections and is currently working on other book as well.

His short story “Hopes’ Hunter” drew the attention of panel of judges of Hay Festival Project and was selected for publication in the African 39 book. The book comprises thirty nine various subject stories by 39 Writers representing 16 countries South of Sahara.

The Preface is written by internationally known African who is Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The Editor of Africa 39 is also a famous journalist and independent editor, critic and broadcaster. Other Hay Festival Project include Beirut 39 which is also a collection of writers from the Arab World.

Academically Yunus  started his school education in Arusha where he was born thirty nine years ago. His first degree was from the University of Yale  and now is a PhD candidate at the Brown University in USA. He is married and is blessed with two sons.

CRITICAL APPRECIATION: BY ABDUL HAI

Author of "Lessons of Salt & Honey", an African folk tale available on line, Mohamed Yunus Rafiq busy with his another book. He is one of the 39 African writers whose fiction story is included in the AFRICA 39 which is a Hay Festival Project. He and his family are residents of Bagamoyo.

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.