Dar-es-Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, is one of the most informal and relaxed capital cities of the world, essentially African in character, and an ideal centre for holidaying in Tanzania.
The word Dar-es-Salaam means ’Haven of Peace’. For me, it is a city of the Mwalimu, my other friends, and the famous University of Dar-es-Salaam.
The International Airport , into which the world’s airlines bring passengers from all corners of the earth, is the stepping-off point for vacations embracing wildlife viewing, Mount Kilimanjaro, the capital city itself and the nearby island of Zanzibar, big game fishing, restful days on silver sands and a variety of marine sports.
Dar-es-Salaam, also the country’s principal port, has a population of a quarter of a million souls. It is a place of infinite charm, with a restful air that belies the industrial and commercial activity which is visibly expanding the city in size and influence. The palm-fringed harbour is busy with shipping from all parts of the world. A stroll along the seafront in the cool of evening makes a fitting conclusion to an interesting day touring the city and environs, and few visitors can resist the challenge of taking a colour photograph at sunset.
Overlooking the harbour entrance is The State House, a fine-looking structure blending African and Arabic architecture. This is the official residence of the President of Tanzania, whose personal standard was first raised on the battlemented tower on 9 December 1962.
The bustling city is full of interest and colour, with its mosques, churches and temples, markets, bazaar, shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and gardens.
No tour of Dar-es-Salaam is complete without a visit to the National Museum, which houses the skull of Nutcracker Man, an estimated 1, 75, 000 years old. The skull was discovered at Oldupai Gorge in Northern Tanzania by Dr. L. S. B. Leakey.
On the city outskirts, at Observation Hill, are the campus and facilities of the University College, one of the newest in the world, and an impressive sight by any standards. Nearby is the Village Museum, which contains examples of different styles of traditional housing. Craftsmen can usually be seen here practising their skills, including wood carving.
Many beautiful beaches are within easy reach of Dar-es-Salaam - silver sands, palm-girdled and washed by the clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Bathing is safe and the beaches are uncrowded. Sinda Island, some nine miles off the city, offers facilities for swimming, goggling and shelling. Honeymoon Island, lying much closer to the harbour entrance, is another picnic rendezvous for those who enjoy a launch trip.
I had known quite a bit about Tanzania and Dar-es-Salaam from Sunila Pandya, my hostel-mate in London in 1963-64, and was anxious to visit the beautiful country. My dream came true, when in 1976, I received an invitation from the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE), Toronto, Canada, to participate in an International Conference at Dar-es-Salaam. The theme of the Conference was ’Adult Education for Development’. Another attraction was that President Nyrere was to give the key-note address. Although the ICAE was not taking care of my travel expenses, I decided to go, borrowed the money from my LIC Policy and bought the tickets. This was my first trip to Africa.
At the inaugural function, held at the University College Hall, I heard with rapt attention the speeches of President Nyrere, Malcolm Adiseshayya and Paul Mahaiki. Nyeree spoke on ’Adult Education leading to Freedom and Development’.On return, I translated the piece into Oriya, and it was published under the title ’Mukti O Pragati Paieen Proudha Siksha’ by the State Resource Centre for Adult Education, Orissa, Angul.
Paul Mhaiki, who was the Principal of the Kuvokuni College, became a very good friend when he joined UNESCO Headquarters at Paris.
President J. K. Nyrere, called affectionately ’Mwalimu’, meaning ’The Teacher’ in Swahili, the national language, lives in his small family house he had built on the beach at Msasani, on the city outskirts; but goes to the State House, his official residence, for work.
Nyerere’s thinking on Education are very similar to those of Mahatma Gandhi. His ’Education for Self-reliance’ is an excellent treatise on Education and is meant for the entire Third World. No wonder, he is called the Gandhi of Africa !