Tourism can be simply be referred as travelling from one place to another for study or leisure. In asking yourself concerning the best place to visit among the adorable places to take a tour would be Songea. It is the provisional administration office of the Ruvuma being about 976 km south of Dar- es-salaam(Tanzania's commercial city).
Songea would be a treat for both natural and cultural service. The former includes forests, game reserves, rivers and beaches while the latter includes historical sites and museums. The following are the features and historical background about this place;
MAJI MAJI WAR:
Songea own in particular, and Ruvuma region in general is unique placed and its historical perspective centered on the 1905-07 bloody resistance war against Germans occupation better known as Maji maji war. The name came by from a local healer's magic charms. The healer, Kinjekitile Ngwale,had promised the fighters that his portion of magic could turn Germans firearms(bullets) into mere water!! and the societies involved were Ngoni,Pogoro,Sagara etc.The reasons for the war included the following:
1.Land alienation i.e. confiscated the natives' land for production of cash crops.
2.Forced labour mostly in the plantations.
3.Low wages in terms of payment from German employers in plantations.
4.Harshness and brutality of the German appointees i.e. Akidas and Jumbes.
5.Monopolization of trade.
Due to the causes above, Africans had to resist against the Germans but unfortunately Africans failed due to lack of military techniques, advanced technology and lack of cooperation like how shown by some Hehes allying with Germans due to the enemity with the Pogoro and Ngoni.
The war also caused death of many people both fighters, innocent women and children from East and Southern regions of Tanzania. Captured fighters including sub chief Songea, were convicted by the enemy's court and executed in public as strategy to dampen/weaken their fighting spirit against colonization by Germans. The chief was executed on 30th Feb 1906,three days after a contingent of nearly one hundred troops, were executed and buried in a mass grave at a site that has been declared preserved location within township.Despite the public executions ,Maji maji fighters stepped up ferocious attacks against the aggressors until 1907.February 27,has been set up special for the commemoration day of the gallant sons and daughters of the land who fell during the colonization resistance.
The grave where Songea mbano was buried alone.
Preserved historical sites:
The war , however , left behind some historical monuments , features , sites and structures as testimony to Germans' brutality against innocent "Waafrika" who resisted foreign occupation. They include a mass grave, an execution site Boma(an administrative office) and prison and court house, as instruments of German power and oppression. The grave contains the remains of over sixty slain people. Adjacent to it is the resting place of Sub chief Songea Mbano who was buried in a separate grave.
The court house and German Boma ,the citadel of the Dutch Ostafrika rule that incorporated Rwanda and Burundi on the west, was built in the early 1900s.sometime later ,the Boma was converted into a post office. When the British defeated the Germans during the 1st World war(WW1)they inherited the edifice and its postal services. However ,authorities in the region re-changed it into a public service use. These sites , including the common wealth war memorial cemetery, provide fascinating history and attractions to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Maji maji memorial museum
It is located about 500m northeast of the town and it is the only museum house in Ruvuma in which some of the traditional tools and weapons used by the Wa-Ngoni and Wa-Matengo warriors during the war are kept. Shields,clubs and photographs of the troops.
In 1980 an Askari monument was built in front of the museum building as tribute to the Ruvuma born soldiers who died during the 1978-79 Kagera punitive war against Idi Amin of Uganda. Similar monuments were built almost country wide in Tanzania. The site is currently known as Heroes' Square.
The German soldiers during Maji maji war(Resistance)
The Great cave
This was used as a hide-out from which Chief Songea and his fighters sprung fatal attacks against the Germans. Chief Songea also used the "Spandau" as an arsenal and warehouse for the fighters' clothing and rations and a range of 'gifts' he could receive from the Germans, before their 'honey moon' was over.The cave is located deep in Msamala forest,at a distance about 4.5kmfrom the Songea municipal hall.
Warm and amiable to interact:
Songea,like any other towns and cities in Tanzania and Africa largely is a multi-ethnic community whose members lead different lifestyles and perform unique traditional dances to entertain themselves, especially during bumper harvest, marriage and even burial ceremonies. However the most dominant groups in Songea town in particular and Ruvuma region/province in general include the Ngoni , Matengo , Yao, Ndendeuli , Manda and Ndonde.What could be most impressive and attractive for the first time visitor in Ruvuma or Songea town, is the hospitality and warmth of the host people. Naturally social and ready to interact, they would make any visitor far away from home,..Feel at home.
DID U KNOW!?
The name Songea came as a result of honour for Songea Mbano who was a leader in the Maji maji"Magic water" war.
Prepared by:Fabian Cornelius
Songea would be a treat for both natural and cultural service. The former includes forests, game reserves, rivers and beaches while the latter includes historical sites and museums. The following are the features and historical background about this place;
MAJI MAJI WAR:
Songea own in particular, and Ruvuma region in general is unique placed and its historical perspective centered on the 1905-07 bloody resistance war against Germans occupation better known as Maji maji war. The name came by from a local healer's magic charms. The healer, Kinjekitile Ngwale,had promised the fighters that his portion of magic could turn Germans firearms(bullets) into mere water!! and the societies involved were Ngoni,Pogoro,Sagara etc.The reasons for the war included the following:
1.Land alienation i.e. confiscated the natives' land for production of cash crops.
2.Forced labour mostly in the plantations.
3.Low wages in terms of payment from German employers in plantations.
4.Harshness and brutality of the German appointees i.e. Akidas and Jumbes.
5.Monopolization of trade.
Due to the causes above, Africans had to resist against the Germans but unfortunately Africans failed due to lack of military techniques, advanced technology and lack of cooperation like how shown by some Hehes allying with Germans due to the enemity with the Pogoro and Ngoni.
The war also caused death of many people both fighters, innocent women and children from East and Southern regions of Tanzania. Captured fighters including sub chief Songea, were convicted by the enemy's court and executed in public as strategy to dampen/weaken their fighting spirit against colonization by Germans. The chief was executed on 30th Feb 1906,three days after a contingent of nearly one hundred troops, were executed and buried in a mass grave at a site that has been declared preserved location within township.Despite the public executions ,Maji maji fighters stepped up ferocious attacks against the aggressors until 1907.February 27,has been set up special for the commemoration day of the gallant sons and daughters of the land who fell during the colonization resistance.
Preserved historical sites:
The war , however , left behind some historical monuments , features , sites and structures as testimony to Germans' brutality against innocent "Waafrika" who resisted foreign occupation. They include a mass grave, an execution site Boma(an administrative office) and prison and court house, as instruments of German power and oppression. The grave contains the remains of over sixty slain people. Adjacent to it is the resting place of Sub chief Songea Mbano who was buried in a separate grave.
The court house and German Boma ,the citadel of the Dutch Ostafrika rule that incorporated Rwanda and Burundi on the west, was built in the early 1900s.sometime later ,the Boma was converted into a post office. When the British defeated the Germans during the 1st World war(WW1)they inherited the edifice and its postal services. However ,authorities in the region re-changed it into a public service use. These sites , including the common wealth war memorial cemetery, provide fascinating history and attractions to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Maji maji memorial museum
It is located about 500m northeast of the town and it is the only museum house in Ruvuma in which some of the traditional tools and weapons used by the Wa-Ngoni and Wa-Matengo warriors during the war are kept. Shields,clubs and photographs of the troops.
In 1980 an Askari monument was built in front of the museum building as tribute to the Ruvuma born soldiers who died during the 1978-79 Kagera punitive war against Idi Amin of Uganda. Similar monuments were built almost country wide in Tanzania. The site is currently known as Heroes' Square.
The Great cave
This was used as a hide-out from which Chief Songea and his fighters sprung fatal attacks against the Germans. Chief Songea also used the "Spandau" as an arsenal and warehouse for the fighters' clothing and rations and a range of 'gifts' he could receive from the Germans, before their 'honey moon' was over.The cave is located deep in Msamala forest,at a distance about 4.5kmfrom the Songea municipal hall.
Warm and amiable to interact:
Songea,like any other towns and cities in Tanzania and Africa largely is a multi-ethnic community whose members lead different lifestyles and perform unique traditional dances to entertain themselves, especially during bumper harvest, marriage and even burial ceremonies. However the most dominant groups in Songea town in particular and Ruvuma region/province in general include the Ngoni , Matengo , Yao, Ndendeuli , Manda and Ndonde.What could be most impressive and attractive for the first time visitor in Ruvuma or Songea town, is the hospitality and warmth of the host people. Naturally social and ready to interact, they would make any visitor far away from home,..Feel at home.
DID U KNOW!?
The name Songea came as a result of honour for Songea Mbano who was a leader in the Maji maji"Magic water" war.
Prepared by:Fabian Cornelius
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni