Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
other special events, and a round church with many traditional Sukuma stylings that was
built in 1958 by David Fumbuka Clement, the Québecois missionary priest who founded
the museum. English-speaking guides are available.
On request, the museum can organise performances of traditional drumming and dan-
cing for Tsh80,000 (for up to nine people) per performance. They can organise perform-
ances on the spot. It's also possible to take Sukuma drumming lessons . You'll need to
negotiate a price with the instructors, but don't expect it to be cheap.
SUKUMA DANCING
The Sukuma, by far Tanzania's largest tribal group, with nearly 15% of the
country's population, are renowned nationwide for their pulsating dancing. Dan-
cers are divided into two competing dance societies, the Bagika and the Bagulu,
that travel throughout Sukumaland (the Sukuma homeland around Mwanza and
southern Lake Victoria), competing. The culmination is at the annual Bulabo
Dance Festival held at the Sukuma Museum in June. The most famous of the
dozens of dances are those using animals, including the Bagulu's banungule
(hyena and porcupine dance) and the Bagika's bazwilili bayeye (snake dance).
Before beginning, the dancers are treated with traditional medicaments to pro-
tect themselves from injury. And the animals, too, are given a spot of something
to calm their tempers.
Sleeping & Eating
The centre has no-frills bandas (per person Tsh5000) in the style of Sukuma traditional
houses and a campground (campingTsh5000). There's a little bar and meals are available
with advance notice; or you can use the kitchen yourself.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Bujora is 18km east of Mwanza off the Musoma road. Take a dalla-dalla (Tsh500, 30
minutes) to Kisesa from Uhuru Rd north of the market in Mwanza. From Kisesa taxis/mo-
torcycle taxis cost Tsh3000/1000. Or, walk a short way along the main road and turn left at
the sign, following the small dirt road for 1.7km. A taxi from Mwanza, with waiting time,
will cost Tsh45,000 to Tsh50,000.
En route from Mwanza, just past Igoma on the left-hand side of the road, is a graveyard for
victims of the 1996 sinking of the Lake Victoria ferry MV Bukoba .
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