Esperanto is a language you probably haven't heard about

Not until early this year did I learn of the existence of this language. Esperanto is a language you probably haven't heard about.

I always thought of myself of being capable of identifying many of the world's most-spoken languages, but when a group of visitors showed up at Mwitongo in January I realized I had overestimated my capabilities.

Through their own introductions I learnt that the visitors represented several nationalities: European, Asiatic, African, and South American. But they communicated in a language that sounded familiar, and one I could not identify. Sometimes the pronunciations sounded Spanish, but I just could not figure out what language was used.

The group of Esperanto-speaking visitors to Butiama

I asked and was told they were speaking Esperanto, a language first developed by a Polish physician, Dr. Ludwig L. Zamenhof, in 1887. One of his objectives in constructing a new language was to enable all nationalities to have a common language of communication.

Esperanto's grammar is derived from Romance and Germanic languages, while its vocabulary is derived from Slavic languages.

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Here's more information on Esperanto:

http://esperanto.org/us/USEJ/world/index.html

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Worldwide estimates of users of Esperanto range from 2 to 10 million.

The visitors to Butiama had taken time off from a meeting of Esperanto users held in the nearby town of Bunda.

36 hours in Butiama: what to do

If you have 36 hours in Butiama here's what I suggest you should do. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania's founding president was born in Butiama in April 1922 and was buried here in October 1999.

The village of Butiama is located south east of Lake Victoria in north-eastern Tanzania. There are two principal ways of traveling to Butiama. By road, Butiama is 40 kilometres (35 minutes) away from Musoma, the regional centre. Mwanza, is 190 kilometres (3 hours) away by road. Precision Air operated commercial flights to Musoma twice a week but it appears the service has been canceled, while Fastjet, Precision, and Air Tanzania have daily flights to Mwanza. The Kenyan border post of Isebania is only 120 kilometres (2 hours) from Butiama. Visitors to Butiama arriving through Mwanza have the option of using public transportation (passenger buses) plying between Mwanza and Musoma to travel to Butiama. Alternatively, arrangements can be made to hire vehicles to pick up and drop passengers in Mwanza.

As most of the activity is outdoors, it is best to visit Butiama in the drier months, between January and February and between June and October. However, even during the rainy season it is still possible to find non-rainy days where visits can be carried out, as is the case now.

My work as co-ordinator of the Butiama Cultural Tourism Enterprise (BCTE) has given me valuable experience in providing travel guidance to Butiama's visitors. In fact, I will be your guide leading you through the various attractions, if you choose to visit.

Why would anyone want to visit Butiama? Its mix of attractions is unique: history, culture, archeology, and - for visitors who have more than 36 hours - Butiama is only a short hop from the world-famous Serengeti National Park.

A Giraffe in the Serengeti National Park.

Here's the proposed itinerary for day 1 (full day):

• arrival in the morning
• visit mausoleum of Mwalimu Nyerere and the compound of Chief Nyerere Burito (his father) 
• visit the Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Museum
• lunch and rest
• afternoon traditional dance performance
• visit Muhunda ancestral forest
• evening barbecue with Zanaki elders recounting Zanaki traditions and folklore

Here's the proposed itinerary for day 2 (half a day):

• breakfast
• visit residences of Mwalimu Nyerere, including his library of 8,000+ books, and a view of old rock art, dated to be more than 20,000 years old
• lunch
• departure for Musoma or Mwanza

Visitors in Mwalimu Nyerere's library.

For those who have more than 36 hours, the world-famous Serengeti National Park is less than an hour from Butiama and is one of several attractions that are worth visiting from Butiama.

Email me for more details on planning your trip to Butiama.

Find out current airfares to Mwanza:

• Air Tanzania
• Fastjet
• PercisionAir

Visitors to Butiama

Part of my work as coordinator for the Butiama Cultural Tourism Enterprise is to receive visitors and respond to questions on Butiama's historical and cultural heritage.

Recently I had another privilege of receiving visiting students and teachers from Kowak Girls' Secondary School. The students did not have a lot of questions to ask, but we posed for several photographs, including the one above.

Visitors to Butiama: Egumba Dance Group

Members of the Egumba Dance Group visit Butiama regularly to provide entertainment to other visitors from Butiama and to Butiama's residents.

They have a repertoire of traditional dances from around Mara region and from other parts of Tanzania.They have performed in foreign cultural festivals including one in South Korea.

Realated posts:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/03/egumba-dance-group-in-action.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/07/egumba-traditional-dancers-perform-at.html

Students from Musoma visit Butiama

Students whose parents belong to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church of Kamunyonge, Musoma, paid a visit to Butiama yesterday and toured both the Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Museum and the mausoleum of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Butiama is a popular destination for students from around Mara and Mwanza regions as well as from Kenya and Uganda.

Deputy minister January Makamba visits Butiama

During a speech he delivered on Nyerere Day (14th October 2013) in Butiama, Deputy Minister for Communication, Science, and Technology January Makamba said he would explore steps to link the village of Butiama to the National Fibre-Optic Network.

He was responding to a request made by Emmanuel Kiondo, the director of Butiama's Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Museum who underlined the importance of Butiama as a historical and cultural destination and having pointed out the proximity of the Fibre-Optic cable to Butiama (11 kilometres) stressed the importance of linking Butiama to broadband connectivity.

On Nyerere Day, Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology January Makamba, second from right, with Mama Maria Nyerere, first from right.

In stressing his point Kiondo spoke in his and the deputy minister's native Sambaa dialect: Uhemuonea Zumbe, nee uhemuighushi (translation: when you meet the Chief/King you greet him and tell him all your problems).

It worked; the deputy minister responded positively and said he would explore steps to ensure Butiama also benefits from the Fibre-Optic network.

When writing a weekly column for the Sunday News (Tanzania) between 2005 and 2011 I was made aware on many occasions of the importance of a reliable Internet connection. I frequently drove to Musoma, an 80-kilometre round trip to file my articles. On a few occasions I even drove to Tarime, a 200-kilometre round trip to spend a few minutes at an Internet cafe' and file the week's Letter from Butiama.

Ross Methven: Ironman cyclist from Edinburgh to Cape Town

By the time he reached Butiama on 14th July 2013, Ross Methven had cycled through 12 countries and covered some 15,000 kilometres. He is on his way to Cape Town, South Africa, and I am informed he is in Botswana now.

Why? That was the first question I had in mind when I heard from Dr. Thomas Molony of Ross' epic voyage that began in Scotland in January 2013. Ross is raising money for the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF).

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If you want to donate to Ross' cause please follow this link:

http://fundraise.unicef.org.uk/MyPage/value-adder-to-vagabond

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He entered Tanzania from Kenya through the Namanga border post and rode to Arusha. From Arusha he initially planned to ride south towards Babati to Dodoma, then to Iringa and to the Malawian border. That was before I told him I would accompany him to Dodoma if he chose to ride from Butiama through Mwanza and to Dodoma through Shinyanga. He did and I serviced my mountain bike and accompanied him to Dodoma between July and August. Read about our ride to Dodoma here:

http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2013/07/riding-with-ross-methven-day-1.html

On our way to Ukerewe island, curious children gather around Ross' camera to view their photos.

While resting in Butiama I asked him a few questions:

Q: Are you normally a physically active person?
A: I played rugby a lot while in Scotland. But when I moved to work in London my lifestyle changed. I had long working hours and was not as active. When I started cycling I was pretty unfit and overweight. Experienced cyclists say it normally takes a person 2-3 months of continuous cycling to become bike fit.

Q: What has been your biggest surprise?
A: The unexpected generosity of people I come across. In Albania, people don't accept money for coffee or water.

Q: When do you expect to reach Cape Town?
A: At the end of this year, around Christmas.

Q: Give me some vital statistics of what you have done so far.
A: I have cycled 80 days until now. The longest I have cycled is 88 miles (140.8 kilometres). The coldest day was 12 Celsius, the hottest 29 Celsius. The fastest I have cycled is 48 MPH (76.8 KPH). The longest time without washing was 4 nights. I drink about 8 litres of water each day.

Ross carries all necessary items on his bicycle: tent, food, clothing, water, and spares.

Q: How much total weight do you carry?
A: When I left Edinburgh the total weight, including myself, was 150kgs. I weighed 85kgs; I now weigh 70kgs.

Near Dodoma, with his bicycle, less the 15 kilos he lost along the way.

 Q: What have been your highlights so far?
A: The small acts of kindness that I mentioned and reaching the top of a mountain. Also, the cold beer at the end of a day.

Q: Have you had a what-am-I-doing-here?* moment?
A: All the time, especially while cycling uphill. When I reach the top I get a great feeling that makes the pain and agony of uphill worthwhile.

*It is a term I use to describe my challenging moments while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Related link:
http://www.rossmethvensbigbikeride.co.uk/

Visitors to Butiama: Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela visited the village of Butiama in November 1999. He came to pay his condolences following Mwalimu Nyerere's death in October 1999. The residents of Butiama fondly remember that visit that lasted several hours and included a lunch hosted by Mwalimu's widow, Mama Maria Nyerere.

Antoni Folkers visits Butiama

Dutch architect and urban designer, Antoni Folkers, is visiting Butiama District for a few days at the invitation of Musoma Urban member of parliament, Hon. Nimrod Mkono.

Antoni Folkers. Photo courtesy of African Architecture Matters.

Hon. Mkono has asked Mr. Folkers to provide urban design plans for the newly gazetted district of Butiama. He is a director and the senior designer for the architectural firm FBW Architects that has offices in Manchester, Dar es Salaam, Utrecht, and Kampala.

He is the author of Modern Architecture in Africa and is the holder of a Masters in Architecture from Delft University of Technology. More details on his academic and professional experience can be found here.

During his visit he was accompanied by Swantje Scheunemann, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Mkono & Co Advocates.

My version of the year 2012 in review: 22 February

A delegation from HakiElimu brought to Butiama a donation of books for the Mwalimu Julius

I, second from right, was present to receive the books. Others from HakiElimu are: Intern Hoffman Sanga, left; Joyce Mkina, centre; and  Margreth Paul on the right.

Nyerere Memorial Library, the library containing Mwalimu Nyerere's collection of more than 8,000 volumes.

Other posts in this 2012 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-21.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-24.html

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-26_23.html

My version of the year 2012 in review: 15 February

Students from Rwamkoma Primary School visited Butiama and the mausoleum of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere today.

 Meanwhile, the cactus plant on the same grounds visited by the students kept growing skyward.

Other posts in this 2012 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-version-of-year-2012-13-february.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-18.html

Visitors to Butiama: Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru

Over the years, thousands of visitors have visited Butiama including prominent political figures. Many of Butiama's visitors decide to visit Butiama in recognition of the lasting social and political legacy of one of Butiama's famous residents, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who died on 14th October 1999 and was buried in Butiama on 23th October 1999.

Mzee Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru, being one of the politicians who served under the administration of President Nyerere, would have visited Butiama many times during his tenure in his various capacities within the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and in government.

This photo was taken during his last visit to Butiama several years ago when he attended the funeral of Josephat Kiboko Nyerere, Mwalimu Nyerere's brother.

If past records are reliable there should be an increase in the number of visitors to Butiama as we draw closer to the elections in 2015.

Visitors to Butiama: Asha and Abdul Salvador

The easiest path to fame is to have a musician friend.

Many years ago my friend and musician Abdul Salvador and his wife, Asha, visited Butiama and performed a number of live shows with their band, Hisia Sounds. They traveled from Dar es Salaam by bus through Arusha and Nairobi, Kenya, and re-entered Tanzania at the Sirari border post before arriving in Butiama, which is about two hours' drive from Sirari.

On their arrival in Butiama, I recall Salvador's comment, who was traveling to northern Tanzania for the first time: "Tanzania is a huge country. Imagine you have to travel through another country to reach parts of this country!"

Those were the days before the Government of Tanzania executed a decision to rebuild and improve the road from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, particularly the section between Singida and Mwanza. As a consequence bus operators introduced daily bus services between Dar and Mwanza and even up to Musoma. As a further consequence there is no bus company that serves the longer Dar - Nairobi - Musoma/Mwanza route.



For this number, from left to right, the author of this blog, Evaristus Nchia (stage name, "Dokta Nchia"), Asha Sa;vador, and Abdul salvador.

When Hisia sounds performed at what was once the Makuti Bar in Butiama I was one of the chorus singers on stage. I admit that I danced much better than I sang. Many in Butiama still recall with fond memories Hisia Sounds' visit and my brief moment of fame.

Post related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-version-of-year-2009-in-review-may.html

Singida choir members visit Butiama

Members of the St. Cecilia Choir of the Catholic Church in Singida yesterday paid a visit to Butiama and visited the mausoluem of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

They were winding up their tour of Mara region and were traveling from Musoma to Isenye on their way to Singida through the Serengeti National Park.

Anne Stolmar visits Butiama

Anne Stolmar from Germany describes her occupation as a photographer and an artist and explains she has traveled to Tanzania to interview individuals about their most important life goals.

She recently visited Butiama and shared some of her impressions about Butiama. In her own words:

"I am interested in what Mwalimu Julius Nyerere said in his vision...what he thinks about life and what is important. When I first read in a book about his vision that Tanzanians should be able to give help not only to their tribe, to their family, to the country, to the continent, but also to the whole world I liked very much his vision because I am an idealistic person.

I have my ideas and I think it is important to stand up for them in life, to do something about them. So I was impressed with the ideas and whether these ideas could or could not be realized in society.

Because I think now in our times we are sometimes running out of a vision. We had some ideas in the past but they could not be reached so now they are just like left behind. So I came because of the words of your father to Butiama because then I was preparing my project to come to Tanzania and I met Maurice and Benjamin and knew about their movie , I got in touch with them and asked whether I could interview some of the people they interviewed for their [film] project and I thought it would be interesting to interview the son of Julius Nyerere.

And then I got in touch with you and you suggested I come to Butiama and I thought it was a good idea because for my project I decide to travel to different parts of the country, although sometimes it is a bit hard for me because I don't know the environment and it is new.

It's the second time I have been to Tanzania. I think Butiama is a nice and peaceful place just to walk around and enjoy the landscape because its also feels safe for a foreigner to come here because people have appreciation for Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. So if I come here as a foreigner they don't take me so much as a stranger because they know I am coming here for Julius Nyerere, for the memory. They know that Julius Nyerere had a lot of contact with foreigners so I feel safe to come here, and be closer to the people.

When I look here around the landscape I really would enjoy to stay longer, to walk around, to discover."

My version of the year 2011 in review: 26 October

The Executive Secretary of HakiElimu, Elizabeth Missokia, and fellow colleagues from the civil

Elizabeth Missokia, fourth from right, hands over a gift to Mama Maria Nyerere, third from left.

society organization visited Butiama and met Mama Maria Nyerere and presented her with books and other gifts.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-25_22.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-31.html

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:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-18.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-27.html

Posts related to this one:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2009/01/visitors-to-butiama.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/07/egumba-traditional-dancers-perform-at.html

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

My version of the year 2011 in review: 25 April

Apologies for dragging my way through this post series of the year 2011 in review. I was away climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and I hope to complete this review soon.

A striped lizard caught my eye at the edge of the wall outside my bedroom window. One of these lizards once found its way into my bedroom. I intended to release it back to the outdoors but forgot and traveled for more than a month. I believed I would have found it dead of starvation, but it was still alive except for being extremely weak.

A group of visitors from Mugumu in neighboring Serengeti district toured Butiama and the Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Museum, above.

The visitors included three young men who also signed their names in the visitors book at the museum.

After the museum visit, the entire group paid a courtesy call on Mama Maria Nyerere, the widow of Tanzania's founding president, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Other posts in this 2011 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-21.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-version-of-year-2011-in-review-3.html

Baraka Elias, the tallest Tanzanian, just visited Butiama

The tallest Tanzanian (until someone proves differently), Baraka Elias, paid a visit to the Butiama Cultural Tourism Enterprise (BCTE) on Friday 18 May 2012.

He works with mobile operator, Tigo, and the last time I communicated with him he was 7' 4" tall. He is 22 years old. The photo, below, of a secondary school student standing in the same spot provides a perspective of how tall he is.

The tallest living person is Sultan Kösen from Turkey. He stands at 2.51m or 8 feet 3 inches.