Baadhi ya Crew wa Bongoland II wakiongea na Producer Mussa Kissoky wa Sofia Records.Monday, July 02, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Kitabu cha 'Oyster Bay Stories'

Kusoma blogu yake bofya hapa: http://oysterbay-stories.blogspot.com/
Hivi karibuni nimegundua kitabu cha 'Oyster Bay Stories' kilichoandikwa na bwana Jules Damji. Yeye ni mhindi aliyezaliwa Tanzania na kuishi huko kwa muda mrefu kabla ya kuja hapa Marekani.
Kama tunavyojua kuna wahindi wengi Tanzania and Afrika kwa ujumla. Nao wana historia yao ndefu na makabila na dini tofauti, mfano kuna wahindi wakristo, waislamu (mfano mabohora) na wahindu.
Kitabu cha bwana Damji ina hadithi fupi mbalimbali kuhusu maisha ya Tanzania na hasa Dar es Salaam miaka ya 1960's na 1970's.
Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu kitabu cha 'Oyster Bay Stories' mnaweza kusoma:
http://oysterbay-stories.blogspot.com/
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Excerpt from the Book:
Caretaker
In the way that elegant minarets, manicured lawns, and lush gardens with sparkling water fountains are inherently part of a Grand Mosque, Mr. Karmali was a human one. He was our jamat bhai, or caretaker, of the Upanga Mosque at the end of several rows of two-story cream-white identical flats along the bending Upanga Road.
It is a modern two-story white building, with arched glass windows along the length of each floor, and a prominent tower at one end of the building, housing four circular clocks on each of its face and a dome on top of it. It looks grand and ostentatiously conspicuous, more like a palace than a house of worship. Perhaps all houses of worship are deliberately built on a grander scale to inspire awe among its worshipers — and envy among those not of the denomination.
Even in Europe, ancient cathedrals were built on enormous scale. So were the temples of ancient India, followed by Muslim conquers who built their grand mosques, some on razed temple grounds.
On festive occasions, our Upanga Mosque would be festooned with glittering colored lights along the edges of the building, outlining its frame at night. Many postcards captured this luminous moment — and were on sale at many of the local bookstores in town. It was a landmark of its kind and a source of architectural pride for our community, not only the Upanga Mosque, but others as well, in downtown, in Kariakoo, in other coastal and interior towns. These landscape monuments spoke of the community’s powerful presence — and for many a source of envy.
Every morning and evening before prayers, Mr. Karmali would be seated in his rickety wooden chair by the main entrance doors of the mosque facing Upanga Road. His appearance and attire, like the unchanging engraved Arabic designs on the entrance doors, remained unaltered: a white flowing kanzu, concealing his large body, a brown tweed jacket adorned with old bronze medals with ribbons, and a tilted red fez on his oversized head, its black tassel, like a pendulum, brushed his unshaven jovial face as he greeted people entering the prayer hall.
He rarely spoke, and when he did, it was only to delegate mosque-related chores in Kiswahili to youngsters; his kutchi or gujarati was heavily accented, with African pronunciations, and was often ridiculed by the affluent kids who attended Friday prayers in their best designer clothes........
Dada Ummie Alley Hamid Amsuta Eric Shigongo (Amina Chifupa)
Na Ummie-Mahfoudha Alley Hamid
Kifo hakina wakati, huruma wala subira, huja kwa saa na muda uliopangwa na mwenyewe Subhana wa Taala Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu. Mwanaadamu hawezi kukipangua. Ya laiti ingelikuwa uwezekano huo upo, basi tungalipangua vifo vya wengi ambao ni vipenzi vyetu kikiwemo hichi cha juzi cha mbunge wa Viti Maalum CCM anaewawakilisha vijana katika Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Marehemu Amina Chifupa Mpakanjia.
Wa kale walisema chema hakidumu. Nimeuthibitisha ukweli wa usemi huu kwa kifo cha binti huyu. Marehemu Amina alikuwa na sifa zote za kupendeza. Alikuwa kijana, mrembo, mtanashati, mcheshi, msomi kwa kiasi chake na zaidi ya yote alikuwa mtu wa watu.
Si muda mrefu tangu nimjuwe Marehemu. Nilimsikia sauti yake wakati akiwa mtangazaji wa redio, na nikamjuwa kupitia magazeti na runinga. Nikaja kumjuwa baada ya kuchaguliwa kuwa mbunge wa vijana kupitia chama tawala cha CCM. Kabla ya kumjuwa fika, nilikuwa najisemea ki moyo moyo, “Hmmmm, binti kama huyu mwenye sifa zote hizi, kweli atakuwa na uwezo wa kuongea na watu wa hali ya chini anaowawakilisha? Hivi huyu si anaringa na kujiona kuwa hakuna wa kumgusa?” Hakika dhana ni dhambi na kweli nilipata dhambi kwani nilivyomdhania ikawa ni tofauti na nilivyomjua. Ukweli nilijikumbuka mimi enzi zangu nilipokuwa natikisa na namna watu walivyokuwa wanaona najivuna
Nilimwmjuwa Amina kwa muda wa miaka chini ya miwili ya ubunge wake. Aliniita “mama” nikamwitika “mwanangu”. Alikuwa ni mtu “Simpol” kwa lugha ya mjini. Alikuwa mchangamfu na pia alikuwa ni mtu mwenye sikio la kusikiliza watu na shida zao ingawa shida nyengine zilikuwa si rahisi kwake kuzitatua.
Umaarufu, ujana, urembo, wema wake ulimfanya alengwe shabaha na kila chombo cha habari, iwe kwa wema au utelezi alioufanya. Ujana wake ulimfanya awe au afanye mambo mengi ambayo yanafanywa na yalifanywa na wengi ambao walio na umri wake. Binaadamu tunasahau kuwa “ujana ni moshi” na mwishowe hupita tu. Tunasahau kuwa tumepitia hatua zote hizo na zaidi ya hizo katika ujana wetu.
Alifanya mambo ya kawaida ya ujana na urembo, alikuwa mlevi? Sikumfahamu hivyo, mvuta sigara au bangi? Sikumjuwa hivyo, mtumiaji wa madawa ya kulevya? Sikumuona na sidhani kama alikuwa hivyo. Lipi geni alilokuwa nalo Marehemu Amina hata kusakamwa na kudhalillishwa hadi kufikia kupoteza roho yake changa?
Tujiambie na tujiulize, hivi sisi tukiwa kama waandishi wa habari, ni lazima tuwe na habari mbaya (negative) ndio tuandike au ndio ziuzike? Hatuwezi kuwa na upande mzuri (positive) side of issues? Kwa nini muandishi wa habari mwenzetu anaeanza maisha na malengo yake awe ndio chanzo chetu cha habari mbovu zilizopo na zisizokuwepo? Vijarida vya udaku haviuziki bila ya kuwepo uwongo usokifuniko?
Nasema hivi kwa sababu nimesikitishwa na muandishi Eric Shigongo wa gazeti la IJUMAA ambalo slogan yake ni “We belong to God” yaani wao ni waja wa Mungu, na namna alivyomsakama mwana wa watu na kusahau hiyo slogan yake ya kuwa yeye ni mja wa Mungu na Marehemu Amina pia ni mja wa Mungu. Amemuekea makala spesheli ya kumdoboa na kumnazi’i kadmnas bila kimeme. Anamkashifu na kuashiria kuwa Marehemu amefika kumfata kwake na kujitakisha!
Shigongo amemkejeli Marehemu eti asijifananishe na Mhe. Migiro na Mhe. Meghji. Kwa nini iwe vibaya kuwa na malengo? Hata Waheshimiwa hao walimhusudu Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meyer, Bandaranaike, Madeline Albright, Indira Ghandi na Bi Titi hawa wakiwa wachache tu kati ya wengi. Hakuna aliezaliwa na ujuzi usio weza kufikiwa na wengine. Hakuna kati yetu aliejuwa tu bila kuiga au kuweka malengo. Amemkejeli kwa bezo eti hata nae awe katika NEC na awe Mwenyekiti UVCCM. Mbona huyu Mwenyekiti wa sasa nae ni mjumbe wa NEC? Kwa nini kilicho “Good for the goose” kisiwe “Good for the gander?” Au hii ni kwa sababu ya jinsia yake? Kwa Marehemu alijiwekea malengo kuwa “Even the Sky was not the limit” because there is Outer Space after the sky, and may be that is where she wanted to set the limit.
Nathubutu kusema kuwa nilivyomjuwa Marehemu kwa muda mfupi na tukawa karibu sana kiasi cha kuwa wiki haipiti bila kujuliana hali siamini kama alikwenda kwa Shigongo na kukaa kwa saa sita kupindukia usiku wa manane kwa lengo la kutumia ujanajike wake. Maalesh, na iwe kweli kenda kwa lengo hilo, kwani Marehemu Amina atakuwa wa kwanza kujitakisha? Eric Shigongo hajapata kutaka au kutakwa na mwanamke? Anasema alimshikisha Marehemu kitabu kitakatifu ili aape kama aliwahi kutakiwa na Shigongo, na Marehemu akakataa kukishika; jee Shigongo anajuwa sharia za Kiislamu na sababu zinazomfanya mwanamke wa Kiislamu kukataa kushika Mas-hafu kwa sababu na nyakati fulani fulani?
Shigongo ameendelea na makala zake za kashfa juu ya uhusiano wa Marehemu na Mheshimiwa mmoja bungeni, jee tumuite yey ni mtafiti wa habari za ndani za wabunge wote walio bungeni? Ni kweli anajuwa mahusiano binafsi ya baina wabunge wote au alimkandia Marehemu tu? Kama anazijuwa habari zote mbona asiziandike kwa mapana na marefu na akakazania za Marehemu tu? Mbona asitoe habari za kina za huyo mbunge wa kiume na kumuandama Marehemu peke yake? Wangereza wanasema “It takes two to tango and it takes two to quarrel”. Au hii ni ile dhana ya mfumo dume uliotutawala kuwa mwanamke ndie anaefaa kuitwa M……a (siwezi kuliandika hili neno) na mwanamme anafaa uitwa “KIJOGOO”. Kama kazi hii ni ya wawili, vipi iwe sifa kwa mmoja na kashfa kwa mwengine? Shigongo anaogopa mwanmme mwenziwe na akamuonea Marehemu. Au ana ajenda ya siri?
Nimemjuwa Marehemu Amina kwa muda mfupi, na nikajuwa ni mtu mkweli, muaminifu, mwenye ithibati, asiekwenda kinyume na kauli yake. Nasema hivi kwa uthibitisho kamili nilionao binafsi. Miezi michache nyuma alitowa kauli yake kwa mtu mmoja kwamba angempa msaada fulani. Baadhi ya watu hawakupenda Marehemu afanye vile na akawekwa kiti moto na majopo si mawili si matatu, ya watu wazito sana ili aende kinyume na kauli yake ile. Marehemu Amina aliwasikiliza, na baadae akawajibu kuwa hangeweza kwenda kinyume na kauli yake na kwamba kama alivyoahidi, atampa mtu yule msaada wake.
Hapa niliweza kuona tafauti baina ya Marehemu Amina na wanawake na wanaume wengine wengi, wakiwemo vijana kama yeye waliotokea huko Umoja wa vijana CCM, na wanawake na wanaume wakongwe waliokomaa waliotokea katika vilele vikubwa vya Chama. Tafauti ilikuwa wengi wao walitia ulimi puani na kwenda kinyume na walivyotamka, wengine wakawa washiriki wa kumuweka Marehemu kiti moto na kumtishia kuwa wangemfanyia hivi au vile.
Marehemu Alikuwa hamtishi mtu wala hatishiki au kutikisika. Alikuwa ni mtu ambae akishatoa kauli yake, basi hata ashuke malaika gani haibadili abadan. Aliweka msimamo wa kupiga vita madawa ya kulevya kwa nguvu zake zote, jambo ambalo lingemtetemesha mtu mkubwa na mwenye nguvu. Niliwahi kuongea nae na kumwambia “Mwanangu pole pole, wasije wakakudhuru!”. Kauli aliyonijibu ni kuwa amejitolea nafsi yake katika ukweli na haki na chochote kitachomfika ni maktub na hakifutiki. Kweli kilichoandikwa hakifutiki.
Nikiacha hili nitakwenda kwenye utanashati wake ambao ulifika kumponza bungeni kwa kuambiwa na Mheshimiwa Spika atoke nje ya kikao aende akabadili kivazi kwani hakistahili bungeni. Bila kinyongo Marehemu alitoka na tabasamu na akaenda akafanya kama alivyoamriwa. Binafsi wakati huo mimi nilikuwa katika maeneo ya Bunge Dodoma. Kivazi kilichomponza hakikuwa cha uchi au kuvunja heshima, kilikuwa na kidokezo cha kofia ambapo kwa sharia za bungeni tulizorithi kwa wakoloni, kilipaswa kiendane na uvaaji wa gloves na ndipo kiwe kimetimia. Marehemu Amina alitoka nje na akavua kofia ile na kurudi bungeni. Alifika hata kufanyiwa usaili na stesheni moja ya runinga na ilipoletwamada hiyo Marehemu alicheka na kusema kuwa hiyo ilikuwa ni changa-moto ya ukomavu wake na zaidi ya yote ilikuwa ni funzo la kupitia kanuni kabla kutenda jambo.
Wacha niwambie unafiki wa sisi watu. Kwenye runinga nimeona watu wanalia karibu ya kugaragara na kutiririkwa na machozi wakimsifia Marehemu. Jamani wengine katika hao ni wale ambao walichekelea Marehemu alipoamriwa kutoka nje kwa ajili ya kivazi chake, wengi ya hao walidiriki kumbeza na kusema kuwa pale ni pahala pa kazi na si pahala pa fashen na ubishoo. Wengi wetu ambao wakati umeshatupita kushoto na jua limekuchwa tulijisahau kuwa nasi kwa wakati wetu tulipiga vimini na kutesa mjini. Wengi ya wale ambao bado ni vijana walijawa na wivu wa kutomiliki vivazi vya “designer goods” vya Marehemu Amina, au ki maumbile kutopendeza kama yeye. Wivu na choyo vilitutawala na tukasahau kuwa “kila ndege anaruka na ubawa wake na nyota ya mwenzio usiisafiire”.
Kila mtu ana mapungufu yake. Kwa sasa, ilivyo khulka ya binaadamu, utasikia sifa tu atakazo mwagiwa Marehemmu Amina. Kashfa zitatulia kwa wengi wetu kwa ile dhana ya “Never speak evil of the dead”. Bwana Shigongo alisema katika makala yake ya Ijumaa iliopita kuwa anasitisha kuandika mengine kemkem ya Marehemu Amina na kashfa zake kwa vile ni mgonjwa kitandani. Aliahidi kuwa atatuletea uhondo huo baada ya kupona Marehemu Amina. Naomba nimnukuu marehemu bibi yangu ambae alikuwa ndio mentor (muongozi au dira) wangu. Alipokuwa katika “sakarati-l-mauti” nilikuwa namsomea na kumuombea dua huku nikilia na kumwambia “Bibi utapona”. Alinitupia macho akanijibu “Nikipona nimepona, nikifa nimepona”. Nami namuomba bwana Shigongo aliemsakama Marehemu hata wakati alipokuwa mgonjwa mahtuti kitandani, asitunyime conclusion ya uhondo wa hadithi yake tamu maana sasa Mhe. Amina AMEPONA na ni rukhsa kwake kutumalizia makala yake na asituache na shauku na duku duku la kutaka kujuwa kulikoni.
Kwa makala hii namuombea marehemu Amina malazi pema peponi, Mungu amsamehe madhambi yake, ampe kauli thabit, ampe kitaabu chake kwa mkono wa kulia, malaika wema wawe marafiki na wapokezi wake kaburini, apate nuru katika kaburi lake, liwe linatoa harufu ya rehani nasumini na mawaridi, awe mkono wa kulia wa Bwana Mtume siku ya Kiama pamoja na Ma-abrar wema, awape subira wazee wake, mwanawe, marafiki zake na kila aliempenda na aliependwa na Marehemu.
Marehemu Amina namfananisha na Princess Diana wa Uingereza alivyoandamwa na mapaparazi wa ulaya hadi akato(ka)lewa roho yake. Wema, Utanashati,ukarimu, ukweli, huruma, usaidizi na mengi mazuri ya Princess Diana yanafanana na yale ya Mrehemu wetu. Vifo vyao vinatafautiana mazingira lakini vinafanana sababu nazo ni kuandamwa kwa hili na lile. Tarehe pia zinapishana kidogo kama mwezi tu kufikisha miaka kumi kamili.
Diana alikuwa ni Princess wa Uingereza ambae ana andamwa hadi leo miaka 10 baada ya kifo chake. Marehemu Amina ni Princess wetu Tanzania. Natumai Paparazzi wenzangu tutakuwa na hishma za Ki Afrika na utu wa Ki Tanzania na tutamwacha marehemu apumzike kwa amani baada ya kumpa Bwana Shigongo nafasi ya mwisho ya kutueleza yaliyobaki juu ya Marehemu Amina. Baada ya hapo tutamwachia Mungu atamhukumu kwa amali zake nzuri, na zikiwa mbaya atamsamehe.
Naomba kumaliza kwa kunukuu maneno ya Jesus Christ alipowambia Mayahudi walipokuwa wanataka kumpiga mawe Mary Magdalene kwa sabau eti alikuwa mzinzi. Jesus aliwaambi hivi: “Let that among you with no sin cast the first stone”. Yaani naanze kati yenu yule asie na dhambi kutupa jiwe la kwanza. Jee tupo kati yetu tulio malaika bila dhambi? Tukumbuke kuwa mtu akimyooshea mwenziwe kidole kimoja, basi vidole vine vinamgeukia yeye na kumsuta. Upo Bwana Shigongo?
Briani mwanangu Princess Amina. Mungu akulaze pema peponi Amin.
Wakatabahu
Mahfoudha Alley Hamid
E mail: umimah@zanlink.com
Shairi - Amina Hayupo Tena
Amina Chifupa aliwatembelea waginjwa hospitali ya Amana, Ilala, Dar es Salaam(Photo from Jiachie (Michuzi Jr.) Blog)
Amina Hayupo Tena
Imetungwa na Fahdili Mtanga
Nasikia radioni, Amina hayupo tena,
Ninashindwa kuamini, umetutoka Amina,
Amina wetu jamani, Amina wetu Amina,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Mola wetu tusikie, twaja kwako Maulana,
Amina tumlilie, mbunge wetu vijana,
Faraja utupatie, usiku hata mchana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Amina mbunge wetu, tuliyekupenda sana,
Uliyeonesha utu, kwa wazee na vijana,
Uliyekuwa mwenzetu, tena bila ya hiyana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Amina ulitujali, tukakupenda kwa sana,
Juhudi zako za kweli, zilikubalika sana,
Mola wetu mfadhili, lini tutamwona tena?
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Umetuacha jamani, twakulilia Amina,
Ni vigumu kuamini, kuwa hatukwoni tena,
Majonzi yetu moyoni, mbona ni makubwa sana,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Twashindwa kuelezea, jinsi inavyotuuma,
Ni vigumu kuzowea, kupoteza kitu chema,
Wewe ulijitolea, ukweli ukausema,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Amina bado kijana, umetuacha mapema,
Ndoto zako nyingi sana, ukaamua kusoma,
Kwa marefu na mapana, uiongeze hekima,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Amina muongeaji, waongea kwa hekima,
Wewe mshereheshaji, Amina ukawa mama,
Amina mpiganaji, vita sasa waitema,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Amina tulikupenda, ukawa rafiki mwema,
Ona sasa umekwenda, kwa heri hujaisema,
Mauti yamekutenda, basi uende salama,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Pole wanafamilia, pole Tanzania nzima,
Sote tunakulilia, utakumbukwa daima,
Wewe umetangulia, nasi twaja tuko nyuma,
Mola umlaze pema, rafiki yetu Amina.
Mola akupumzishe, peponi mahala pema,
Nasi tukajikumbushe, dunia siyo salama,
Mola wetu tuepushe, na hicho chako kiyama,
MOLA UMLAZE PEMA, RAFIKI YETU AMINA.
Fadhili Mtanga,
http://www.fadhilimshairi.blogspot.com/
Dar es Salaam.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Bongoland II

Mtengeneza sinema Josiah Kibira, anaanza kupata umaarufu katika dunia ya sinema. Hapa anahojiwa nyumbani kwake jana na Channel 12, huko Minnesota. Walitaka kujua habari zaidi ya sinema ya Bongoland II. Josiah ameondoka leo kuelekea Tanzania.
Hapo anaongea na mtangazaji, Lisa Furgison, wa Channel 12, Twin Cities, Minnesota. Mnaweza kuona mahojiano leo hapa: Channel 12 Live
Mazishi ya Marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa
Vibaka hawana dogo. Wanamwibia mfiwa simu kwenye mazishi! Simu ya Mpakanjia ya bei mbaya imeibiwa kwenye mazishi huko Njombe. Photo from Michuzi Blog.
Marehemu Mhsehimwa Amina Chifupa amezikwa kwao Njombe. Photo from Michuzi Jr. Jiachie Blog.

Thursday, June 28, 2007
Ibada ya Kumwombea Marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa
Mama Mzazi wa marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa, Bi Judy Mbanga, (mwenye kitambaa cheusi) akiwasili kwenye kilio Mikocheni. (photo from Michuzi Blog)
Sheikh Mkuu, Issa Shabaan bin Simba, aliongoza ibada ya kumwombea marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa.
Waombolezaji walijitokeza kwa wingi kwenye msiba wa marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa huko nyumbani kwa baba yake Mikocheni.
Baadhi ya waombolezaji yumbani kwa Mzee Chifupa. Kulia ni mtangazaji wa Clouds88.4 FM Sebastian Ndege (mzee wa njia panda) akitangaza moja kwa moja (live) kwenye msiba huo uliohudhuriwa na maelfu ya watu. Photo from Jiachie Blog.Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Mipango ya Mazishi ya Marehemu Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa

From ippmedia.com
Bunge laahirishwa...mwili kuagwa leo
2007-06-27
Na Usu-Emma Sindila, Dodoma
Kifo cha Mbunge wa Viti Maalum-CCM, Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa kimelifanya Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kuahirisha shughuli zake ili kujipa muda wa kumlilia mwenzao, Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa aliyefariki usiku wa kuamkia leo.
Spika wa Bunge, Mhe. Samweli Sitta amesema shughuli za Bunge zitaendelea tena kesho asubuhi saa tatu. Hata hivyo amesema wabunge kadhaa wameteuliwa kuja Jijini Dar es Salaam kuungana na ndugu wa marehemu kuomboleza na kushiriki shughuli nyingine za msiba huo mzito.
Awali ilikuwa imetangazwa kwamba mwili wa marehemu ungepelekwa Dodoma kuagwa na kisha kusafirishwa kwenda Njombe kwa maziko.
Spika amewataja watakaoongoza msafara huo wa wabunge kwa ajili ya kuuaga mwili na kisha kesho kushiriki maziko kule kijijini Lupembe wilayani Njombe kuwa ni pamoja na yeye mwenyewe, kiongozi wa upinzani bungeni, Mhe. Hamad Rashid Mohamed, wabunge wote wa Dar es Salaam, wabunge wote wa Iringa na Mbunge Anne Kilango aliyekuwa mlezi wa marehemu.
Amesema watakaowakilisha Serikali katika msiba huo ni Waziri wa Usalama wa Raia, Bw. Bakari Mwapachu. Amesema marehemu atazikwa kesho katika kijiji cha Lupembe wilayani Njombe kule Iringa, alasiri. Kwa mujibu wa Spika Sitta taarifa marehemu alifariki usiku wa kuamkia leo katika Hospitali Kuu ya Jeshi Lugalo Jijini Dar.
Mheshimwa Amina Chifupa atazikwa Njombe

Kama kuna siku ambayo Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania limegubikwa na simanzi, basi ni leo asubuhi wakati Spika, Samweli Sitta alipowatangazia wabunge kwamba mwenzao, mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa, amefariki dunia.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Mheshimiwa Amina Chifupa Amefariki Dunia!


Safari ya Boti


Nimeona hii picha ippmedia.com leo. Caption ilisema kuwa ni wakazi wa Dar es Salaam wakienda kustarehe Bongoyo Island, kwenye boti iiliyotoka pale Slipway Dar.
Sidhani kama kuna sheria inayolazimisha hao wenye boti wawe na lifejackets za kutosha kwa ajili ya abiria yao. Na huenda ingekuwa ghali sana kwa hao wenye boti. WaBongo tuna maarifa lakini na hata dumu tupu inaweza kusaidia kuokoa maisha maana inalea kwenye maji.l
Mjue Msanii Thecla Mjatta
Thecla Mjatta in Arusi ya Mariamu
Thecla Mjatta at a screening of the film, Tumaini
Thecla Mjatta (in baibui) with other cast of the film, Mlima Kolero(photo from Jiachie blog)
TV ilivyoanza alianza kuigiza kwenye michezo ya television. Mama Thecla pia ameigiza katika sinema kadhaa na kucheza kama watu ambao hamwezi kusahau.
Katika sinema ya Arusi ya Mariamu, anaigiza kama shangazi yake Mariamu, na hamtasahau anvyopagawa.
Katika sinema ya Maangamizi the Ancient One aliigiza kama mama wa mhusika mkuu, Samehe. Samehe, alishuhudia kifo cha cha kuunguzwa na moto na baba yake mzazi amabaye alikuwa ni mchungaji mwenye imani kali ya dini. Sinema ya Maangamizi iliteuliwa kama sinema ya kwanza kutoka Tanzania, katika mshindano ya Oscars mwaka 2001 (Foreign Language category).
Pia ameigiza katika sinema za Simu ya Kifo, Tumaini, Mzee Mkude, na mlima Kolero. Hivi karibuni ataigiza katika sinema ya Bongoland II, akicheza kama mama yake mhusika mkuu, Juma.
Kwa habari zaidi za sinema ya Bongoland II nenda : http://www.kibirafilms.com/bongoland/home.html
Monday, June 25, 2007
UGALI

The Plate of Ugali
It was one reason after another – as long as I was his punching bag – and almost always it was a plate of ugali that started it. Yep, his source of strength. Like the hair on Samson in the bible. Maybe ugali makes one mad. Maybe it had a drug.
My mama used to say a real African man doesn’t eat chips or pasta. That’s food for a mzungu man who gets his nails manicured, his face scrubbed and his lips conditioned with lip balm. A real African man eats ugali, my mama used to say. With their calloused fingers with rough nails he would mould the stiff porridge into little balls, dunk each ball into a stew then dunk the stew covered ball into mouth with chapped lips.
I would sit at the corner of the room watching his Adam’s apple bopping up and down as he swallowed a ball of ugali and meat stew. His jaw always moving in super-human speed as he chewed, making the vein on his forehead pop out angrily.
Ugali would make your man strong, my mama used to say. Strong enough to take care of you and our family, she would add. What she didn’t add was that ugali would make him strong enough to beat me black and blue. But maybe she was always right, because it was a plate of ugali that gave me strength today.
It had started with his plate of ugali not being warm enough. Then the following time he beat me black and blue it was because the bowl of stew did not have enough meat. The other times before that it was the disciplinary slap, as the elders called it. Married women needed the slap every now and then, they would say, to keep them in check.
Then he beat me again black and blue when I failed to pound his kisamvu the way he liked it. I had been vomiting the whole day; infact even getting up was a problem.
“My mother dug a whole farm the day she was giving birth and you say you can’t cook for your husband?” He had bellowed. “What kind of a woman are you?”
“But mume wangu, the doctor said …” lamenting, I had tried to explain before I was interrupted by a slap. The room started spinning around me.
“Has the doctor married you?” He gave me another slap which sent me reeling to the floor vomiting blood, “is the doctor your husband now? Or are you having an affair?”
My baby did not make it. I almost did not make it too. I broke a few bones and I almost became blinded on my left eye.
After that I became numb to the pain. It was one reason after another – as long as I was his punching bag – and almost always it was a plate of ugali that started it. Yep, his source of strength. Like the hair on Samson in the bible. Maybe ugali makes one mad. Maybe it has a drug.
Today he broke my two front teeth – after breaking four others last week. I laugh madly as I looked at four year old with his milk teeth missing. He grins at me nervously showing his gums.
Today he beat me because I refused to serve his mistress a plate of ugali. Like my body numbing to pain, my heart had numbed to reason. Maybe it was my fault when the plate of ugali wasn’t warm enough because I had run out of cool to warm the food; maybe it was my fault when I didn’t negotiate with the butcher to give me more meat than the money could buy; maybe it was my fault that I was too lazy too pound cassava when I was due; maybe it was my fault when I had used to the last of the flour to cook my baby porridge for lunch instead of cooking him his ugali; maybe it had all been my fault. But how could this be my fault? My mama told me my husband came first, then my children.
I had put some food aside for my husband, the fed the remaining to my children. How was that my fault? I never said anything when he brought her and moved me out of our marital bed. I said nothing.
He kicked his plate of ugali when there wasn’t enough for his mistress and made me eat from the floor after beating me black and blue - wounding the scars that had no even healed. On all fours I bent down and ate like a dog. As I lay clutching my stomach I see the mouse that I have been trying to catch for a while, rushing to the last crumbs of ugali on the floor. No amount of rat poison seemed to kill it. Rodent. Maybe I had been giving it the poison with the wrong food. Rodent. Rodent. I should have mixed the poison in ugali. Rodent. Or is it rodent and man. Rodent man. Kick. Rodent man. Kick. Rodent man, I think.
I feel humiliated when I hear her cheering him on. It was okay before, as I probably needed disciplining. But it’s not okay now. She is not supposed to be here, cheering on. But the ugali gave me strength.
“Stupid woman! Go make another plate,” he had kicked me on the shins as his mistress laughed again, louder this time. “And make it enough to give us strength for the work ahead of us tonight!”
Ugali has given me strength too. I look down as I limp to the back yard. I don’t want them to see my face. The smile on my face. Yes, ugali has given me strength.
Quickly I grab a khanga to hide my new scars, covering myself I dash to my neighbour to borrow me some money from her. Just as quickly I send my oldest to the market. Flour, kisamvu, coconut, curry powder, peanuts, nyanya chungu and some powder that will kill that rodent. Today I will make the best plate of ugali ever. The kisamvu will have peanut sauce and the dagaa will have coconut milk and nyanya chungu. Today I will catch that rodent with a plate of ugali for sure.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Jamani mbona mmetukana!
Nilisimuliwa visa hivi viwili:
- Mchungaji wa kutoka kanisa fulani Ulaya, alifika kwenye hoteli fulani Mwanza. Naye alikuwa amejifunza kiswahili kabla ya kutua Bongo. Alipofika Reception akawasalimia wahudumu pale vizuri halafu kasema:
Father Mzungu - Naomba Mchumba
Receptionist - (Kashutuka kweli) Heh! Unasema nini?
Father Mzungu - Nimesema nataka Mchumba
Receptionist - (wakati huo na wafanyakazi na wageni wengine wanamtazama kwa mshangao wakidhani anataka changudoa) Dada mwenyewe kashindwa aseme nini.
Father Mzungu - Ndiyo nina mchumba. Mchumba yupo leo?
Ndo hapo kaingilia mgeni na kumwuliza kwa lugha yake alitaka nini. Kumbe mzungu alitaka chumba cha wanaume.
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Wajapani wawili walifika pale Embassy Hoteli Dar na kujiandikisha Reception.
Wale wapokezi wakashindwa kutamka majina yao.
Yalikuwa - Mr. Kumamoto na Mr. Takeuchi!
Kumamoto pia ni mji huko Japani. Na wana majina yanayofanana ya Bongo, kama Maeda
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Na hii nilishuhudia mwenyewe nikiwa mwandhis wa habari Daily News.
WaJapani walitoa msaada sehemu fulani miaka ya tisini. Sasa siku ya kuzindua mradi akaja mtu mzito kutoka wizara iliyohusika na mradi. Alishindwa kutamka jina la mgeni kutoka Japani, naye alikuwa anaitwa Mr. Kumamoto. Yule mzito wa wizarani alimwintroduce kama 'Rafiki yetu kutoka Japani' .
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E-mail enyewe ndo hii:
Ifuatayo ni sehemu ya hotuba ya Mfadhili (Mzungu) wa mradi wa maji safi huko katika kijiji cha Mkomazi, Mkoani Tanga.
Mfadhili huyu kutoka ubalozi wa nchi moja - Majuu amewahi kujifunza kiswahili kwa muda wa miezi mitatu hivyo kutohitaji kufuatana na mkalimani wa ubalozi.
Alikuwa na hayamachache:
>Mzungu: Jambo wanakijiji wa Mkuma Wazi?
(akimaanisha Mkomazi)
> Watu walibaki kumtumbulia macho na kujikausha wengine
Wakicheka kichini chini. Mzungu akadhani amepatia sana lugha ya kiswahili, akazidi kujitutumua:
Leo mimi na uke yangu (mkewe!)tumekuja hapa Mkuma wazi kukagua
mitombo ya mboo zenu inayoendeshwa kwa nguvu ya pepo
( Mitambo ya mbao inayoendeshwa kwa nguvu ya upepo!)
na Visimi yenu inatoa maji(Visima jamani!).
Mitombo hii ni pesa kidogo na wake yenu haitakuwa na maumivu zaidi kubeba maji.
Watu wakaduwaa kabisa!
Mzungu akaropoka tena:
Mbona watu mko pumbu wazi? (Alikuwa ana maanisha bumbuwazi
lililowapata wanakijiji! Wanakiji wakaanza kuzoza chini chini
hatimaye sauti zikawa za juu wakimuuliza Mzungu kwa nini
amewatusi kiasi hicho.)Mzungu wa watu akazidi kubomoka kiswahili:
Mzungu:
Pepo kubwa inafanya mitombo kufanya kazi bila kulala na visimi yenu
kutoa maji salama na mama wamepata uja zito na watoto yenu wanakuwa salama!
Wanakijiji wazidi kuzoza.
Mzungu:Nasema sikiliza watu wote, Kima, Nyama zenu!!!
Hapa alikuwa akitaka kusema watu wote kaeni kimya, nyamazeni!
Mzungu wa watu baada ya kufanikiwa kuwanyamazisha wananchi
akaendelea kuwaambia kwamba ameridhishwa na hali ya usafi wa visima
ikilinganishwa na siku za nyuma.
Mzungu wetu akaendelea kusema:
Mzungu:
Mimi na uke yangu tumechota maji kutoka visimi yenu na kuyaweka kwenye chupi yetu!
Akimaanisha wamechota maji toka kwenye visima na kuyaweka kwenye chupa.
Akazidi kubonga:
>
Mzungu:
Sasa mimi na uke yangu tutatoa chupi yetu na tutakunya mbele yenu!
lahaula lakwata wanakijiji waanza kuondoka:
Alikuwa anamaanisha kwamba watayamimina maji na kuyanywa mbele yao
ili kuwathibitishia kwamba ni safi na Salama.
Lugha ya watu bwana...
Friday, June 22, 2007
Zanaki Girls Secondary School (ZASESCO)

Baada ya Disco 1979 shule ya wasichana ya sekondari Zanaki. Kati ni Mwalimu wetu wa Physics Mr. Tamba, wakati huo alikuwa anasoma Education University of Dar es Salaam ,Fourth year, na kaja kufanya Practicals.
Tuliomzunguka, mbele kabisa mimi, kulia kwangu ni Natujwa Mbagga ambaye siku hizi ni Mama Shilla. Patricia Kassamia, mwenye bun (nimesahau jina), Kulthum, na huyo dada mwingine alikuwa anasoma darasa la Commerce.
Hapa ni baada ya Study Group tukiwa Form Four 1980. Watoto wa Aga Khan nursery walikuwa wamekwenda nyumbani ndo tukavamia playground yao kwa ajili ya kupiga picha.Mbele kuanzia kushoto - Mimi, Lilian Maganga, Emily Mbagule, Theresia
Nyuma kuanzia kushoto - Dorothy Kihampa, Neema Kingswaga, na (Jina nimesahau)

Hapa ni Darasa la Form Four Science One! Sayansi Wani! (Enzi hiyo top floor kwenye corner) na tulikuwa wanafunzi 25 tu kwenye hiyo darasa. Tulikuwa wasomi kweli, maana mwalimu alikuwa antoa tuition bure, lakini wachache walibakia kuifaidi. Karibu wote walioenda Form Five kutoka Zanaki mwaka huo walitoka darasa letu la Science One.
Mbele, kuanzia kushoto -Demetria Joseph, Lucy Masamba, Rosemary
Nyuma, kuanzia kushoto -Dorothy Kihampa, Batuli, na mimi
Historia fupi - Kabla ya kuwa Zanaki Girls, ilikuwa Aga Khan Girls School. Shule ilitaifishwa baada ya Azimio ya Arusha. Katika hiyo compound kulikuwa na shule ya vidudu (private) na shule ya msingi na Hostel. Nasikia Hostel imerudishwa kwa Aga Khan.
Sketi za bluu. Tulianza kuvaa sketi za bluu nikiwa Form Two. Kabla ya hapo walikuwa wanavaa sketi za kijani. Nakumbuka walifanya kama fashion show asubuhi wakati wa mazoezi na gwaride na hiyo design ya bluu ilichaguliwa.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Mimi na Marehemu Ernest Millinga (1993)

Hapa niko na Mzee Ernest Millinga ambaye alikuwa mpiga picha mkuu wa gazeti ya serikali ya Kiingereza, Daily News.
Hapa tulikuwa kwenye 'assignment'. Tulikuwa kwenye meli fulani pale Ferry Dar. Nadhani ilikuwa kuhusu mambo ya kujenga daraja pale Ferry.
Picha ilipigwa 1993 na mpiga picha maarufu, Muhidini Issa Michuzi.
Article kuhusu Bongoland II
Monday, June 18, 2007
Waandishi wa Habari wa Daily News

(Kushoto, Dr. Mwamoyo Hamza, Kati, Lady Diana Kibodya, kulia, Chemi Che-Mponda)
Wikiendi hii tulisherekea 50th Birthday, ya Mama Diane Kibodya (Lady Diana), huko Springfield, Massachusetts. Ndugu na marafiki walitoka sehemu mbalimbali kusherekea.
Kwa bahati sisi watatu tuliowahi fanya kazi Daily News (TSN) na kusoma Tanzania School of Journalism (TSJ) (miaka mbalimbali) tulikutana na kupiga picha ya kumbukumbu. Mimi nilikuwa chipukizi kwa Dr. Mwamoyo na Lady Diana lakini walinifundisha mengi. Nawashukuru.
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Kibodya Family watoa Shukurani
From an e-mail message 6/18/07
Dear Friends:
On behalf of Lady D, we the Kibodyas give many thanks to you and your family for coming to join us in Lady D 50Th Birthday Party. We could not do it alone, definitely your help has made this event "unique" in many ways. Thank you for your help, thanks for your time and resources. May The Almighty God reward you well.. Amen!
For some of you who could not attend because of other obligations, we know deeply in our hearts that you had good intentions and may The Almighty Lord reward you well.
All of you have a permanent place in our hearts for your kindly words, gifts, helping in cooking, taking pictures and video camera as well as for those tireless, the most talented DJ's who came all out to showcase their skills! (Paul Massudi, Samora and Rich Maka) Without forgetting our flamboyant outstanding MC "Mzee wa Ngwasuma!" Emmanuel Bandawe! What a talent!
I am sure you saw the dance! If you missed asked somebody! Our daughter Hawa and her 3 friends gave us an African "high energy" dance and we give special thanks our sisters and brothers from South Africa who did acapella songs and showed us how the banqanga dance is performed.
Thanks to all of you who travel from far and for those who live near and special thanks to "Father Chui" for your hospitality my family and I know we can count on you! This Email cannot be enough to thanks each and every individual but we chose to use as a mean of quicker communication and I have started to call each one of you to thank you personally!
Shukran!
Isaac A. Kibodya, Esq.,
Lady Diana Kibodya Asherekea 50th Birthday!
Lady Diana Kibodya receives well wishes from a guest.
A South African Guest leads a South African Dance
Lady Diana joins in a South African Song
Springfield Tanzanian Dance GroupLady Diana Kibodya, alisherekea miaka 50 toka azaliwe katika Party kabambe iliyofanyika Springfield, Massachusetts siku ya jumamosi, juni 16. Ndugu na marafiki walitoka sehemu mbalimbali kusherekea naye.
Lakini watu wengi hasa vijana waliohudhuria sherehe hiyo walipatwa na butwa kusikia habari zake. Karibu kila mtu alijua kuwa asili yake ni Afrika Kusini. Lakini hawakujua kuwa alishuhudia kijana, Hector Pieterson mwenye miaka 12, alivyopigwa risasi na askari wa kibaguzi wa Afrika Kusini. Picha ya tukio hiyo ilisambazwa kwa wageni (picha ya kwanza kabisa).






