Butiama Bed & Breakfast

Butiama Bed & Breakfast

Saturday 28 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 7 September

I have excellent plans for exercising ahead of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. And an absolutely poor record of implementing those plans.

Less than two weeks ahead of commencing my third climb of Africa's highest peak, I decided I should put some of those plans into motion - more than two months too late. I dusted my appropriately named mountain bike and headed out south of Butiama.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/03/letter-from-butiama-peace-march.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/03/mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro-charity_25.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-i-quit-smoking-my-kilimanjaro-climb_19.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-23_28.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-18.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 23 August

Former teacher Lazaro Kinyaki from the village of Nyamuswa near Butiama and now the cultural tourism coordinator for Nyamuswa, leafed through a calendar while visiting the library housing the
collection of books and papers of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania's founding president.

Kinyaki brought along trainee tour guides for the day-long trip that included visiting Mwalimu
Nyerere's residence at Mwitongo in the village of Butiama.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3_27.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-7.html

Friday 27 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 3 August

Continuing with his research on the early life of Tanzania's founding president, Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922 - 1999), Dr. Thomas Molony interviewed the widow of the late former president,
During the interview, from left: Mama Maria Nyerere, her daughter Rosemary Nyerere, and Dr. Thomas Molony.
Mama Maria Nyerere.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/07/visitors-to-butiama-dr-thomas-molony.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-version-of-year-2010-in-review-may.html

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-27.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-23_28.html

Thursday 26 July 2012

Wednesday 25 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 22 July

The Egumba Ngoma Group was at Butiama to entertain the visiting teachers from Canada's Queen's University.
A member of the group's 'horn' section made his rounds, blowing his horn, and shaking hands with some of the onlookers, including Dr. Thomas Molony, below.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:

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Tuesday 24 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 18 July

The Mwanza region contestants for the Miss Vodacom Tanzania beauty pageant visited Butiama and


someone suggested that I should take a photograph with them. I did not object and squeezed myself into a gap in the middle and became, literally, the odd man out.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-9-july.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-22.html

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2009/01/visitors-to-butiama.html

Monday 23 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 9 July

A colourful caterpillar appeared on my bed and although I was glad it had not managed to slip under

my bedsheets, I was perplexed at the fact that it had managed to get on my bed.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-7-july.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-18.html

Sunday 22 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 7 July

It is Farmers' Day today, but no one at Butiama was seen marking the day.

Instead, members of the Anglican Church choir from Musoma came to Mwitongo to film a series of music videos.


The outfits were dazzling. The dancing was just as spectacular.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-4-july.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-9-july.html

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/07/visitors-to-butiama-musoma-choir-shoots.html

Saturday 21 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 4 July

Today's lesson was: Just when you think it is over, it isn't. The fat lady is yet to sing.
One could have made a bet before this photo was taken that the sun had gone, never to shine again until the following morning. But, lo and behold, the heavens opened up and a streak of sunshine touched the Earth somewhere.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-28.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-7-july.html

Friday 20 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 28 June

After the Musoma "Mara Region Tourism Route Designing Meeting" we split into three groups to inspect some of the potential routes for tourists visiting Mara region.

Our group toured the Iramba islands on Lake Victoria, whose residents' principal economic activity is fishing.


To the residents of Iramba boat transportation serves as an important means of travel to other islands and across the Lake to Majita.




Our hour-long boat trip could not have been possible without the expert local knowledge of a local resident who served as our guide and who during most of the trip helped me with taking photographs.


He dangled precariously in front of the boat to take some of the pictures and I was at times worried he would loose his balance and fall into the Lake - with my camera.

I was not worried for his safety because I knew he could swim. My camera could not.

He did not only care for his own safety, but had absolutely no qualms against turning a member of our team, Aysha, into one of the deck chairs as he took the liberty of leaning against her for a photograph.

We concluded that unless he is barred from becoming a local tourist guide, we would not recommend Iramba as one of the tourist itineraries.

The mischief of our guide could not detract from the unique beauty of the surrounding area, with mountain islands that seemed to sprout up from the Lake, and a rich and varied bird colony in some of the islands.



Other posts in this 2011 review series:

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Thursday 19 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 27 June

I attended a meeting of tourism stakeholders from Mara region convened to chart out a strategy for attracting more tourists to the region. Hassan Ally, standing on the left, of Inter Business Direction Inc (IBDI) was the moderator of the "Mara Region Tourism Route Designing Meeting.
Emmanuel Musimo, on the right, was the rapporteur.

Other posts related to this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-26.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-28.html

Tuesday 17 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 8 June

Having been away from Butiama for some time, I noticed a new development on the Butiama -
Musoma road: a diversionary side road had appeared on the right in preparation for the commencement of the re-pavement of the Mwanza - Musoma highway.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-5.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-26.html

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-road-to-musoma-is-excellent.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2008/12/old-road-to-mwanza.html

Sunday 15 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 4 June

I attended the Karibu Travel & Tourism Fair in Arusha for the second time in so many days.

The Karibu Fair is billed by the organizers as the leading travel trade event in East Africa and is held in early June every year at the edge of the Arusha airport. Which makes it a perfect location for plane spotting.



Ndanda Kosovo, fourth from right (counting the gorilla), struts his stuff with his band, Watoto wa Tembo.
The show also featured entertainment by both traditional Masai dancers (third photo from top), as well as contemporary music by Arusha-based musician Ndanda Kosovo and his band Watoto wa Tembo (The Children of Elephants). His show featured a dancer clad in a gorilla costume.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-5.html

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/06/karibu-fair.html

Saturday 14 July 2012

Friday 13 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 23 May

The power shedding schedule introduced by the electricity supply firm, TANESCO, meant less light and more hours of darkness - when the candles were not lit.
When the candles were lit and with little else to do, I took out my camera and snapped a few images of the candles against the dark background and was impressed by the images.
I promised myself if the photos won any prize in a photo contest, I would credit TANESCO during my acceptance speech.
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Relevant link to Amazon Books:
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Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-21.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3.html

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/01/candles.html

Wednesday 11 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 16 May

Wilson Mukama, the secretary-general of the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), paid a visit to Butiama late on Monday.
Wilson Mukama (), shakes hands with his former teacher, Jack Nyamwaga, during his visit to Butiama.
A cultural group, below, arrived early in the afternoon to entertain the hosts who were waiting for the guest.



The hosts included Hon. Nimrod Mkono (bottom left), member of parliament for Musoma Rural constituency.

Hon. Nimrod Mkono, left, with Feeouz Bano, CCM District Party Secretary for Musoma Urban district.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:

Monday 9 July 2012

My version of the year 2011 in review: 2 May

A mother of a storm cloud appeared from the north, over the confluence of the Mara river and Lake

Victoria. If the corresponding thunderstorm was just as menacing, I would have remembered. I don't.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/06/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-25.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-4-may.

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-19.html

Sunday 8 July 2012

Inheritance among the Zanaki

Traditionally, it was the nephew who inherited the property of a deceased uncle.

The rationale, a cynical one, was that an individual is certain that, with his nephew, there is certain consanguinity, a fact that is not always certain with the children born of his wife or wives. One assumes that it was taken for granted that the deceased's sister was actually his sister otherwise the inheritance would actually end up with an individual or individuals who were not related to the deceased.

It is a tradition that is dying.

When Chief Nyerere Burito died on 30th March 1942, all his property was inherited with some exceptions. In those days, wives were also inherited. His 22 wives were inherited except for the fifth, Mgaya wa Nyang'ombe, the mother of Tanzania's founding president, Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Mwalimu Nyerere refused that her mother should be inherited and she went to live with her relatives at Muryaza, a village near Butiama.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/04/zanaki-and-meat.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/10/zanaki-culture.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/04/zanaki-culture.html

Friday 6 July 2012

Karama Nyilawila is outboxed by Francis Cheka

There was a lot of hugging in yesterday's non-title bout between Karama Nyilawila and Francis Cheka. But the judges eventually gave the fight to Cheka.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-1.html

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