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| celebration and change |
Monday, October 5, 2009 |
The Bagamoyo Arts and Culture festival
A time of celebration: students graduate at school, an achievement that is even more significant when you consider the struggle involved to stay in school.
Many families here barely afford the school fees, clothing and necessary books for secondary school, and those who have lost their families have to find themselves sponsors, who will commit to sending money when it’s needed.
Baobab took on a group of such teenagers and we witnessed one of their graduation ceremonies last week. This is the end of ‘form 4’, a stepping stone- exams follow, which determine if the individual can continue into the final years form 5-7.
The town of Bagamoyo is celebrating too: the 28th annual Festival of Arts and Culture took place last week. The large modern performance centre filled every night with a lively crowd for performances of dance, theatre and music. From traditional Arabic music from Zanzibar to Hip Hop a wide variety of cultures was presented.
What a great beginning to our time in Tanzania!
Coming back to Bagamoyo has me looking for the familiar and the new: What happened in six months?
The beautiful big Mango trees that lined road to the shamba have been cut down to make room for the road. No more shade and rest places for the walking and bicycling folks. Little stands have been pushed back, and the road is even dustier than before.
In town new construction in several places- a big hotel is being built in the old town: several stories high, towering over the small huts of the old fishmarket. Restoration work is also being done on the German Fort.
towering over the old fishmarket: a hotel under construction in the historical part of Bagamoyo
change: picture taken February 2009
once a beautiful tree-shaded road... picture taken October 2009
The Baobab shamba is also moving forward: running water is now available. Builders and volunteers built an eating place with bricks and a thatch roof and a beautiful mosaic floor. And food is being grown again: tomatoes are in season, eggplants, mchicha (spinach-like greens) and bananas.
We are setting up camp and starting the next building this week. Initial talks have taken place with builders and final decisions are being made about design choices. The house will have two bedrooms that can sleep five people each (4 children one adult) . There is a sitting room and two covered porches, one of which will have a shower, a composting toilet and a place for laundry.
We are inviting volunteers and contributions to this project! Donations can be mad through the Earthrising Foundation website. If you are traveling in Tanzania and would like to join us for a short time please contact me. |
posted by Elke Cole at 8:02 am |
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