Ndugu Habari Zenu

Photographs reveal "disparate" life of urban Africa

2010-06-10T13:57:00.001-04:00

I was glad to see that the 14-picture album did not restrict itself to walled-in residential areas. It's important to show the disparities. Thanks for being fair.

Photographs reveal secret life of urban Africa - CNN.com

Flashblood: blood sharing among female injecting drug users in Tanzania. Sheryl A. McCurdy. 2010; Addiction - Wiley InterScience

2010-03-22T10:59:00.001-04:00

Flashblood: blood sharing among female injecting drug users in Tanzania. Sheryl A. McCurdy. 2010; Addiction - Wiley InterScience

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Pedal powered innovation helps Tanzanian farmers | Blog | Ode Magazine

2010-03-11T15:58:00.001-05:00

MIT graduate, Jodie Wu, has a passion for creating accessible technology to change peoples lives. She has a vision that a bicycle could be more than just a machine for transportation, but a way to bring technology to the people who need it most. ... Read more

Population Council Project -Reducing HIV Risk Through Violence Prevention with Young Men in Tanzania

2010-02-16T14:14:00.001-05:00

Population Council Project -Reducing HIV Risk Through Violence Prevention with Young Men in Tanzania

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Cholera Outbreak in North-eastern Region of Tanga

2009-10-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

News24 reports that at least 59 people have died of cholera in the past two months in Tanzania, mostly in the north-eastern coastal region of Tanga ...

UCSF and Muhimbili University Launch Initiative to Strengthen Tanzanian Health Workforce

2009-09-03T14:27:00.002-04:00

The University of California, San Francisco has received a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Tanzania. The two-year grant will ... http://fun.cgsindustry.cn/hope/446389

Selected News From Tanzania and East Africa for the Week August 10, 2009

2009-08-11T17:06:00.005-04:00

Police Pessimistic about War on Drugs

Tanzania needs $8b to increase power

Tanzanian traders seek opportunities in the Comoros

Selected News From Tanzania and East Africa for the Week August 3, 2009

2009-08-03T11:14:00.005-04:00

Africans in Diaspora trace their roots in Tanzania

Danish-East African research project: PhD Project Tanzania and ...

Historic Forodhani Park Shines Again, After U.S.$2 Million Facelift

Human Rights Committee Adopts Recommendations on the Report of Tanzania

Selected News From Tanzania and East Africa for the Week July 27, 2009

2009-07-27T10:01:00.009-04:00

Atomic Resources adds additional thermal coal resources in Tanzania

Bumper Harvest Expected in Tanzania

Chimps and HIV: The story behind the study

Furadan: A Chemical Threat to the Lions of Kenya

Tanzania enter a new communication era

Tanzania: Fungal Pesticide Saves Crops From Locusts

Tanzania launches bank for women

Tanzania to mark 50 years of milestone discovery of origin of man

Tourism in Kenya and Tanzania at risk

Vital Voices Blog » Women's Bank Opens in Tanzania

News of Interest

2009-07-24T09:36:00.006-04:00

AIDS-like disease in chimps may be a 'missing link'

New undersea cable to South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique brings high-speed internet to Eastern Africa

Tanzania Expecting a Boost in Black Rhino Population

Green Mountain Coffee Funds Darmouth Global Health Project

2009-07-23T13:52:00.002-04:00

Dartmouth's Dickey Center for International Understanding has received an award from Green Mountain Coffee of Waterbury, Vt., to support a project aimed at improving health, sanitation, and energy supply in villages of the Kigoma region of Tanzania. ... Source: Dartmouth News.

First A/H1N1 flu case confirmed in Tanzania

2009-07-09T12:58:00.002-04:00

DAR ES SALAAM, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The first A/H1N1 flu case confirmed in Tanzania was a British student who was hospitalized earlier this month, Tanzanian medical official told Xinhua on Thursday. Read on ... http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2...

Tsetse, the Poverty Fly

2009-05-14T14:11:00.003-04:00

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), a news organization dedicated to reporting humanitarian issues, reports that the Tsetse fly is responsible yearly for $4B in agricultural losses in Africa. Sterilization of male flies has worked, most notably on the Island of Zanzibar, which is now a Tsetse fly free zone. Regardless of this success, money for Tsetse fly control is drying up or being diverted to combat other diseases. Read on ... AFRICA: Tsetse fly costs agriculture billions every year

Oldoinyo Lengai is Unique

2009-05-13T14:33:00.004-04:00

The Maasai have known since their beginnings that the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai was special. A team of scientists from the University of New Mexico, University of California at San Diego and Centre de Recherches Petrographiques et Geochimiques from France have confirmed that the motor oil-like lava flowing from this active Tanzanian volcano is very unique. The lava contains no silica and higher levels of carbonate minerals, which is unlike typical lava. Read on ... "New Research Study Reveals Origin of Volcano's Carbon-base Lavas".

Tobacco Makes Shift to Poor Countries

2009-05-06T14:50:00.002-04:00

BMJ reports that by 2010, six million people worldwide will die of tobacco-related illness. Almost three quarters of those deaths will occur in poor countries. The Tobacco Atlas also shows that tobacco production has doubled since 1960 and that production has increased 300% in lower-income countries. The Tobacco Atlas is produced by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation.

Lastest African Genetic Study Reveals Origins & Migration

2009-04-30T16:17:00.002-04:00

Researchers working in a 10-year collaboration have released the largest-ever study of African genetic data -- more than four million genotypes -- providing a library of new information on the continent which is thought to be the source of the oldest settlements of modern humans. ... University of Pennsylvania News Release

Tanzania Celebrates Union Day on April 26

2009-04-24T14:05:00.002-04:00

Tanzania celebrates Union Day on April 26. This year it falls on a Sunday. The holiday commemorates the unification of Zanzibar and Tanganyika in 1964. Other Tanzania holidays include:

Saba Saba Day, July 7. A festival celebrating the founding of the Tanganyika African National Union in 1954. Also called Peasants' Day.

Naming Day, October 29. The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar officially changed its name to the United Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964.

Independence Day, December 9.

Heroes' Day, September 1. Dedicated to the heroes who defended the nation against colonization, and the Tanzania Defense Force.

Sultan's Birthday, August 26. Observed in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar Revolution Day, January 12.

Chama Cha Mapinduzi Day, February 5. Birthday of Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

Public holidays Zanzibar Revolution Day, Chama Cha Mapinduzi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Union Day, Labor Day (May 1), Saba Saba Day, Independence Day, Christmas, Mouloud, Id al-Fitr, Id al-Hajj (Id al-Adha).

Tasty Moresels Maasai Style

2009-04-17T09:56:00.004-04:00

I tried bbq goat meat at a Maasai market; however, I did not go as far as this guy and try some of these Maasai delicacies. Enjoy!

Tasty Morsels

To read more about Maasai culture and diet, check out this Maasai entry from Wikipedia.

Hunting Quotas Exceeded

2009-04-14T13:38:00.002-04:00

"Africa Science News Service | Reporting about African science with an African eye" is reporting that tour operator doing business from Arusha is exceeding its hunting quotas.

Hunting firm decimating Tanzania's wildlife heritage

National Geographic Adventure Blog

2009-02-17T15:21:00.002-05:00

The National Geographic ADVENTURE blog features: The Adventure Life With Steve Casimiro - Gear, Photography, Travel Trends, Outdoor News Deep Survival By Laurence Gonzales - Survival Stories, Tips, Advice ... http://ngadventure.typepad.com/blog ...

Ebola Outbreak Suspected in Tanzania

2009-01-11T18:13:00.003-05:00

Medindia.com Networking for Health reports that Tanzania health officials have been dispatched in West/Northwest region of the country bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help contain a possible Ebola outbreak.

Mis-handling of Lab Tests and Documents Discovered at Muhimbili

2008-10-24T16:29:00.004-04:00

Investigations by The Guardian at the Dar es Salaam-based facility last week discovered that the 'touch-and-go' attitude of the laboratory and the indolence of auxiliary staff ... http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2005/05/20/39949.html

Virus Hunters

2008-10-23T14:42:00.002-04:00

Scientist Nathan Wolfe is studying the blood of hunters and prey in places like rural Cameroon in order to identify emerging viruses and stave off pandemics. NY Times Scientist at Work

DARDAR Health Study Results Released

2008-10-21T11:37:00.004-04:00

It is so sweet today to report something so close to home. When Fred Pond and I were in Tanzania earlier this year to provide library support to librarians at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, scientists from the DARDAR Health Study were wrapping up their TB study. Yesterday in Paris at the World Lung Health conference, the lead in the study, Dr. Fordham von Reyn reported that a TB vaccine reduced the incidence of laboratory-confirmed TB in HIV-positive people by 37%. Source: Aidsmap | Information on HIV and AIDS

Government Issues Rift Valley Fever Alert

2008-10-20T15:41:00.003-04:00

Health authorities in Tanzania have urged people to take precautionary measures against Rift Valley Fever (RVF), an acute viral infectious disease that affects cattle, sheep and even humans ... Source: IRIN: Humanitarian news and analysis. Here is the World Health Organization overview of RVF.

Scientific Commons | A Community for Scientific Information

2008-10-17T11:38:00.003-04:00

Scientific Commons is an excellent tool to help keep track of scientific articles published from Tanzania. Why stop at the country level? You can drill down to an institution. For instance, you can determine what publications are published from or about Muhimbili National Hospital. You can be even more specific and search by topic or author and have the results delivered to you by RSS feed. Since January 2007 ScientificCommons.org has indexed about 13 million scientific publications and successfully extracted 6 million authors' names. Bahati njema!

Muhimbili Study Shows Improvements in Treating Thrush

2008-10-16T10:55:00.003-04:00

A single 750mg dose of fluconazole is just as effective at curing thrush in the mouth and upper throat as a 14-day course of the drug at a lower dose of 150mg, a randomized study conducted in Tanzania at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Aidsmap News

Tanzania Among 33 Countries with Alarming Level of Hunger

2008-10-16T10:15:00.004-04:00

The latest Global Hunger Index released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) shows Tanzania among a group of countries with "alarming" or "extremely alarming" levels of hunger. The Index ranks countries according to the prevalence of child malnutrition, rates of child mortality, and the proportion of people who are calorie deficient. IFPRI issued the index in conjunction with Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide.

CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index)

2008-10-15T14:55:00.004-04:00

In the US the CPI stands for consumer price index. On the international stage, it stands for Corruption Perceptions Index. That index, first published in 1995 by Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption, recently issued its 2008 CPI index. Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden are perceived as the least corrupt. Somalia is perceived as the most corrupt. Of the 180 countries surveyed, Tanzania is ranked 102 along with Bolivia, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Mongolia and Rwanda. The NigeriaDailyNews.com reports that Rwanda and Tanzania are perceived as least corrupt among East African Community countries. TI also issues an annual corruption report. This year's report looks at corruption in the water sector. Individual country reports are also included.

U of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Gets News ICT Centre

2008-10-14T15:59:00.005-04:00

The Republic of Korea provides funds to UDSM’s College of Engineering and Technology (CoET) in order to acquire one of the most sophisticated Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in the country. Read on ...

Muhimbili encourages local Tanzanian authorities to develop disaster management plans

2008-10-13T09:24:00.005-04:00

Muhimbili University don has challenged local authorities to put in place disaster management plans to mitigate the impact of natural and man made catastrophes in their respective areas. “Lack of disaster ... Tanzania Standard Newspapers

From Vermont to Tanzania, help with suffering at life's end

2008-10-10T11:26:00.001-04:00

BARRE, VT – Because of the efforts of Vermonters, terminally ill patients in rural Tanzania – many of them young parents with HIV/AIDS – are now receiving end-of-life care. A slide show and news about Vermont's ... Source: Times Argus Online

Cholera Outbreak Reported by RSOE EDIS

2008-10-08T14:05:00.002-04:00

The Emergency and Disaster Information Service is hosted by National Association of Radio Distress-Signalling and Infocommunications. When the alert map displays, click on a trouble spot. Currently in Tanzania two issues are identified; active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and cholera outbreak in southern Tanzania. Havaria Information Service - AlertMap , monitors and documents events on earth that may cause emergency or disaster.

Harvard School of Public Health Expands HIV Work in Tanzania

2008-10-03T15:57:00.003-04:00

Nearly 150 years ago, the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam was known by another name - Mzizima, meaning "healthy town" in the local language. But over the decades, the city and the country of Tanzania have experienced mounting challenges to that health.

Source: Harvard University Gazette Online

Selected News From Tanzania Today

2008-10-01T09:53:00.003-04:00

>China to build heart institute in Tanzania
Source: ippmedia.com
China will build a training and surgical heart institute with the capacity of accommodating 100 patients at a go.The centre will be built at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

>Tanzania coffee prices firm, quantity offered up
Source: africa.reuters.com
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Tanzanian coffee prices firmed slightly at last week's auction as buyers sought to cover their positions ahead of a Muslim holiday, traders said on Wednesday.

>The Albinism Murders in Tanzania At Least 28 Slain; Body Parts Used in Witchdoctors’ Get-Rich Potion, by © Andrew Leibs, Sept. 30, 2008
Source: http://tanzania.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_albinism_murders_in_tanzania
Advocacy groups are heading to Africa to offer education and to aid government intervention on a recent series of brutal murders of persons with albinism in Tanzania.

Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

2008-04-08T16:01:00.004-04:00

Two separate reports from Africa show the wide gulf that exists in HIV/AIDS prevention. On the one hand, Sarah McGregor reports the progress, however slow, that Tanzania is making with its growing drug addiction problem and the spread of HIV/AIDS. In Nigeria on the other hand, IRIN reports that the government for Anambra State has outlawed advocating the use of condoms as well as contraceptive devices such as IUD's (intrauterine devices) for birth control.

White Ribbon Alliance

2008-03-30T05:02:00.004-04:00

On Thursday, March 27, The White Ribbon Alliance For Safe Motherhood of Tanzania celebrated its annual event in Dar es Salaam. Unfortunately, there was very little press coverage. I was able to locate Jiang Alipo's report titled "Maternal mortality rates remain high" in the Daily News.

I soldiered on however because I wanted to know more about a family traveling from the UK staying at the same lodging facility, Swiss Garden Hotel. Julia (grand mother), Alison (daughter) and Harriet (grand daughter) were coming back to their roots. Their story can be found in the BBC story, Celebrating 50 by raising awareness of Africa's highest killer. It turns out that the younger Harriet is "part of a project to teach Tanzanian midwives how to film and edit their own stories in the hope of raising awareness of the biggest killer in Africa" (six million babies a year are stillborn or die in the first week of life).

The project, Birth Aid is supported by Engine Room, a community-based media center in Somerset, England. The outcome is a participatory video titled "Play Your Part", which earned a Commendation from One World Media Awards 2007 "for an outstanding and unique contribution to the communication of sustainable development and human rights".

Other sources: TANZANIA: Maternal deaths on the rise

Zimbabweans queue up to vote

2008-03-29T03:31:00.004-04:00

Let's put aside the US presidential election and shift our attention to the present elections in Zimbabwe.

"People in Zimbabwe are voting in an election that will decide whether President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, wins a sixth term in office." Read more ...

Long Day

2008-03-27T15:07:00.003-04:00

Sandwiching the visit to TLSB mid-afternoon, Fred and I spent the morning and later afternoon tabulating workshop evaluations, preparing workshop participation certificates and meeting with Sydney Msonde to discuss re-design of the library web presence. Sydney is assistant librarian for Information & Communications Technology (ICT). In addition, Mboni Ruzegea, Head of Reader Services reminded me that I "owed" her some time to discuss the development of a blog. It's a done deal! I meet with her first thing Friday morning at 8am. Siku njema!

Visiting Tanzania Library Service Board

2008-03-27T14:30:00.008-04:00

Today, Fred and I were warmly received by Dr. Alli Mcharazo, Director General of the Tanzania Library Service Board (TLSB) in downtown Dar es Salaam. TLSB is an amalgam of seventeen regional, eleven district and two divisional libraries spread throughout the country.

The central headquarters in Dar is also home of the National Central Library. The library was a beehive of activity today, with few seats available for readers to kick back and read. Students from nearby primary and secondary schools are daily patrons. Dr. Mcharazo documented our visit with a news story and pictures. TLSB is in the process of implementing Libero Library Management System. Alli is a man on the go! What is the next project? You guessed it, an internet café. Alli is past director of the Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences Medical Library.

Violent storm slams Dar es Salaam

2008-03-27T01:46:00.004-04:00

I was not kidding about the storm yesterday. Here is the opening paragraph of a story on the front page of a local newspaper ... "HEAVY rains accompanied by strong winds pounded Dar es Salaam's Mbagala area on Wednesday afternoon, ripping roofs from at least 115 houses, including four classrooms at Nzasa ..." read more

Customer Service Workshop

2008-03-26T15:38:00.011-04:00

The big push since Easter was to finish the preparation work for the customer service workshop, which was presented today using Microsoft Office PowerPoint. The workshop was presented in two separate sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Each presentation lasted two hours. Fred and I also designed workshop evaluation forms for both biomedical literature searching and customer service workshops.

The early oral feedback was positive. Nevertheless, we won't know for certain until we compile the results. Fred and I are also taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss the design of anonymous assessment instruments as well as the importance of feedback. The surprise here is that the staff wants us to share the results of evaluations. They want to know how we did and we are obliging them as they want to see the entire process unfold. In addition, the comments from the evaluation forms are helping us formulate recommendations on various issues, including an on-going training program for new and existing staff.

One concern today was the potential loss of power because of strong rains accompanied by thunder and lightning. The rainy season is in full swing in Dar es Salaam.

Extended Long Weekend

2008-03-23T08:53:00.004-04:00

Thursday, March 20, marks the beginning of an extended long weekend in Tanzania. March 20 is set aside for the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The term for the holiday is Mawlid. The day is a public holiday in Tanzania and most institutions are closed for business including Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

Fred and I spent most of the day with the past director of the MUHAS Library, Dr. Alli Mcharazo. Alli took us on a vehicular tour of the city as well as the University of Dar es Salaam. We had lunch at his house and met his family. Alli drove us back to hotel to meet with the current director Rehema Chande-Mallya to discuss aspects of the customer service workshop in a library setting planned for Wednesday, March 26.

Friday, March 21, is Good Friday, another public holiday in Tanzania. Actually, Easter holiday spans Friday, March 21, through Monday, March 24. We're taking advantage of the holiday to see other parts of the country. Fred is going east to Zanzibar to meet up with a friend who works in a clinic in Mombasa, Kenya. I, on the other hand, am going west on a safari to Mikumi National Park with three Dartmouth College colleagues who are associated with the seven year DarDar Study at MUHAS, which is designed to reduce morbidity and mortality from HIV-associated tuberculosis.

Fordham von Reyn, principal investigator for the study organized the safari through Kearsley Travel & Tours. Also joining the safari were Ellen Rennard, friend of Ford and Wendy Wieland-Alter, Laboratory Technician who is also associated with the project. Our driver/guide was Issa Juma Nyamgosa. Both Fred and I are coming back to Dar on Sunday, March 23, to finish preparing for customer service workshop scheduled for Wednesday, March 26. On Monday, March 24, we dine with Vice Chancellor of MUHAS Dr. Kisali Pallangyo.

First Workshop: Beyond PubMed

2008-03-19T14:43:00.011-04:00

Today Fred and I presented our first workshop on biomedical literature searching. The workshop, called Beyond PubMed focused on selected resources for biomedical literature searching on the Web.

We knew from earlier fact finding discussions that staff were interested in searching e-books. Fred started with a demonstration of how to search and browse the NCBI Bookshelf made available from the US National Institutes of Health. We then concentrated on selected journal online services that are available by arrangement with INASP (International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications) for free or very low cost online access to the biomedical and health journal literature. INASP was established by the International Council for Science (ICSU) in 1992, as a direct response to a study on how to meet the information needs of scientists in the developing world. INASP operated within the legal entity of ICSU until 2003, and was formalized as an Interdisciplinary Body of ICSU in 2005. INASP has been a limited company in the United Kingdom since 2003 and was registered as a charity in 2004.

The other sources covered included PubMed Central, African Journals Online, Blackwell Publishing and JSTOR. We also covered Google Scholar and Annual Reviews.

A selected list of journals available online was also provided. The network was slow but stable and we experienced no loss of electric power. The workshop was held in the library's 16 computer classroom equipped with a portable video projector. Eight library staff participated and the discussion was keen. The need for knowledge and contact with other institutions of higher learning is palpable.

Information Desk or Reference Desk

2008-03-18T11:21:00.004-04:00

Today's key topic was the Information Desk. It is located near the entrance/exit as I mentioned in an earlier post. In this area there are three computers for searching and a small collection of reference books, which are generally appropriate for answering questions quickly such as facts, statistics and definitions. The story does not stop here.

In another area of the library, not visible from the Information Desk is the Special Reserve Collection. The books located behind this desk mirror the reserve function that one would find in any North American academic library. Materials located here are in high demand for course work. At Muhimbili, they do not leave the building and circulation is completed using a manual system. Two other collections are in close proximity to Special Reserve: theses and dissertations and the reference collection.

The theses and dissertations seem to be in the appropriate location as they represent the academic achievement of the University and need to be preserved and supervised. The reference collection on the other hand is orphaned as some of the more current titles are located near the Information Desk. It is likely that Fred and I will make a recommendation that the entire reference collection be evaluated using defined criteria in order to form a single reference collection near the Information Desk making it fully visible and accessible to readers and staff. Depending on the criteria, parts of the reference collection might need to move to the circulating collection, special reserve or other titles simply discarded.

Fred and I also met with Mboni Ruzegea, Head of Reader Services Department. Mboni is very interested in using blog software as a tool to improve the library's web presence. We have lunch with her tomorrow. I am sure before we leave; MUHAS Library will have a blog to develop.

MUHAS Library Project Photo Album

2008-03-17T17:04:00.004-04:00

I've create a photo album for the MUHAS Library staff development project. I am using the Google product Picasa to upload and share photos. I've also created a link to the album on the right sidebar under Links as MUHAS Album. Enjoy!

First day at MUHAS Library

2008-03-17T10:14:00.009-04:00

Fred and I spent a wonderful and productive first day at the Muhimbili Medical Library. We are within walking distance of the University but Rehema Chande-Mallya, the library's director insisted on driving us this morning.

First on the agenda was meet with Rehema and her senior staff as well as Professor M.J. Temu, Chairperson of the Senate Library Committee to discuss Rehema's proposed two-week agenda and specifics on workshops. It was amazing to walk into someone else's library half way around the world with possible word meaning and language obstacles and hammer out a schedule in less than an hour with individuals I had not previously met or in Fred's case, had not seen in two years. Fred and I wanted to meet with as many library and academic staff as possible in the first week, in order to capture enough information to help drive the content of the biomedical literature searching and customer service workshops.

We were able to meet immediately with Dr. Mhina Chambuso, Director of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) at Muhimbili to discuss the digital publication of the University's Research Bulletin, which contains citations and abstracts of research at Muhimbili. We were able to secure three years worth of word files for a future demonstration/pilot project. Fred and I also met with Sydney Msonde, assistant librarian for ICT as well as a wider staff meeting to garner as much information as possible in order to organize meaningful workshops. The wider meeting was attended by staff from Periodicals & Documentation Dept. (Silas Maganga -- Head, Abeda Kalovya and Julius Magessa); Technical Services Dept. (Salum Saidy -- Head, K.K. Kitwana, C. Mwambungu, Eneah Kamwela); Library Schools/Institutes Dept. (Mary Matary -- Head).

The first wing of the library was built in 1968, the second in 1977 and the third in 2006. Offices are air conditioned but the other parts including stacks and service areas are not and barred windows are open. The bars were installed to eliminate theft of library materials as there is no security system. Outside temperature today in Dar is 93 degrees F and 46% humidity. The forecast for the rest of the week is high 80's and 60% humidity.

The new wing is most impressive with two large rooms to support an information/learning commons and a 24-hour study area. The two areas combined have a capacity to support 250 computers. Unfortunately, the fully air-conditioned space with new lighting and furniture is currently idle because it is not connected to electric power. The time frame for power connection is not known. The current bid price from the electric company is considered too high by the Muhimbili University administration.

The absence of a theft detection system places a strong premium on the "check point" desk, which represents the entrance/exit of the library. No bags are allowed inside the library. Staff rotates in and out during the day to manage that desk, which prevents the full implementation of a nearby information desk.

The MUHAS campus consists of five schools (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health & Social Sciences) and two institutes (Allied Health Sciences and Traditional Medicine) with an academic staff of 300. It is the only public University for health sciences education in Tanzania. Enrollment is approximately 2,500 students, of which 160 are post-graduates.

Surfacing in Dar

2008-03-15T05:53:00.007-04:00

I am now in Dar es Salaam with my colleague Fred Pond. Fred and I are getting ready for our debut meeting on Monday, March 17, with the library staff at MUHAS (Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences). Fred and I are spending two weeks at the MUHAS Library to provide training and support.

I've spent the last week living with the family of James Mazigo in Arusha, a city north west of Dar. James is married. His wife is Perus and they have a one year old son whose name is Allan. During the past week my wife Carol and I have visited a Maasai market and feasted on grilled goat (ribs and leg). We also visited leather products factory named Shah Industries where they manufacture excellent goods including chairs, purses, and belts. You name it, they make it! The proprietor of Shah Industries hires the most diverse group of workers I've seen anywhere. He could show hiring managers in other parts of the world a thing or two.

Carol and I also attended church services on Saturday, March 8, as James belongs to Seventh Day Adventist. I had purchased a video projector for his church. Carol and I were the "guests of honor" -- quite a reception. The choir singing was angelic. The sermon was energetic and in Kiswahili. The deal with the projector was that I buy it in the US and they reimburse me for half the cost when I got the projector to them. It did not take me long to realize that the right thing to do when they presented me with my half of the money was to turn around and donate the money back to the church. Well that set off a whole new round of praying. The pastor made some crack about praying for "mzungu" (white people)! Everyone got a chuckle out of it but it was still serious business. One of the elders, Sampson (sp?), accompanied me back to James' house for lunch, more greetings and to learn how to use the projector. The church will use the projector as a teaching tool including classes on HIV/AIDS. In the end, the events of the day were satisfying for everyone. In Kiswahili it could be described as "inashangaza". (Pictures to follow). Wasalam.

A Short History of the Swahili Language

2008-02-26T16:46:00.004-05:00

Kelvin Odoobo from Kigali, writes an entertaining piece about the history of the Swahili language. His opening starts with "A common saying, that Swahili was born in Zanzibar, grew up in Tanzania, fell sick in Kenya, died in Uganda and was buried in Congo...” Read on, his article is informative and entertaining. The picture in this post is of a boat off the Zanzibar coast. Wasalam!

Time Has Come

2008-02-25T17:36:00.004-05:00

The time has come to report that in 10 days, I will be on a plane bound for Dar es Salaam. After my first trip to

Tanzania

back in 2004, I vowed to return in a professional capacity. Well that time has come. I am partnering with a colleague at Dartmouth College, Fred Pond, to provide training and expertise to the staff at the Library of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). The project is funded by Abbott Fund and coordinated by the Global Health Initiative at the Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth College. Our planned activities at the MUHAS Library for the period March 17-28 include the following:

1. Perform Customer Service Workshop, plus in-house, one-one training with key personnel; based on result of workshop, future follow-up training expressed in a planning document.

2. Review recent reference desk installation re: staffing issues, collection resources to support reference service.

3. Follow up on biomedical literature searching training performed in January 2005; focus areas determined via brief survey of MUHAS Reference staff. Include directories for free sources of e-journals.

4. Investigate & make proposal for MUHAS-based research database at MUHAS, e.g. abstracts of faculty-produced research.

5. Review IT equipment inventory for planned ICT Classroom, completed in Excel document, suitable/conformance for submission to granting organization.

The Director of the MUHAS Library, Rehema Chande-Mallya visited Dartmouth and the University of Vermont last week as part of an exchange program. While here Rehema worked with Fred and me to finalize the plans for our training and consulting effort. In addition, we worked together on a draft proposal to convert records to create a comprehensive online catalogue for the MUHAS Library.

Rehema is the author of "Assessment of the use of information and communication technology in the improvement of performance and efficiency in the banking sector: a case study of the National Micro Finance Bank (NMB) Dar es Salaam", which appeared in the University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, vol. 7(2) 2005: 27-42. Read the abstract.

Fred previously visited the same library back in 2005 to provide ICT (Information and Communication Technology) training as part of the Dartmouth/Boston University AIDS International Training & Research Program.

Research Study on Risk Factors for Maternal Death in Tazania

2008-02-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

A 2008 research article from BMC Public Health identifies risk factors for maternal death in the highlands of rural Tanzania. "Tanzania has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the paucity of epidemiological information on maternal deaths, and the high maternal mortality estimates found earlier" ... more

Poverty: the Fine Line Between Survival and Living

2008-02-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

Peter Temu wrote openly yesterday in JamboForums "Where we Dare to Talk Openly" in an article titled "Is Tanzania all that poor?" Poverty is a relative condition. North American poverty does not compare well to African poverty. Having seen poverty in Eastern and Southern African, in my home country Canada and my adopted country the US, what I saw in Africa, I have yet to see here. Nevertheless, my daughter, a college student in Florida, who has participated in relief work at the Immokalee migrant work camps, assures me that abject poverty in Southern Florida is alive and well. Getting back to Mr. Temu. He does outline well some of the issues that prevent progress in Tanzania, however, until those issues are adequately addressed, real poverty will continue to sting his countrymen. Granted, there are some Tanzanians who go to bed with something in their stomachs, but the majority scrambles every day to survive rather than live.

Free coffins for the deprived

2008-02-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Here's an example of a Tanzanian taking advantage of an opportunity, despite the disadvantages, and carrying out his trade with compassion. Peter Mwangu reports in IPPMedia that "There are specific spots in the city of Dar es Salaam where coffins are sold. Any one in need of a coffin will be advised to visit places such as Manzese Argentina, Muhimbili, Mwananyamala and those" ... more

New Mammal Discovered

2008-02-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

BBC News, Science/Nature Section is reporting the discovery of a new mammal in Tanzania. The cat-sized animal, which is reported in the Journal of Zoology, looks like a cross between a miniature antelope and a small anteater. more

Change Is Risky and Rewarding

2008-01-30T14:14:00.000-05:00

A heartening story is circulating the globe. David Conrad from Reuters is reporting about a Tanzanian girl who left her country seven years ago for something better -- education. The story is compelling. "At 12, brown-eyed Neema Laizer persuaded her elementary school teacher to accept one liter of milk each morning instead of money because her father refused ..." more

ECONOMY-TANZANIA: Not Enough Money or Not Enough Opportunities?

2008-01-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

Sarah McGregor reporting from Inter Press Service News Agency in DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 25 (IPS) - Almost a decade on, Tanzania's tiny stock exchange is still working hard to convince skeptical businesses it ... more

Situation Reports: Tanzania Floods - Jan 2008, DREF operation no. MDRTZ006

2008-01-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

GLIDE no. FL-2008-000011-TZA: CHF 88,353 (USD 81,012 or EUR 55,648) has been allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Tanzania Red Cross National Society (TNRCS) in assisting some 7,500 affected people in Tanzania floods.

Canadian librarian off to Tanzania for horticulture project

2008-01-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

Patty Mintz reports in NovaNews that Canadian Jerry Miner, an agriculture research librarian is spending a year in Arusha, Tanzania with the World Horticulture Initiative (GHI) as a Webmaster and Communication Officer. Mr. Miner has been in the field for 27 years and signed a one year contract with GHI. Read more at >> http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-...

Tanzania is rich, so why are its people dirt poor?

2007-11-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Writer, Karl Lyimo identifies two key components that are holding back prosperity in Tanzania. Tanzania has been at the crossroads for a generation now and must make up its mind on its social, economic and political future. http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafri...

Shifting Baselines : Zanzibar's Missing Fish

2007-10-30T14:22:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Jacquet, Ph.D. student with the Sea Around Us project at the UBC Fisheries reports that Tanzania used to be two countries. Now, Tanzania still has two sets of fisheries data and two options for reporting their fish catch: report it all (accurate) or report only half (inaccurate). Currently, only the mainland reports their fish internationally; Zanzibar's fish are missing from the statistics. http://scienceblogs.com/shiftingbas...

Experts Say Government's Project a Threat to Flamingos

2007-10-16T10:13:00.001-04:00

The Tanzanian government has been asked to reconsider a proposed soda ash mining project in Lake Natron. http://allafrica.com/stories/200710 ...

Tanzania: Academics Criticize Government Over High-profile Graft

2007-10-15T14:12:00.000-04:00

Mon. October 15, 2007 04:40 pm.- By Bonny Apunyu. -- (SomaliNet) In the latest case of corruption, Academics yesterday criticized the government over high-profile graft, excessive donor dependency and ... http://somalinet.com/news/world/Eng ...

Julius Nyerere: Statesman, Thinker, Humanist

2007-10-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

Julius Kambarage Nyerere is a leader of the type of Mahatma Gandhi, Sun Yatsen, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah, and Leopold Sedar Senghor, who have earned their place in the history of mankind. Even ... http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardia ...

Expert Tells How Dar Could Attract More Investors

2007-10-14T21:17:00.000-04:00

Tanzania is likely to attract more foreign investors and secure more aid if it takes painstaking efforts to improve infrastructure and adhere to rigorous expenditure of public finances.The Managing Director ... http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardia ...

Metty Reviews Surrogates of the State

2007-10-12T09:34:00.000-04:00

Metty'z RefleXions - Tanzania in Focus: Book Review: Surrogates of the State
Metty reviews a new book, Surrogates of The state: NGO's, Development and Ujamaa in

Tanzania

. Ujamaa was the concept that formed the basis for Julius Nyerere's social and economic policy following independence from

Britain

. Nyerere served as

Tanzania

's first president from 1964 to 1985. Nevertheless, several factors in the 1970's caused the collapse of Nyerere's Ujamaa approach and this book examines how NGO's might have contributed to the failure of Nyerere's concept of the "extended family", which for him meant that every individual was in the service of the community.

Tanzania Coffee Growers Acquire Techology to Improve Harvest and Increase Income

2007-10-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

PT's Coffee Co. reports in its blog from the Let's Talk Coffee conference that Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers is introducing technologies to the Kanyovu growers’ cooperative in the Gombe region of eastern Tanzania to improve harvests, increase income and save the environment. Read more > Let's Talk Coffee ... Tanzania

Tanzania: Dar Plans Power From Sisal Waste

2007-10-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

Peak Oil News and Message Boards is a community and collaboration portal about energy-related topics. It reports that a pilot project is underway in Tanzania to produce electricity from sisal waste. >>> read more

African study says that current biofuel projects in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Benin could lead...

2007-09-21T15:50:00.001-04:00

A study published by the Africa Biodiversity Network said that current biofuel project development and selection practices in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Benin could lead to environmental and humanitarian ... read more ... >>> http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/200...

Rare fish catch in Tanzania`s Indian Ocean still a mystery

2007-09-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

Researchers are yet to unravel the mystery of a rare species of fish that has been in existence long before the dinosaurs lived on this earth ... read more ... >>> http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articl...

Tanzania to host major ICT meeting

2007-09-20T14:04:00.000-04:00

Daily News - TSN - Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
TANZANIA will in November host the biggest ever workshop on Information Communication Technology (ICT) Disaster Management which is organised by ... read more ... >>> http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=8734

Women’s Health in Tanzania

2007-09-18T12:43:00.000-04:00

Key Findings from the 2004-05 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and the 2003-04 Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey ... >>> http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/...

The Hindu Business Line : Tanzania keen on tie-ups with Bangalore hospitals for telemedicine

2007-09-18T12:26:00.000-04:00

BANGALORE: With the IT city fast emerging as a global health destination, Tanzania is looking at tie-ups with two Bangalore-based hospitals for telemedicine. >>> http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...

University scientist studies tools of early man

2007-09-18T12:11:00.000-04:00

Tue, September 18, 2007, By DANIEL MACISAAC, The University of Alberta may be known for its study of dinosaurs, but prehistoric man is also enjoying a share of the limelight. Anthropologist Pamela Willoughby is sorting through artifacts she dug up in the East African country of Tanzania - some as old as 200,000 years - looking for clues to explain how cavemen became modern man. >>> http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton Sun

Several Cases of Schistosomiasis Reported in Tanzania

2007-09-17T14:09:00.000-04:00

Travelers contracting Schistosomiasis while swimming in a Tanzania fresh water pond -- Submitted by Jeanne Marie Kerns at Associated Content ... >>> http://www.associatedcontent.com/ar ...

Music from Tanzania

2007-09-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

With the emergence of Tanzanian artist, Ras Nas aka Nasibu Mwanukuzi, on the East African music scene, there is no doubt that the region’s musical terrain will never be the same. ... >>> http://www.pr.com/press-release/52444

Tanzania says ‘08 tourism earnings to pass $1 bln « Ismaili Mail

2007-09-16T13:48:00.000-04:00

AR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania, popular for its wildlife and beaches, expects tourism earnings to exceed $1 billion in 2008 thanks to marketing in North America and Europe. http://ismailimail.wordpress.c...

Ol Doinyo Lengai Forcing Displacements

2007-09-14T12:58:00.001-04:00

Tremors and volcanic activity from Ol Doinyo Lengai near the Ngorongoro Crater are forcing settled populations to move away from the area reports IRIN. A government official is suggesting that individuals move at least 50K away. The same official suggests that 100K might even safer.

Tanzania FDI on the Rise

2007-09-14T11:18:00.000-04:00

A recent article from IPP Media reports that

Tanzania

expects to realize a 16% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2007. The main sectors attracting foreign investors are mining, tourism, manufactuing and telecommunications. Emmanuel Ole Naiko, executive director of Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) hopes to attract more investments in the agricultural sector because more than half the country's 40 million people rely on agrarian products for its livelihood.

Saw my first Black-crowned Night Heron

2007-05-08T12:53:00.000-04:00

Driving past a marsh near my home in Northern Vermont recently, I spotted three black-crowned night herons preying on frogs. A few days earlier, my wife spotted a beaver in almost the same location. The beaver is limited to North American wetlands, whereas the black-crowned night heron ranges over five continents including Africa.

Snow and More Snow

2007-03-02T10:14:00.000-05:00

A major snow storm hit the northeastern United States on St. Valentine's Day. A second storm is now upon us. Not as severe, but skiers and snowboarders are very happy to see their season extended. Wasalam!

Wild Tukeys of North America

2007-03-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share with my African friends a picture of wild turkeys. I live in a rural area of Vermont and turkeys are frequent visitors to our house because we feed birds. We spread cracked corn around for the turkeys. See the Wikipedia entry in order to know more about the wild turkey. They are wary birds and often fly in because the snow is too deep for them to walk in. Wasalam!

Monduli Teachers College releases website

2007-01-29T13:16:00.000-05:00

TanEdu, the blog site for Tanzania Education and Information Services Trust announced recently that the Monduli Teachers College in Arusha released its website. The College motto is "Education for Liberation". The institution runs an elementary and secondary school. It has been in existence since 1971 and enrolled women for the first time in 1979.

More Environmental Assaults on the Serengeti

2007-01-17T10:11:00.000-05:00

Can you image an airport in the Serengeti? An opinion article in The East African is reporting that Grumeti Reserves Ltd. is supporting such a project to bring more tourists to the sacred Serengeti. This concept does not sit well with me. A much more appropriate approach would be to renovate the existing Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) as well as existing road links. Keep development near the Serengeti “at bay”. Once that line is crossed the pressure and need to develop expands exponentially. Think of the support apparatus needed to sustain an airport -- hotels, restaurants, transportations depots for high-roller tourists. It becomes an expanding organism that has no boundaries. Improve KIA and its infrastructure and keep the Serengeti pristine.

Road links between Tanzania and Kenya to improve

2006-12-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

The African Development Bank (ADF) approves loan to rehabilitate road links between Tanzania and Kenya. The overall goals of the project are to "support regional integration, cross border trade, tourism, socio-economic development of the area and contribute to the reduction of poverty."

Elephants can recognize self in mirror

2006-11-01T18:21:00.000-05:00

National Geographic News reported recently that elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors. Elephants join humans, great apes and dolphins as having this self-awareness ability reports the news item.

Latest News About Tanzania

2006-10-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

In this post, you will find continuously updated links to news stories about Tanzania. I am providing links to the Arusha Times, a weekly from Tanzania's largest city in the northeast quadrant and a news feed from allAfrica.com. Enjoy and happy planning for your trip to Tanzania, the land of Ndugu.

Current news, however, are not adequate to capture the rich history, culture and nature of Africa. To fill that gap, Carol and I are compiling a reading list of books about Africa. The selections present the views of the past, present and future of a continent that has captured our hearts. In addition, I discovered two online guide to Tanzania: Explorer's Guide to Tanzania on the BBC site and Lonely Planet's online guide to Tanzania. Bahati njema!

Of course you can also consult the log of our December 2004 Serengeti safari and associated photographic collections: Arusha and environs, Kambi ya Tembo, Tarangire, Olgira le Korongoro, Olduvai and Shifting Sands, and Elwai Esirenget.

Animal Kingdom Turns the Table

2006-05-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

I felt fairly safe in my safari vehicle in the Serengeti where this male lion lives. However, in other parts of Tanzania, humans are not so fortunate. David Blair reports in the Telegraph that the number of lion attacks since 1990 have tripled in Tanzania. Blair indicates that about 100 people fall prey to lions today. Tanzania represents the last great bastion for lions in Africa. Of the 30,000 lions in Africa, over half roam Tanzania. About 8,000 lions in Tanzania are located in national parks and while the other 7,000 follow their prey just about anywhere they can find it, including people. In some regions where wild prey is down and human population is growing, lions seem to adapt quickly and pursue human prey as readily as they give chase to wildebeest in the Serengeti. Villages in the Mkuranga district just south of Dar-es-Salaam are visited regularly by lions. Dr Craig Packer, a known lion specialist is studying the problem to both limit risks of lion attacks on people and protect the lion from extinction.

Monkey Business

2006-05-12T16:53:00.000-04:00

Monkeys are again receiving attention in Tanzania. Sometime last year, scientists reported that a new monkey species had been discovered in mid-eastern Tanzania. Earlier identification was established by analyzing photographs. When a dead animal was examined earlier this year, it turns out that the new monkey deserved its own genus with close genetic ties to the baboon. The new genus name is Rungwecebus kipunji. Source: The Register.

Over 400 Dolphins die on Zanzibar Coast

2006-05-03T15:35:00.000-04:00

Biologists are still looking for answers to explain the death of over 400 bottleneck dolphins off the Zanzibar coast. Most of the dolphins washed ashore on Nungwi beach, located at the northern tip of Zanzibar Island. Preliminary examinations of the stomachs of the dead animals indicate that they had not eaten for some time or had vomited severely. More tests are planned to determine if toxic "red tide" algae might have contributed to their demise.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2006-05-02T14:05:00.000-04:00

In the spirit that pictures tell the story, I am providing a link to the BBC page "Africa in Pictures." The BBC encourages readers to send pictures and stories about Africa and other continents. The reader can browse the pictures and stories by category or by the week. Enjoy the views.

The Importance of Documents

2006-04-25T13:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's edition of the Business in Africa Online reported that a group of Zanzibaris filed a lawsuit with the Zanzibar High Court. The suit calls into question the legitimacy of the four-decade old agreement between the Indian Ocean Archipelago and mainland Tanzania. Prior to confederation, the mainland was called Tanganyika. The secession movement gained momentum in December when the government was unable to produce the original charter signed April 26, 1964. Unless the document can be produced and seen, Rashid Salum Addiy, spokesman for the plaintiffs, says the legitimacy of the agreement is in question. There is no word yet on when the case would be heard.

Darwin's Nightmare

2006-04-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

In this morning's issue of Scripps Howard News Service, there is a review of the Oscar-nominated documentary Darwin's Nightmare by Hubert Sauper. The setting is Lake Victoria and the protagonist is the Nile perch, which was introduced in the 1960's with deleterious effects to the lake's ecology. The documentary receives three out of four stars. Its message is not uplifting. Nevertheless, it does reinforce the reality that "Third World squalor offsets Western splendor".

Oldonyo Lengai Erupts

2006-04-04T17:20:00.000-04:00

The only active volcano in Tanzania, Oldonyo Lengai erupted earlier this week. No injuries or deaths were reported. The mountain is sacred to the Maasai, who call it the "Mountain of God." It last erupted in 1983. It is believed that ash from earlier eruptions created the "shifting sands" located west of the mountain.

Environmental News from Tanzania

2006-04-03T14:57:00.000-04:00

Tanzania's Vice President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein has ordered a halt to some of the more deteriorating assaults on Tanzania's environment. Dr. Shein is concerned primarily with "reckless tree felling, use of plastic bags, uncontrolled grazing and invasion of reserved forest and mountain areas." His implementation plan is sketchy. Nevertheless, he did indicate that pastoralists should vacate reserved lands immediately. In addition, he said that "the manufacturing, importing, buying and use of plastic bags of 30 and 65 microns in thickness is now prohibited." Dr. Shein also expects "small-scale" miners to vacate reserved areas in three months. Source: Tanzania goes green -- news24.com.

Follow Your Roots

2006-01-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Get your Genographic kit and find out how you ended up where you are today. The Genographic Project, through DNA studies, can trace our ancestral migratory routes. In the end or in the beginning, the project is showing that the gene pool ground zero is in East Africa. As a result, your safari to Tanzania or other countries in the region is actually a return trip to our ancestral home. I will share the results of my particular ancestral route when I receive them. When rafiki Alex from Tanzania calls me Ndugu, it carries a much deeper significance for me. The word Ndugu in Kiswahili means brother/sisterhood.

News about Tanzania from allAfrica.com

2005-12-07T16:02:00.000-05:00

I added to the left sidebar a link for news stories about Tanzania aggregated from the site allAfrica.com. The link is located below the link for the Arusha Times. AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, which are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Ndugu Habari Zenu in Chronological Order

2005-11-15T22:07:00.000-05:00

For those who prefer to read blogs from first entry to last, I'm providing here posted entries for Ndugu Habari Zenu in chronological order.

Maasai Steppe Surveyed

2005-06-04T12:54:00.000-04:00

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is reporting that a recent aerial survey over the Maasai Steppe Heartland that includes Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Lolkisale Game Controlled Area is indicating an increase in the area's elephants. The News in Brief entry from AWF's Spring 2005 issue of African Wildlife News titled, "Counting Wildlife in the Maasai Steppe", goes on to say that, "Dozens of other species -- including buffalo, eland, Grant's gazelle, giraffe, ostrich, warthog, wildebeest, and zebra -- were also counted in the survey. Using two aircraft and a technique known as Systematic Reconnaissance Flight, the animals were first photographed and counted from the air. By carefully interpreting the photos, the aerial counts were then adjusted to estimate total population. The survey was coordinated by the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and co-sponsored by AWF and other partners."

More Books on Africa

2005-05-02T23:48:00.000-04:00

I am listing more books that might help better understand the forces that shape African politics, social interaction, and economics.

African Silences, by Peter Matthiessen (natural history, non-fiction)
The Africans, by David Lamb (sub-Saharan history, non-fiction)
Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton (fiction)
Don't Let Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, by Alexandra Fuller (personal narratives, set in Zimbabwe, non-fiction)
The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe, and Power in the Heart of Africa, by Bill Berkeley (a reporter's view of despotism in Africa, non-fiction)
King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild (a story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial Congo, non-fiction)
Long Walk to Freedom (autobiography of Nelson Mandela, non fiction)
No Future Without Forgiveness, by Desmond Tutu (process of reconciliation in South Africa, non-fiction)
Scramble for Africa, by Thomas Pakenham (colonialism in Africa, non-fiction)
Scribbling the Cat: Travels With an African Solder, by Alexandra Fuller (personal narratives, set in Zimbabwe and Zambia, non-fiction)
Tales from a Troubled Land, by Alan Paton (fiction)
Too Late the Phalarope, by Alan Paton (fiction)
The Zanzibar Chest, by Aidan Hartley (sub-Saharan history and colonialism, non fiction)

Books of Interest

2005-05-02T15:25:00.000-04:00

Of the two books recommended in this post, one is necessary if going on safari. Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe is the bird book we used when on safari back in December 2004. Our Kibo Safari guides, Alex, Pascal, and James now have their own copies. The second book, The Tree Where Man Was Born, by the great naturalist writer Peter Matthiessen, is readable before, during, or after your safari. If read after, Matthiessen will bring your entire experience back to life once back to your home country. Enjoy your safari and if you are fortunate enough to have Alex, James, or Pascal as your guides, please say Ndugu Habari Zenu for me.

P.S. Some readers might be more familiar with Matthiessen's other excellent works: At Play in the Fields of the Lord, a thriller set in the South American jungle, and The Snow Leopard, a story of the quest for one of the world's most elusive big cats, the snow leopard in the Himalayas.