Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
property, while land usage was shared among small, patrilineal communes.
Order was maintained through a system of appointed chiefs and officials, assis-
ted by an age group-based army. With the arrival of the colonial authorities, this
political organisation began to erode. The various Haya groups splintered and
many chiefs were replaced by persons considered more malleable and sympath-
etic to colonial interests.
In the 1920s, in the wake of growing resentment towards these propped-up
leaders and the colonial government, the Haya began to regroup and in 1924
founded the Bukoba Bahaya Union. This association was initially directed to-
wards local political reform but soon developed into the more influential and
broad-based African Association. Together with similar groups established else-
where in the country, notably in the Kilimanjaro region and Dar es Salaam, it
constituted one of Tanzania's earliest political movements and was an important
force in the drive towards independence.
Today the Haya receive as much attention for their dancing (characterised by
complicated foot rhythms, and traditionally performed by dancers wearing grass
skirts and ankle rattles) and for their singing as for their history. Saida Karoli, a
popular female singer in the East African music scene, comes from Bukoba.
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Musira Island
ISLAND
The big chunk of rock in front of Bukoba was a prison island in the days of the kings and
now it offers an intriguing getaway. Upon arrival introduce yourself to the chairman (in the
building with flags next to Sunset Beach Grocery) and pay the island fee of Tsh2000. Ask
him to show you the path to the summit, which passes the Orthodox church and several
homes made from elephant grass just like those at Kiroyera Campsite. Crowded passen-
ger boats (Tsh1000) depart Nyamukazi, near the museum, but with these you don't get the
chance to see the cliffs and caves (where witchdoctors used to be buried) on the backside
so it makes sense to hire a boat special for the trip or take a tour.
Kagera Museum
MUSEUM
(admission Tsh2000; 9.30am-6pm) This small but worthwhile museum mixes a collec-
tion of local tribal items with photographs of wildlife from the Kagera region.
Attached to the museum is the
Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project
(BUDAP) work-
shop where men and woman with polio make
ngoma
drums, handbags and jewellery. Their
products are also sold at Kiroyera Tours (
Click here
).
