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International customers: +255 222 113 248 @AirTanzania @airtanzania airtanzania_atcl
For the latest flights, information and to book online, visit: www.airtanzania.co.tz
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Paralympic athletes are amazing role models. They show that disability doesn't mean inability.
At this year's summer games, held in Paris, athletes came from more than two hundred countries, including Tanzania. In this issue of Twiga we have an exclusive interview with Hilmy Shawwal, who represented the country in the T54 wheelchair 100-metre sprint.
Hilmy made history by becoming the first Tanzanian to compete in a wheelchair event at the Games. He tells Twiga he loved his Paralympics experience and he is now hungry to do race for his country at the 2028 event in Los Angeles.
Let's hope Hilmy – who was the only Tanzanian taking part in the Paris Paralympics – will be part of a homegrown team in LA.
Tanzania can be a tough place to grow up with a disability. Let's get active to improve the participation of people with disabilities in sports. We have four years to encourage and support other young athletes that share Hilmy's Paralympics dream. markedwards@landmarine.com
A new Dreamliner and more Dubai flights
It is my pleasure to welcome you onboard your Air Tanzania flight and to the latest edition of our inflight magazine Twiga.
While I have your attention, allow me to share some exciting developments at Tanzania’s national carrier.
The recent addition of Dubai to our network of international destinations has proved popular. As a result, we have added to our four weekly flights between our hub in Dar es Salaam and the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates with a new route linking Zanzibar and Dubai. Starting on October 27, flights will depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The route opens up the dream vacation island of Zanzibar to tourist travellers from one of the world’s wealthiest cities.
Staying with Zanzibar, the island’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport recently welcomed the arrival of our new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft, which we have named ‘The Great Serengeti Migration’, is the third Dreamliner in our fleet. It has a capacity of 262 passengers, with 22 in business class and 240 in economy. It can also carry 15 to 20 tonnes of cargo.
The Dreamliner is considered one of the most efficient and innovative commercial airplanes in the world. Its arrival will help serve our growing network that includes more than 21 destinations, both international and domestic.
Air Tanzania customers can now book their flights to any of the 25 destinations across nine countries through the Air Tanzania mobile app. It is a huge step forward for our airline and shows our commitment to investing in customer service. Download it now on Play Store or App Store and discover the world with Air Tanzania.
Thank you for being part of the Air Tanzania journey today. I wish you a pleasant and productive flight and hope we will share the skies again soon.
Eng. Ladislaus Matindi
Managing Director and Chief Executive
Air Tanzania
Ndege nyingine mpya “Dreamliner,”
na safari zaidi za Dubai
Nafurahi kuwakaribisha kwenye ndege yenu ya Air Tanzania, na kwenye toleo hili la Twiga, gazeti letu la ndani ya ndege.
Nikiwa nimeikamata nadhari yenu, naomba nichukue fursa hii kuwajuza juu ya mazuri yanayoendelea kwenye kampuni ya ndege ya taifa letu.
Kuongezeka kwa Dubai kwenye safari zetu za kimataifa kumekuwa na umaarufu mkubwa.
Hili limetufanya tuongeze, juu ya safari zetu nne za kila wiki zilizopo baina ya Dar es Salaam na Dubai, safari nyingine mpya inayoiunganisha Zanzibar na Dubai.
Hivyo basi, kuanzia Oktoba 27 mwaka huu, ndege zetu zitafanya safari kila Jumatano, Ijumaa na Jumapili.
Njia hii mpya inakifungua kisiwa cha maraha cha Zanzibar, kwa watalii kutoka moja ya miji tajiri kabisa duniani.
Bado tukibakia na habari kuhusu Zanzibar, nafurahi kuwajuza kuwa siku chache tu zilizopita, uwanja wa ndege wa Abeid Amani Karume pale Zanzibar, umepokea ujio wa ndege yetu mpya kabisa aina ya Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Ndege hii, tumeiita ‘The Great Serengeti Migration,’ na ni ya tatu ya aina yake, miongoni mwa ndege zetu.
Ina uwezo wa kubeba abiria 262, ambapo daraja la biashara (business) linachukua abiria 22, na lile la kawaida (economy) linachukua abiria 240.
Aidha, ina uwezo wa kubeba mizigo yenye uzito wa kati ya tani 15 mpaka 20.
Ndege hii aina ya Dreamliner ni moja kati ya ndege bora kabisa za kibiashara duniani, iliyoundwa kwa ubunifu wa hali ya juu.
Ujio wake utatuwezesha kukidhi mahitaji ya mtandao wetu unaozidi kukua, wa safari zetu - ambayo sasa inajumuisha zaidi ya safari 21, za ndani na nje ya nchi.
Wateja wetu sasa wanaweza kupanga safari zao kuelekea popote miongoni mwa hizi safari zetu 25, ndani ya nchi tisa, kwa njia ya mtandao, kupitia aplikesheni ya ‘Air Tanzania mobile app.’
Hii ni hatua kubwa sana mbele kwa kampuni yetu na inaonesha namna tulivyodhamiria kuwekeza kwenye ubora wa huduma kwa wateja wetu.
Pakua aplikesheni hii sasa kupitia Play Store au App Store, na ufurahie ulimwengu wa Air Tanzania.
Ahsante sana kwa kuwa sehemu ya safari yetu leo hii. Nakutakia safari njema, yenye mafanikio na natumai tutasafiri tena pamoja hivi karibuni.
Air Tanzania news
Our new Dreamliner arrives in Zanzibar
On August 20 Air Tanzania’s new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arrived at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. The wide-body aircraft smoothly touched down after a 14-hour-57-minute flight from Boeing’s US airplane assembly facility in South Carolina.
Air Tanzania now has two Dreamliners in its fleet and the arrival of the latest was greeted with great fanfare. Firefighting
vehicles sprayed an arch of water for the aircraft to pass through as it taxied on the runway and distinguished guests watching on included Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi.
For the long-distance flight Air Tanzania had an expert team in the cockpit. The Boeing 787-8 was flown by Lead Pilot Raymond Msingi, assisted by Lead Pilot Emmanuel Mshana together with Pilot Simon Myagila and Pilot
NEW FLIGHTS CONNECT ZANZIBAR AND DUBAI
Air Tanzania is following up its landmark direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Dubai with a new route that connects Zanzibar to the UAE’s most populous city.
The four weekly flights from Dar to Dubai have proved so popular that Air Tanzania has added a triangle service that connects Dubai directly to Zanzibar before flying on to Dar
es Salaam. The new route commences on October 27 with flights every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, giving Dubai residents plenty of opportunity to sample the island paradise in the Indian Ocean.
Tickets are available now. To book, visit www.airtanzania.co.tz or download our mobile app on play store or app store.
The arrival of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner brings Air Tanzania’s fleet total to 16. The new aircraft seats 262 passengers – 22 in business class, 240 in economy – and is renowned for fuel-efficient, long-haul flights. It will play a key role in Air Tanzania’s plans to broaden its flight network and connect passengers across the globe.
Cecylia Gellejah.
makes history at Paris Paralympics HILMY Tanzanian
In September, Hilmy Shawwal became the first Tanzanian to compete in a wheelchair event at the Paralympic Games. The athlete, teacher and motivational speaker tells Mark Edwards about his journey taking on the world’s best and how he now has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where he hopes more Tanzanians will join him.
When Hilmy Shawwal readied himself on the start line of his T54 wheelchair 100-metre sprint heat at the 2024 Paralympics Games, the 31,000-plus crowd in the Stade de France was roaring as one in excitement. “The atmosphere was scary,” he says. Still some voices stood out: the cries of encouragement from Hilmy’s family that had travelled to Paris to support him. “They had got seats behind the track, and I could hear all 11 of them screaming my name.”
The race itself “could have been better,” in Hilmy’s words. This was the 27-year-old’s first experience of an international event in a line-up filled with far more seasoned athletes and he admits the occasion got to him. “From the first push I was nervous. My arms felt heavy, and I just wanted to get to the end.” he says. His time of 16.08 seconds was not enough to make it through the heat and was close to half a second slower than his personal best.
There was little time to dwell on the result. “After the race fans in the crowd were hugging me, taking photos and asking for autographs,” Hilmy says. “Everyone wanted to show their love for what I had achieved.” Hilmy had become the first Tanzanian to compete in a wheelchair event at the Paralympics. In fact, at this year’s event in Paris he was the only Tanzanian to take part at all and was country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony – “a hugely proud moment,” he says. “I was interviewed live on television while holding the Tanzanian flag. I got to thank my mum. She was too nervous to be there in Paris so she was watching at home in the UK. She exploded with joy when she was mentioned.”
That Hilmy made it to the Paralympic Games – the second biggest sporting event in the world – is testament to his own bravery and endeavour coupled with the devoted support of
Photo: Franck Legros / Shutterstock.com
family, mentors, and the Tanzanian Paralympic Committee.
He was born in London to Tanzanian parents. However, his spine and spinal cord had not developed properly in the womb – a condition called spina bifida – causing paralysis in his legs. As a young child, Hilmy began learning wheelchair skills to be mobile.
Family support
Hilmy’s mother and father were always encouraging and raised him no differently to his non-disabled younger siblings – two sisters and one brother – who were soon to join the family. “My parents brought me up to be normal. My family and friends have always treated me as someone who is not disabled,” Hilmy says.
After starting his education at a special needs institution in West London, Hilmy’s parents were able to secure him a place at a local
mainstream school. It was here he discovered his love of sports. “Aged eight, I was entering races against other schools using my day wheelchair,” Hilmy says.
That competitive streak was fed with more races representing his local borough of Ealing in the London Youth Games. His family were fully in support of his new passion. “My mum didn’t miss a single event for two years. She was always there.” There were
also athletic meets organised by children’s charity Panathlon in which the top teams qualify for finals at the Copper Box Arena, built for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. As well as the racing opportunities, Panathlon contributed to funding Hilmy’s first racing wheelchair.
Excelling in these grassroots programmes, Hilmy began to catch the eye of talent scouts. In 2013 he was invited to join the prestigious Weir Archer Academy, launched by six-time Paralympic champion David Weir and his long-term coach Jenny Archer to help unearth future Games medallists.
With fellow wheelchair athlete Weir as his mentor and Archer as his coach, Hilmy saw his training taken to a new level. Those closest to Hilmy were immensely proud of him. His extended family started calling him ‘Lightning’ – a nickname started by Hilmy’s uncle, who was also known by the similarly meteorological moniker of ‘Thunda’– because of his speed on the track.
Staying motivated
What means the most to Hilmy about his family and friends’ support is that it was there through the good times and the bad. Despite his new stellar coaching environment, Hilmy experienced a slump in his athletic performance. “From 2016 to 2021 I didn’t record a single PB [personal best],” he says. I got to a point in my head where I was thinking ‘Is this really worth it?’ What can I do to prove I am a top athlete? I expected more of me. I knew I could go quicker.”
The turnaround in performance would come at a surprising time: the Covid lockdown. With athletics tracks closed in the UK due to social distancing measures, Hilmy was forced to train at home. Rather than get frustrated at the restrictions, he kept up with his training and
Hilmy at the Stade de France in Paris ahead of his history-making race
posted weekly ‘Monday Motivation’ videos on Tik Tok to help others with disabilities stuck inside.
The period solidified a mental resolve that would pay off on the track once restrictions were lifted. Literally and metaphorically, the good times had returned. “In June 2021 I got two PBs,” he says. “I brought my time down by a whole second.”
Hilmy also started sharing his positive mindset with other London youngsters. As a motivational speaker, he was invited by schools in the borough to share his story. “I tell them: ‘Don’t see your disability as an obstacle. Don’t have regrets of a missed opportunity.’ If I gave up when the PBs weren’t coming, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have now. If I can do it, they can do it.”
Paris dream
Back at Weir Archer Academy, Hilmy’s continuing improvements on the track prompted talk of him competing in Paris in 2024. Connections were made with the Tanzanian Paralympic Committee (TPC) in the hope Hilmy could be given a wild card – allocated to athletes from countries that have not qualified through the standard qualification process. It was a long shot. Wild cards are not guaranteed. However, on July 14 – less than two months before the Games were due to start – Hilmy got a call on his mobile. “The guy from the TPC said: ‘Your dream is coming true’. I just broke down in tears. After 12 years of working hard, it was such an emotional moment.”
The Weir Archer Academy tailored a six-week training regime to get Hilmy in the shape of his life for the race. Luckily, the period coincided with the school holidays so Hilmy –who works every weekday as a tutor of children not in full-time education because of behavioural issues or other personal reasons – was able to dedicate his days to training. “I
had twice-a-day sessions Monday to Friday on the track, road and in the gym,” he says. “Much of my training was one-to-one with Jake Foster [the academy’s head of strength and conditioning] then there were sessions with my physio Sophie and nutritionist Finn adding to the puzzle. It was incredible training, and I felt in good shape going into Paris.”
Hilmy loved his “incredible” Paralympic experience. He stayed for 11 days in the athletes’ village where he networked and soaked up the atmosphere. The personal disappointment of his 100-metre sprint has only made him hungrier for athletic excellence. Now he has his sights on Los Angeles in 2028, where he hopes there will be more Tanzanian athletes also competing.
Making history
“Tanzania hasn’t had a wheelchair racer before. I wanted to create history. That was what was more important. I was putting the country on the map in the Paralympics. Now I have had a taste of it I want to do it again. I really hope that LA will be different. I am sure there are more Tanzania Paralympic athletes that can also do well there.”
He is extremely grateful to the TPC “for giving me the push and the dream” to make the Paris Paralympics happen for him. “They have been amazing from the start and checked up on me during the Games,” he says. The Tanzanian High Commission in London also pitched in by funding Hilmy’s travel to Paris.
Representing his country is a huge source of pride for Hilmy. “Heritage means a lot to me,” he says. Although he has lived in the UK since birth, he regularly returns to his ancestral home accompanying his parents on trips to Zanzibar where they grew up and where many of their extended family still live.
Those trips are enjoyable, but also eye-opening. While Hilmy
Hilmy competes in the T54 100-metre wheelchair sprint
admits living with spina bifida remains a daily challenge for him, his time in Tanzania gave him heartbreaking insight into deprivations disabled people suffer beyond his comprehension.
Hilmy remembers one trip when he was 14. “I was walking in town, and I saw a disabled man crawling along the street. It stayed in my head. When I got back home, I told my dad, who had accompanied me on the trip, that I needed to speak to him. I think he thought we were going to talk about football like we usually do, but I said: ‘I want to open a charity to get wheelchairs to people who need them in Tanzania. What I saw is not what I see in the UK.’ My dad had tears in his eyes. He just nodded.”
The Hilmy Charity Disability Organisation was launched just
over a decade ago and in that time has given out more than 5,000 wheelchairs, crutches and mattresses to those in need. Most of the donations have been made to people in Unguja, Zanzibar’s largest island, and neighbouring Pemba, where more than half the population live below the poverty line and close to 10 per cent of people have a disability.
Supporting Tanzanians
Tanzania has laws, policies, and standards that protect the rights of people with disabilities, but Hilmy has seen instances in which people were isolated and stigmatised by society. “There was one woman who had five kids. All disabled. The father had left as he was ashamed. Three of the children had died. I am trying to expand the work of the organisation. There is lots more to do. We need more backing.”
Such prejudice against disabled people is hard to fathom for Hilmy. “It confuses me why some people still think disability is a disease,” he says. For someone who knows so well the value of a support network – “Without my family and friends my Paralympic dream would never have been possible,” he says – it is very difficult for him to see others like him being held back.
Hilmy was last in Tanzania in November 2023 and hopes to go again before the end of this year with events being organised in the country to mark his achievements. He hopes the events will give him the chance to spread the word on what is possible for people with disabilities with a sporting dream. “My message to anyone with a disability is: ‘Don’t give up’,” he says. “If there is a sport you want to try, try it. It would be lovely to see more Tanzanian faces in the Paralympic team.”
SUPPORT FOR HILMY
‘DISABILITY IS NOT A LIMITATION’
Nipaeli Mtana is a wheelchair user living in Tanzania. She is the founder of the Nipa Foundation, which teaches art and creativity to provide opportunities for people with disabilities. She is also a jewellery designer and keyboard player with the all-girl musical group Bahati. She felt inspired by Hilmy’s Paralympics achievement and composed this message.
‘Hilmy Shawwal is a powerful example of someone who has proven that disability is not a barrier to achieving great life goals. His participation in the 2024 Paralympic Games is a testament to his courage, dedication, and belief in his abilities despite physical challenges. His success shows Tanzanians that it is possible to overcome limitations imposed by society or physical conditions through hard work and determination.
By creating opportunities for individuals like Hilmy, we shine a light on the potential of people with disabilities, proving that their dreams are attainable. Hilmy’s achievement will inspire many to think beyond their perceived limitations, nurture their talents, and strive for greatness, regardless of their health conditions or the obstacles they face.
This is a story of hope, triumph and paving the way for future generations. Disability is not a limitation!
'WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD’
Hilmy has been a part of the renowned Archer Weir Academy since 2016. The academy's founders, coach Jenny Archer and multi-Paralympic gold medallist David Weir share their praise.
Jenny Archer: "David and I are incredibly proud of Hilmy's achievement. He has shown determination and commitment to his training to ensure that he was ready for Paris."
David Weir": "It has been a pleasure to share my final Paralympics with him "
STORING SUNSHINE TO BRING ELECTRICITY TO RURAL TANZANIA
A life-changing Tanzanian-government endorsed project is providing remote rural populations with access to environmentally friendly energy with its solar-panelled mini-grids and new solar home systems powering businesses and homes.
Before 2016, each time night fell in Kitumbeine – a remote village in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania – its 161 households were swallowed up by darkness. Situated about 36 kilometres from the nearest connection to the country’s national grid, the village had no access to electricity. Beyond occasional use of kerosene lamps and wood fires – each with their own health and environmental hazards – homes remained unlit at night. Most of the 800 residents simply went to sleep.
This all changed when MySol Grid, an incubation project within the French multinational power company Engie, installed a minigrid comprising 16 kW of solar photovoltaic panels and a 45-kWh bank of lithium-ion batteries that store the sun’s energy for use. Each home in the village is now connected to the grid via a smart meter that releases the environmentally friendly electricity once residents make payment by mobile money. The project includes locals trained to manage the site and provide technical and commercial services to clients.
The effect has been transformational. In homes the provision of clean energy is improving living standards. Families can entertain themselves with the radio or television and children have light to study by in the evening. The community is now a more vibrant and safer place with street lighting making it easier to go out and visit friends or eat dinner at a well-lit outdoor
food stall. Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of Engie Energy , adds: “Local businesses around our mini-grids have improved through the use of electrical appliances. For example, medicines and vaccines can now be kept in refrigerators at medical clinics. It also boosts machining trades such as welding, carpentry and milling. The increase in village services means residents no longer need travel more than 120km to [nearest town] Longido.
“Socio-economic benefits justify the installation of mini-grids in rural areas as they can power small industries, stimulate increased productivity and reduce costs through the use of more efficient and clean appliances. This approach has considerably accelerated access to clean and affordable energy, as well as boosting local economies.”
User-friendly
The system is designed to be user-friendly and affordable with fair pricing plans paid in instalments via
Engie's mini-grids and solar home systems have brought clean energy to rural areas in Tanzania
mobile money. Phone owners can use the mobile money services of their telecom provider – Halotel, Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo and TTCL are among those onboard – to make payment. Once this is completed, the codes are received on the Mysol platforms which then calculate and generate the electricity units purchased and automatically sends a code that unlocks the meter at a customer’s home.
The success of the Kitumbeine project has encouraged Mysol (formerly Engie PowerCorner)
to expand its operations to more off-grid communities in Tanzania. It now has 12 mini-grid sites across the country’s Lindi, Mtwara, Tabora, Kigoma, Ruvuma and Arusha regions with more than 6,900 households connected in total. Each village has been chosen on the assurance from the Tanzanian government that it will not be linked to the national grid in the next 15 years. Kagerenkanda in Kigoma is the largest of the mini-grids with its 90 kWh usable power capacity catering to 442 households. “The demand is high, and we may need
to increase capacity,” says Katja. “A typical single mini-grid can serve between 50 to 1,000 households. These are not hard limits, the engineering behind can allow for more connections.”
MySol is now rolling out the minigrids in other African countries. Zambia, Uganda and Nigeria each have one, but there are more than 300 in the pipeline. Katja explains that Tanzania – a country in which 38 million people are without access to electricity – was an early adopter of the technology. Both Mysol and the Tanzanian government were inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Tanzania showing the way “The environment [in Tanzania] was very favourable for the pilot,” says Godfrey Mugambi, Engie's Country Director of Tanzania.
“Initial government support was there to support the achieving of the sustainable development goal.
Tanzania was the pioneer of enacting Small Power Producers (SPP) rules and incorporating them into the existing Energy Act, which provided a welcoming environment for investors looking to capitalise on addressing energy access demand in the country through various modalities, minigrids being one of them.”
Mysol continues to bring green
VILLAGER
GRACE AGUSTINO MAGANGA
Sombetini, Arusha district
I heard about MySol from a friend. I now use solar for lighting my home as well as security. My children now have time to study and do their homework at night.
JULIUS MADAWE DAYSHAM
Endamarariek, Karatu district
In my village there is no electricity at all. I purchased a solar home system on loan, which allows me to make small monthly payments. My neighbours no longer travel long distance to charge their phones, they just come to my house and their phone is full charged.
energy to Tanzanians. Its mini-grids here are now complemented by the Solar Home Systems (SHS), an all-in-one standalone solar energy system for individual homes and business. The SHS system is aimed at households that are located on the outskirts of mini-grid systems or live in an area where the conventional grid supply is unreliable.
Huart says: “Customers with limited consumption needs or that cannot be reached by the mini-grid are provided with SHS and customers with higher energy needs are connected to a mini-grid.”
Light up your home
While users connected to the minigrid can power any appliance they choose once the electricity has been paid for, the SHS are more restrictive. Entry-level packages will allow you to light your home and charge your phone while two entertainment packages add smart TVs and audio
systems.
MySol is also soon to release an advanced standalone solar energy system targeted at small businesses that powers everything from office equipment to small industrial tools. The MySol Boss will be available 3kW, 5kW or 8kW capacities that accommodates a daily power consumption of up to 60.48kWh (by comparison a well-off family in Tanzania might use 5.6 kWh of electricity per month).
With its uninterrupted power supply it is aimed at tackling the energy obstacles faced by households, institutions, and small businesses lacking grid access or those dependent on generators.
With the arrival of its suite of SHS services, MySol is expanding its reach beyond the mainland to homes and businesses in Zanzibar. The company also now has a presence in the Dodoma region where its solar water pumps allow farmers to irrigate their crops using the power of the sun. These pumps can run up to 5,900 litres per hour, drawing water from underground in this often drought-stricken area. This reduces their reliance on costly and often unreliable electricity and helps grow the country’s agricultural sector.
These is just one of the examples showing how solar power is transforming businesses and lives across Tanzania.
MySol is working in remote communities across Tanzania and Zanzibar
‘LUSAKA IN THE SLOW LANE’
Like many African capitals, Lusaka in Zambia is a bustling place, but Ashleigh Lombard manages to find pockets of calm and clarity to capture on camera. The Lusaka-raised photographer puts her best work on Instagram –where she goes by the handle The Parabolist – and here she reveals to Twiga why everyone should take a moment to ‘slow down, pause and look up’.
Q: Can you give me a bit of your back story. Are you a full-time photographer or is this a side-project? Are you based in Lusaka? If so, what brought you to the city?
I am not a full-time photographer. I am currently busy with paperwork to start a company that will allow me to freelance in the country, so for now, it is just a passion project. However, when I lived in South Africa for five years, I did take on gigs. I am based in Lusaka. I am South African but was raised here. I moved away at age 19 and moved back aged 24. My family moved to Lusaka because they felt called to start a church, which they did—it's been an adventure! I moved back because I felt the Lord calling me to return. I love church life here!
Q: What inspired you to start documenting Lusaka and Zambia with your photographs?
I love Lusaka. I spent many hours as a teenager walking the city streets and sitting squashed next to other people in minibuses with my face stuck out a window taking in the sights. I didn't learn to drive a car until a year and a half ago. Through the slowed-down commute of skateboards, bicycles, public transport, and my feet, I learned to love the city streets. I found peace and calm in the streets of a town or city when I wanted to
'I love Lusaka. I spent many hours as a teenager walking the city streets and sitting squashed next to other people in minibuses with my face stuck out a window '
/
escape normal life. On the streets, there is so much noise everywhere and life bursting out from every angle, but I feel such peace and quiet. I deeply believe in slowing down and enjoying the process.
Q: Do you think Lusaka is a photogenic city?
I suppose I think it is and it isn't. I think you need to look for it. I mostly hear that people feel Lusaka is quite dusty and gray, but one has to look closer. Look for the open window with a hand holding a cup of tea, look for the beautiful architectural lines that stretch across the sky. Buildings feel like art to me!
I find the central area of the city and the markets to be immensely photogenic—not always for the chaos, but for the in-between moments. The further you go into where the majority of the city lives their lives and walks their walks the most photogenic it is. The heart is not its skyline, or perfect parks - but its people.
Q: There’s a caption to an image on your Instagram site: ‘Lusaka in the slow lane’ that could describe a lot of your work. Why this side of Lusaka?
I had a tough time during my teenage years with mental health and other issues. I found my mind to be a chaotic place to exist. My
escape during the hardest times was to take my skateboard, hop on a minibus, and head through the city. It was a freedom and a relief from the chaos. Even though it was loud outside on Cha Cha Cha road, it would be quiet in my mind. I think, at times, my street photography can reflect what I felt the streets of the cities and towns I lived in to be to me – the calm, the deep breath, the pause. The line I would often want to caption my images with is - Slow down, pause and look up.
My current favourite spot is a market called Kamwala. My favourite part of the market is a central section with "tunnels" of closely packed stalls with overhanging roofs. It feels so calm compared to the rest of the market and there are such exciting scenes to be seen as one weaves through the maze and rounds a corner.
Q: You take a few impromptu portraits as well. You seem to like capturing people having a moment alone. Do you think these moments can be revealing? I enjoy capturing a person in a moment. I feel like a photo of a single individual focuses more on who they are – not just another random person in the crowd.
Q: Do you carry a camera wherever you go?
'I hope people start to open their eyes and look for the treasures in normal life. '
The majority of my images are unplanned. There are times where I will have seen a building and angle I love, but don't have my camera with me, but will go back there later. I don't always carry a camera – but if I'm going to be in the city centre or in a market I will most certainly take it with me.
Q: You seem to like geometric shapes like an arrangement of windows in a housing block or the different shades of coloured panels in a mobile money cabin. What appeals to you about this? There is a satisfaction I find in finding the orderly. I think the world can feel so chaotic at times. With the noise of a city street or the flashing images on my phone - that sometimes to just hold tight and pull everything into order hits just right.
Q: What advice would you give someone taking up photography for the first time?
Forget about the gear; start with what you have, even if it’s just your phone. Then just keep shooting. Take photos. Take more. Take even more. Consume loads of content – look at the work of good photographers.
Then, find yourself a mate with a good eye (whether they’re a photographer or not) and get them to critique your work.
Q: What do you hope people get from your images?
I hope people start to open their eyes and look for the treasures in normal life. That when someone is in Lusaka or another city, as a resident or tourist, they don't just visit the clean polished places - but walk our streets, see our beauty and glimpse the peace of our people. Wander streets, see lively scenes and notice quiet things tucked away in a corner on a rooftop. We live in such a fast pace, dopamine high world - that sometimes the call to slow needs to happen in the most bustling of places.
Q: Can people order your work through your Instagram site @ theparabolist?
People will very soon be able to, but not yet.
THE SGR
IS HERE: HIGH-SPEED ELECTRIC TRAIN CONNECTS DAR TO DODOMA
After seven years and an investment of some USD 10 billion, Tanzania’s new electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is finally up and running.
For all Tanzanians this is, perhaps, the nation’s greatest moment since independence from the UK in 1961. The SGR – linking Dar es Salaam with the capital Dodoma and eventually towns and cities beyond – stands as a shining symbol of nationhood and a striking embodiment of the country’s progress and modernity. A defining moment if ever there was one.
Run by state-owned Tanzania Railways Corp, the SGR operated its first train in mid-June as the 0610 eased out of Dar es Salaam’s gleaming new station, arriving in Morogoro – some 300 km away – just one hour 45 minutes later. President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan had generously paid the fares of all the lucky passengers travelling on the inaugural service that morning. In early August and to celebrate the newly
extended service to Dodoma, Mama Samia herself got to sample the three-and-a-half-hour journey from Dar.
The national rejoicing and sheer amazement at what Tanzania has achieved with the new SGR, needs to be put into context. There was time not so very long ago when the Tanzanian rail network was in sad decline. Over reliant on a limiting colonial-era metre-gauge system with mostly obsolete rolling stock, Tanzania’s railways – like those in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda – were little more than a relic of a bygone age. But in the last few years there has been a dramatic change as East African governments have recognised the importance of railways and how these could be a driver of economic growth.
By the middle of the last decade, it was clear that something radical needed to be done in Tanzania to improve the rail network and make the switch from metre to standard gauge (1,435mm) – currently used for 60 per cent of the world’s rail track. Tanzania, with a longstanding relationship with Beijing, first opted to engage the Chinese in this ambitious task and as part of that nation’s Belt and Road Initiative that was largely aimed at changing Africa’s transport infrastructure.
It took the hard-nosed instincts of late president John Pombe Magafuli (affectionately known as JPM) to realise
that the Chinese-backed financing deal was not for Tanzania, and he chose not to proceed with the construction agreement signed with China by his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete. JPM instead opted to get attractive funding from Turkey and Portugal whose companies would eventually build the now complete first leg of the project – from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
Given the rave on-line reviews posted since the launch of the new SGR, there can’t be many who miss the apparent charm, the history, the uncertainty, the delays, the cancellations and the never quite knowing if you are going to leave on time or when you might arrive at your destination of the old metre gauge service.
But that has all changed – and how. The new SGR can effortlessly whisk passengers at 160km an hour in
Seven years of work has gone into completing Phase One of the SGR
air-conditioned comfort three times a day from central Dar to Morogoro with only four stops along the way –making this journey a possible daily commute.
The sheer wonder of the SGR is perfectly up by local musician and regular rail user Harmonize, who recently zipped from Dar to Dodoma. Filmed enjoying the experience, he told local TV: “This is amazing. We are used to see these things on TV in Europe, etc. The train’s stylish, you just chill as you travel along.”
But Dodoma will not be the end of the line for long. The SGR still has a long way to go. The aim now is to compete four more stages of the project, which will see the track extend to Mwanza and Kigoma and then to Bujumbura, in Burundi, Kigali, in Rwanda, and ultimately to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From a freight perspective the railway line is intended to speed the movement of goods between the port in Dar es Salaam and its domestic hinterland and beyond.
The second phase now underway covers a distance of approximately 426 km from Morogoro via Dodoma to Makutopora in the central Singida Region. No doubt further exuberant celebrations are planned across Tanzania as each stage is completed.
One country, three gauges
The upshot of the new SGR is that Tanzania now enjoys (if that’s the right word) three different rail gauges – only Brazil with four has more.
While far from ideal, this is an accident of history and politics. In addition to the old narrow gauge and the new SGR, Tanzania’s
also uses the Cape gauge (1,067 mm) in the form of the TAZARA railway linking Dar es Salaam with Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. Ostensibly built to handle Zambian copper exports, riding the weekly TAZARA passenger train proves something of an international adventure with rail aficionados from around the world coming to Tanzania just for the two-night experience (and it can be a real experience) across 1,860km of Africa.
The new age of the train
Tanzania’s narrow-gauge rail network impressively comprised seven lines stretching 2,706 km across almost the entire country. But little by little, the loss-making but heavily subsidised national railways lost ground as would-be passengers opted for cheaper bus transport, were prepared to drive long distances in their own cars, or for the affluent few, took the plane. The train was viewed as yesterday’s mode of travel and slowly and inexorably it fell out of favour.
The SGR track taking shape in Dar es Salaam
Kizimkazi
Festival back bigger than ever
The Kizimkazi Festival was launched as a community event in 2015 but has gone on to build an international following.
This year’s event in August was the biggest yet and showcased the cultural wealth of Zanzibar Island’s south coast to the world.
In 2015 the Kizimkazi Festival began as a farewell to Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was leaving Unguja – the Zanzibar island of her birth – to become vice-president in John Pombe Magufuli’s government on the Tanzanian mainland.
Dr Samia was much loved on Unguja. She was born in Makunduchi in the far south of the island and went on to represent the historic town and district capital as its member of parliament from 2010 to 2015. She made a difference to islander’s lives with her pioneering policies including ending the prohibition on new mothers returning to school.
The fishing village of Kizimkazi is just a 10-minute drive from Makunduchi on the west coast of Unguja south. The festival was a way to say ‘thank you’ to a local hero and to highlight the cultural wealth of the coastal community that Dr Samia had done much to promote.
Since the launch event, the Kizimkazi Festival and Dr Samia have grown exponentially in influence. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has become Tanzania’s first female leader with a progressive agenda that includes expansion of infrastructure and the globalisation of the Tanzanian economy through investors and tourism.
Now the Kizimkazi Festival is one of those events that is attracting international tourism interest. This year’s edition of the annual event was the biggest yet. The eight-day extravaganza was held in Paje, a village on the south-east coast that has become one of the area’s most popular beach resorts with its reef-protected lagoon and reliable winds making it a haven for kitesurfers from around the world.
The allure of the festival added to Paje’s cosmopolitan crowd. Eight days of sports, arts, music, food and culture among the coastal communities of south Unguja attracted visitors from across the island and beyond. Events included dhow races, a tug of war competition on the
The festival was founded in honour of President Samia
Suluhu Hassan and she was guest of honour at this year's event
beach, markets spotlighting the wares of local artisans and entrepreneurs, traditional dancing and plenty of food and drink.
One of the festival highlights was an outdoor music concert showcasing Bongo Flava and Zenji (Zanzibari hip hop) music and headlined by Harmonize. The Tanzanian superstar’s latest album, ‘Muziki wa Samia’, is dedicated to the visionary leadership of President Samia, who attended the concert and was also present at the inauguration event when Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi ushered in the festival.
This year the festival extended the celebrations to the capital, Zanzibar City. Before the music concert began, the Kizimkazi Youth Soccer League, known as the Samia Kizimkazi Youth Cup, played out its final at the New Amaan Complex Stadium.
Additional activities throughout the festival include football and netball matches, a sports bonanza, Taarab music performances, bicycle races, community jogs, medical check-ups, and promotions of clean energy.
The festival aims to have a positive effect on the youth of the economically challenged Unguja south by driving
development in health, education, sports and employment. This year more than 500 young people were provided with a week’s training in entrepreneurship, tourism, fishing, agriculture, and the arts to equip them with the skills start their own businesses or improve existing ones.
Tourism is crucial to boosting the region’s economy. Historic Kizimkazi already draws some visitors. It is home to Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque – which is one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast – while the shallow, sheltered waters of Menai Bay are an important habitat for bottlenose and humpback dolphins. Villagers now work with their boats to guide visitors to see the dolphins in the protected waters.
This year’s Kizimkazi Festival spread the word on the latest attraction added to the village’s unique tourism portfolio. The Salaam Cave Aquarium is a natural pool of crystal-clear ocean water formed among coastal caves where you can swim with turtles. Here, the turtles – which have been bought from fishermen after they got caught up in their nets – are looked after in safety.
It's a project on-message with President Samia’s embracing of innovative entrepreneurial spirit in the tourism sector to drive development. The Kizimkazi festival grows alongside the country’s leader.
The launch of the Salaam Cave Aquarium took place during the festival
K-ZUNGU:
SINGELI’S VOICE OF HOPE TO PEOPLE WITH ALBINISM
Emerging singeli artist K-Zungu stands out due to impressive freestyle skills on the mic and his albinism. The hereditary condition still attracts superstition and prejudice in Tanzania, but the Tanga-born singer, who is set to release his debut EP, says music has given him a platform to be himself and inspire others to follow.
Ramadhani Idrisa Muhando grew up loving music. Like many teenagers he would sing along with friends to the latest Bongo Flava pop hits that dominated radio play. There was a different music, though – characterised by frenetic electronic dance beats – that he also heard being played by DJs at weddings or from the speakers of ‘boda boda’ taxi riders in town.
Singeli radha spoke to Ramadhani. He loved the music and found it suited his sweet-toned singing voice. “I was impressed by singeli radha,” he says. “It made me very happy, and I loved it and when I tried to sing I was able to and people enjoyed hearing me very much.”
As evidence of the rising profile of singeli in Tanzania, Dar singeli music studio Sisso Records and its talent agency, Singeli Movement, organised a series of talent shows across the country to find a new generation of artists beyond the commercial capital. Ramadhani took part in the show in Tanga and won it.
His performance impressed the judges, among them Abbassi Jazza, the managing director of Sisso Records and founder of Singeli Movement. “He has the talent to compose songs with a message and he has the ability to sing freestyle. He is a very confident performer and has a gentle, respectful way about him.”
Ramadhani was announced onto the stage as his singeli name, K-Zungu. “The ‘K’ is for my grandfather’s name on my mother’s side,” he explains. “He is called Kaniki and Zungu is because of my appearance. Here in Tanzania a white person is called mzungu, so I am called Zungu.” Ramadhani is white, but he is not a caucasian mzungu. He has albinism, a genetic condition that causes people to have very light skin, hair, and eyes due to a lack of melanin.
STIGMA
Tanzania can be a difficult and dangerous place for those with albinism. There are still communities here that believe superstitions that the body parts of people with the condition can bring wealth or cure illness, which has led to attacks and killings.
Except for some vision problems, most people with albinism are just as healthy as anyone else and
Tanzania has what is thought to be the highest population of people with albinism in Africa. Despite these factors, many with the condition here live limited lives: either excluded in isolated communities such as on Ukerewe Island in Lake Victoria or facing daily stigma and discrimination on the mainland.
Ramadhani says he was lucky to avoid much of this prejudice growing up. His protective parents sent him to a boarding school to ensure he got a good education. “When I reached the third grade that’s when I realised that I am different,” he says. “However, growing up I have not really experienced any prejudice.”
Singeli has brought a sense of belonging. The dance genre has championed outsider music from its
bedroom studio beginnings. K-Zungu is not the first singeli artist with albinism – Jazza remembers a female rapper called Princess HB – but he knows he has a rare opportunity to represent others like him. “In Tanzanian communities, there are still some people who continue to hate people with albinism, I feel very free to express myself in our singeli music,” he says.
K-Zungu’s mission to “educate and entertain” will soon take an important step forward with the release of his debut EP on Sisso Records. “There will be love songs, songs opposing the killing of albinos and others explaining the challenges of life,” he says.
SINGELI SCHOOL
Many of the songs were honed during a six-month residency at the ‘Singeli School’ run at Dar’s Alliance Française in collaboration with Singeli Movement. K-Zungu was awarded a place among the first influx of students as part of his prize for winning the talent show in Tanga. Here he honed his songwriting and studio skills to take his music career to the next level. “I was taught how to record, perform, improve my communication skills, and recognise myself as a modern artist,” he says.
On the back of the EP release, K-Zungu is planning for a series of concerts that spread singeli’s spell across the country in the same way the music reached him and changed his life in Tanga. He is already a regular on the Dar live music scene. Recent shows have included the Singeli to the World concert in Coco Beach. The artist says he has yet to see many people with albinism at his shows, but he hopes that will soon change.
“As the voice of people with albinism, I say they should not give up hope and be confident and be free to do whatever they want.”
K-Zungu's first big break was at a talent show in Tanga
IN THE MOVIES
Mumbai is known as ‘the City of Dreams’. Diverse and cosmopolitan, this jewel of Western India is home to 22 million people, each with their own story to tell. No wonder the city’s vibrant, bustling streets have been the setting for so many movies – from Bollywood and beyond. Twiga takes a look at some of the best films in which Mumbai is a main character.
The Lunch Box
The dabbawalas are a unique and unmistakable part of Mumbai culture dating back 130 years. Dressed in their white outfits and hats they deliver home-cooked meals to employees in their office directly from their homes. In 2013 film The Lunch Box, a rare mistake in the famously efficient service is the unwitting cupid for the beginnings of a touching love story between two loners in the city. Housewife Ila uses the dabbawalas regularly to send her neglectful husband
his lunch, but the delivery goes awry one day when her lunchbox is swapped and is delivered to a middle-aged widower instead. Once this connection has been made, the pair correspond through letters in the lunchbox and begin to share memories and events from their own individual lives. As the friendship grows, they decide to meet, but this presents a new set of problems. The Lunch Box was a commercial critical success, and it presents an intimate portrayal of how the busiest cities can often be the loneliest.
Slumdog Millionaire
This romantic drama was the most successful film at the 2009 Academy Awards with Oscars for its director Danny Boyle, stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto and for its amazing soundtrack. Mumbai is at the film’s heart. The city’s polar extremes of poverty and riches is revealed as well as the belief in love, luck and dreams that powers society here. Jamal Malik – played by Patel – is an 18-year-old orphan who has grown up in the massive slum of Juhu, who lands a oncein-a-lifetime place on a quiz show with the huge cash prize up for grabs. Each of the questions that the show host puts to Jamal triggers a flashback that reveal his odyssey to get to this point, surviving the challenges of his upbringing through education, friendship and love. The film made a star of Patel and he has recently returned to Mumbai for his directorial debut, the John Wick-like revenge drama Monkey Man, in which he also plays the lead role.
Wake up, Sid
This coming-of-age film set in contemporary Mumbai focuses on a carefree and careless college student, Sid Mehra, who seems content to stay at home living off his wealthy parents. He barely studies for his assignments and spends most of his free time with his friends. However, the man-child begins to realise he has some growing up to do when he meets Ayesha, an ambitious writer from Kolkata who has come to Mumbai with big dreams and shows him a new life beyond his privileged path. This charming film captures the energy of youth in which every moment is cherished while showing that there comes a time when everyone needs to take control of their life and take it in new and fascinating directions. In tracing that character arc, Ranbir Kapoor, as Sid, puts in a spirited performance.
'This coming-ofage film set in contemporary Mumbai focuses on a carefree and careless college student '
Portrait painting of Late Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor on the wall of a house in Bandra, Mumbai
Satya
This 1998 homage to US gangster movies explores the murky world of the Mumbai mafia. Satya, a young man from South India, moves to the city to find work, but finds himself framed for a crime he didn’t commit. In jail, he meets an underworld boss and joins his gang. On his release, he moves through the ranks of the crime syndicate as a turf war hits the city, but he grows increasingly troubled by his new life. These concerns are compounded when he falls in love with an aspiring singer, Vidya. Torn between his girlfriend and gangster life, Satya has to make a stand. The hard-hitting film was directed by Ram Gopal Varma, a pioneer in the independent filmmaking industry in India. Amid the glamour and glitz of most Bollywood films, Varma’s film dared to depict a vital, gritty side of Mumbai.
'This 1998 homage to US gangster movies explores the murky world of the Mumbai mafia'
Sir
As the most westernised of Indian cities, Mumbai is a place where the modern and the traditional come together. This can lead to clashes. India has deeply entrenched social division so this 2018 Hindi language drama about love across class barriers is daring in tackling taboos. A prosperous young Indian man, Ashwin, returns to Mumbai after working in New York and falls in love with his servant, Ratna, a
widow with the dream of becoming a fashion designer. Director Rohena Gera deals with the sensitive subject matter with delicacy and the two leads – Vivek Gomber and Tillotama Shome – are excellent. The title of the film is the deferential term Ratna uses to address Ashwin, but as the relationship deepens the pair of lonely dreamers begin to realise they are a lot alike.
DUBAI’S SIZZLING Five restaurants to get a flavour of
The Dubai food scene is really cooking right now. Diners can choose from more than 20,000 establishments and The Michelin Guide was launched here in 2022 in recognition of the city’s culinary high standards. From modern Middle Eastern cuisine to super-fresh local seafood, here Twiga’s top five.
Ninive
This open-air restaurant and cocktail bar is located on the mezzanine floor of the landmark Emirates Towers building in the city centre. A skyline of glittering skyscrapers surrounds the setting, yet Ninive is a step back in time with its rugs and lanterns, low tables and cosy sofas suggestive of a Bedouin camp. The magical haven is also draped in lush greenery in a nod to the restaurant’s name with the Assyrian city of Nineveh believed to have been the site of the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The food is equally wondrous. The restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand by
Okku
the Michelin Guide and its tasty and made-to-share dishes showcase flavours from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Signatures include the pumpkin spinach kibbeh, chicken tagine, and tashreeb, an Iraqi dish consisting of slow-cooked lamb shoulder and crispy bread.
Instagram: @ninivedubai
The multi-award-winning Okku instigated the influx of high-end Japanese restaurants in Dubai. It opened in 2009 at H Hotels where it ran for nine years attracting A-list diners such as Madonna and George Clooney. Last year, it was relaunched at the Palm Jumeirah to reclaim its crown. Diners see nothing of the resort’s tree-shaped artificial island outside
with Okku creating its own ultra-cool, insular world. There are no windows. Instead, light comes from a series of glowing Japanese lanterns and a triptych of LED screens showing photorealistic images of jellyfish – an update from the original restaurant that featured aquariums full of the real tentacled invertebrates behind the bar. The garlanded menu also includes many favourites from Okku’s first incarnation such as hushihu salad (mixed leaves with crispy duck and hoisin-amazu dressing); ginger salmon sashimi; and dynamite kani (two whole baked king crab legs with a spicy mayonnaise dressing).
The vibe is classy, but with its own fun-loving quirks such as the Saturday disco buffet with glitterballs and a DJ complementing the freshly made feast.
Instagram: @okkudxb
Indya by Vineet
Vineet Bhatia is the only Indian chef to have two Michelin stars and as a TV personality and entrepreneur is considered the face of progressive South Asian cuisine. He heads a global portfolio of restaurants around the world with Indya opening in Dubai in 2019. The fun and funky restaurant is located poolside at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa overlooking the Arabian Gulf. The restaurant has been
The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
The Middle East is renowned for its pearl oysters, but this seaside diner serves gourmet local oysters of the edible kind. The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill was one of the first restaurants to include the UAE’s Dibba Bay oysters – farmed off the coast of Fujairah emirate on the Gulf of Oman – on a surf and turf menu that includes steaks, fresh fish, seafood towers, live lobsters, pot roasts and steamers. The award-winning chain has become a seafood institution in the city winning with the chandelier-filled opulence of its flagship restaurant at the Doubletree by Hilton – the chain has three outlets in the city – winning Best Seafood Restaurant each of the eight years it has been open.
Instagram: themainedxb
Flamingo Room by tashas
As flamboyant as the pink-hued wading bird it is named after, this fine-dining restaurant lays claim to being the prettiest place to eat in town. Situated on Jumeriah Al Naseem’s turtle lagoon, the cool sapphire of the Arabian Sea outside contrasts with the warm blush of pastel pinks and yellows inside. It’s like being cocooned in a ripe
awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award for the past three years in recognition of its special dishes that add a modern twist to classic Indian cuisine. Vineet’s favourites from his own menu include son papdi chaat, a reimagined Mumbai street food dish; saag and sweetcorn koftas (meatballs) and chicken tikka with zatar (a Middle Eastern mix of dried seeds, herbs and spices) and black olives.
Instagram: @indyadubai
peach. The food is just as inviting. Restaurateur Natasha Sideris draws on her South African roots for favourite calamari Mozambique in which 250g of flame grilled calamari and squid heads, lemon butter, periperi sauce, tarragon, roasted cherry tomatoes support a mountain of crispy shoestring fries. They say it’s for one, but it can easily feed two. Also made for sharing are the tiger prawn and seafood platters and the 450g wagyu striploin steak. Sweet treats include Affogato al Caffé with Honeycomb Moelleux and a roasted peanut Florentine cookie.
Instagram: flamingoroomae
MAGNET MAKING THE
FOOTBALL STARS OF THE FUTURE
Magnet Youth Sports Academy was one of the first football academies set up in Tanzania. Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the academy has developed into a hotbed of young talent with some of its boys and girls making it into the national team or to sports scholarships abroad.
True to its name, the Magnet Youth Sports Academy (Mysa) is attracting plenty of young Tanzanian football talent. This year the academy marks its 10th anniversary. It’s a decade that has seen Myso go from weekly training sessions on a field in Dar es Salaam involving just 12 local children to an operation that spans 10 training centres – eight in Dar es Salaam and two in Arusha – catering to more than 400 boys and girls aged between four and 20 years.
Mysa chairman and co-founder Tuntufye
‘Tuntu’ Aggrey Mwambusi is proud of how far the academy has come since its “humble beginnings”. He says the idea for the academy was formed during a time when he was struggling to find quality football training for his son, then aged six. “Sometimes the problem can be the solution,” he says. “When we started, football academies didn’t exist in Tanzania.”
Tuntu along with Juma Maulid Maswanya (vice-chairman), Jessica H Mkony (secretary) and Chilwa Lubawa Kiliaki (treasurer) launched Mysa as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), but it is now registered as a sports academy.
BUILDING EXPERTISE
An initial challenge to the academy’s development was providing experienced coaching at the earliest stages of a player’s skill development. Tuntu says: “It can be hard to find coaches aimed at just youth.” The Aerospace Management master graduate and former footballer – who admits his “passion for the sport was higher than the level I played on the pitch”
– started by improving his own knowledge, studying for a diploma in sports management at Leipzig University in Germany.
Tuntu took those skills in implementing a high-performance model of leadership, culture and environment at Mysa, which now employs over 40 coaches and back-office staff. The academy pays for its coaches to go on courses to hone their skills. Some of those courses are at football academies in Europe with Mysa building a partnership with the academy at Celta Vigo, in which it can access the expertise of the world-leading staff of a professional club that competes in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football. The academies also collaborate on exchange trips and international mini-tournaments for students in places such as Madrid. It’s an incredible opportunity. “Many of our players have never travelled outside their country before,” says Tuntu.
This year Oneill Oscar Jr joined three other Mysa players in Galicia in the far west of Spain at the Celta Vigo Academy. There are a good number of Mysa players who have gone on to play elite football. Former students Mohammed Hassan and Ahmed Pipino are both now part of
the squad of the Tanzanian National Football Team. More could join them. Tuntu lists players who have secured places in the youth, U18 and U20 national teams while one boy and one girl have won overseas sports scholarships – to the UK and US, respectively.
FOOTBALL FOR ALL
In identifying and developing young talent, Mysa sets its net wide and aims to be as inclusive as possible. The academy charges for its opento-all after-school training sessions, but it offers free scholarships to players from low-income families. There are also regular trial sessions for its elite-level squads to give players – from within and outside the academy – the best opportunity of making a step up in their football journey.
The academy hopes that all its students – whether they reach the highest levels of the sport or
A player gets a signed shirt as a send-off after winning a place to study and play football in the US
not – will benefit from their time here. This learning extends beyond football. Mysa has a maxim: “It’s not school or football. It’s school and football.” The after-school training sessions for youths aged between five- and 18-years-old runs from 4pm to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays to ensure it does not interrupt school and study. Other examples of the holistic teaching method that aims to develop positive, well-rounded young people beyond just good football players are lessons on nutrition to promote healthy eating habits for players; one-on-one sessions between coaches and players that check in on students’ personal progress and wellbeing; and opportunities to socialise and have fun as a team.
Such commitment to bringing the best out of its students has made Mysa one of the leading football academies in Tanzania. Magnet’s pulling power has grown beyond the
country’s borders on the back of a series of international tournaments. Mysa will soon host its own four-day pan-African tournament sponsored by Air Tanzania. Players will compete against some of the best academies across the continent. Tuntu says teams from Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe have already signed up and we speak as he is preparing for a trip to Lusaka to encourage teams there to register.
Victory in the tournament would be quite a way for Mysa to celebrate its tenth anniversary.
The Magnet Dar es Salaam International Tournament takes place from December 12 to 15. To register your team, contact +255 687 553 044 or +255 652 801 008.
For more information on how to sign up for Myso’s after-school training sessions, call 0746 122 490 or 0672 753 043.
More information can be found at @magnettanzania on Instagram and the website www. magnetsports.org
Guide for Parents
If you have a sports-crazy son or daughter, here are a few tips from the Myso team to encourage and help them at home.
1 Talk to your kids and ask them how they feel about sports.
2 Identify the goals they would like to accomplish
3 Let them follow their own passions
4 Encourage multiple sports participation
5 Be engaged but foster independence
6 Model positive behaviour
7 Help them manage frustration during difficult times.
8 Monitor their health
9 Monitor their happiness
10 Love them unconditionally. Together, we can help them reach their full potential.
Players take a drinks break during a Mysa training session
FROM HOLLYWOOD TO
ZOLLYWOOD?
Actor Idris Elba gets green light to build film studio in Zanzibar
Idris Elba
The movie star, born in the UK to African parents, has been allocated land on Unguja for the stateof-the-art facility. Moffin Opilio reveals how the development could prove a significant step towards making Tanzania a hub for creativity and film production in Africa.
During the 27th Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in August this year, renowned Hollywood actor Idris Elba was allocated 80 hectares of land on the Zanzibar island of Unguja to build a modern film studio. The green light for the development was given by Zanzibar’s Ministry of Investment with the decision coming around 18 months after Elba discussed his ambitions to develop Africa’s expanding film industry with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
The actor is one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men with his films having grossed more than US$10 billion at the box office worldwide. Roles have included repeated turns as the warrior Heimdall in the Marvel cinematic universe of Thor and Avengers as well as a lead role in the latest release within The Fast and The Furious film franchise. He also gained critical acclaim for playing Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and won a Bafta for his chilling performance as ‘Commandant’ in Beasts of No Nation, which was filmed in Ghana.
Elba has African heritage – his mother is from Ghana and his father from Sierra Leone – and he has long championed the potential of Africa’s film industry. He believes the talent is there, but as yet the facilities are lacking. His belief is backed by 2022 Unesco report that read: “Despite significant growth in production, industries across the continent are hindered by issues such as piracy, insubstantial training opportunities and a lack of official film institutions.”
The actor – who has a net worth of over US$ 40 million – made public his intentions to build a multi-million-dollar film studio in Ghana last year, but it seems the Zanzibar plan has overtaken it.
In a recent media interview, Elba said: “We have been working for three to four years to raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of Africa’s filmmaking. I believe that this will help represent and amplify the voices of the continent.”
The film studio plans in Zanzibar brings renewed focus to the film potential of the Island’s tropical setting and historic architecture. According to Zanzibar’s Investment Minister, Shariff Ali Shariff, the studio would be similar to major global film studios and could significantly boost the local and regional economy. He said: “The proposed film studio in Zanzibar is set to rival established Bollywood, Hollywood, and Nollywood – and may give rise to ‘Zollywood’ or ‘Zawoo’.”
Beyond Zanzibar, the film studio is set to reignite the region’s film industry. “This is a significant step towards making Tanzania a hub for creativity and film production in Africa,” mentioned Shariff, “the project will help not only Tanzania but will benefit major talents from Eastern and Central Africa – boosting the economy and cultural interactions.”
I spoke with Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators (ZATO) board member Mohammed Salim. He told me that Elba’s proposed film
studio is a highly promising initiative that aligns with broader goals of economic diversification, cultural promotion, and international collaboration in Zanzibar and Tanzania. “It could mark a turning point for the region’s film industry and its global standing,” he said.
SWAHILI FILM INDUSTRY
The plan to construct a film studio in Zanzibar comes at a time when Tanzania’s Swahili film industry is going through its own renaissance period. For decades, the industry has had to compete with international blockbusters flooding the market.
As a creative in the film industry, award-winning Tanzanian director and producer Lamata Leah confirmed there is a change happening from the inception of stories to its editing. “We have changed the way we write, produce, direct, score, market and distribute our stories,” she said.
The producer of the Kapuni and Jua Kali series added were the proposed studio be realised it would be an immense gain to the Swahili film industry. “This presents an opportunity for us filmmakers to step up our game, enhancing the quality of our work to the same heights as other established industries such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya,” she said.
According to Lamata, current challenges that face the local film industry include a lack of quality equipment for production and the need for improved set locations as well as workshops and training initiatives that will steer the industry to international standards.
For her, initiatives such as Elba’s studio in Zanzibar signal a growing interest in the region’s talents and narratives. “Even though the number of Tanzania’s films on international streaming platforms such as Netflix and Showmax are still very low, local productions have risen. Recently Tanzania has produced films that command global interest such as Binti, Vuta n’kuvute (Tug of War), Married to
Work and Katope.” Vuta n’kuvute has been screened at a slew of local and international film festivals, including the Berlinale, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Zanzibar International Film Festival. It was also Tanzania’s official entry for the Oscars 2023 Academy Awards ‘Best International Feature Film.’
Such gains, Lamata believes, will attract more investors to join in the market and reignite the local film industry.
AFRICAN PROJECTS
In recent years Idris Elba has looked to the continent of his ancestors for a series of ambitious developments.
SIERRA LEONE SMART CITY
In March Elba teamed up with a childhood friend with plans to turn Sherbo Island off the West African country’s coast into an eco-friendly smart city with wind-powered electricity.
FILM STUDIO IN GHANA
In February last year, Elba had a meeting with the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at which he pitched his idea to build a film studio in the country.
Photo: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com
Stills from the films Bunti (left) and Vuta n’kuvute [Tug of War] (right).
Cooking with Belinda Mkony
CELEBRATE THE CAULIFLOWER WITH SPICY STEAK RECIPE
Twiga cookery columnist Belinda Mkony serves up a plant-based treat that turns the healthy vegetable from boring to buzzing.
Cauliflower is a nutritious and adaptable vegetable, yet many find it bland. Typically, it’s boiled and sautéed with butter, salt, and pepper, but it often still seems lacking. So how do we fix this? I’m here to teach you; with some additional spices, you’ll never find it boring again.
Given some tender loving care with harmonious flavours and earthy spices, the cauliflower can be tasty as well as healthy.
I took on the challenge and added a touch of magic to this dish. This recipe is perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who enjoys flavourful, healthy sides. This summertime favourite features tender, juicy cauliflower slices grilled to a golden-brown crust with a sweet and spicy glaze. Served warm with lemony chickpeas and a herby, silky cauliflower purée, it takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
RECIPE / CAULIFLOWER STEAKS WITH SWEET AND SPICY GLAZE
Ingredients
For the Cauliflower steak and mash
• 1 large head of cauliflower
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable vegan seasoning
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 clove of garlic
• Half a teaspoon of fresh thyme
• Half a teaspoon of dried mixed herbs
• 1 teaspoon lemon herbed powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Half a teaspoon coriander
• Half a teaspoon of chili powder/chili oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of water to thin the paste
• Fresh herbs for garnish: parsley or coriander
• Warm lemon chickpeas and mchicha/ amaranthus
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 can organic chickpeas in brine, rinsed and dry
• 1 cup finely chopped mchicha /spinach or kale
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Salt and black pepper for taste
Instructions
Prepare the cauliflower:
Remove the outer leaves of the cauliflower and trim the stem so it stands upright. Slice the cauliflower into one-inch thick steaks, trying to keep them as intact as possible.
Make the glaze:
In a small bowl, combine olive oil, smoked paprika, vegetable vegan seasoning, garlic powder, lemon herbed seasoning, coriander, cumin, chili, honey, salt, and pepper. Add some water. Mix well to form a marinade/paste.
Marinate the cauliflower:
Brush both sides of the cauliflower steaks with the marinade and coat them evenly. Let them sit for about 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavours.
Grill the cauliflower:
Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the grill pans with some butter. Place the marinated cauliflower steaks on the grill, cooking for about five
to seven minutes on each side until they have a nice golden-brown crust and are fork-tender. Place the cauliflower in the oven and cover with aluminium foil for 5-10 mins at 180°C.
Prepare the Puree:
Chop all the remaining cauliflower. Add three quarters of a cup of water to a small saucepan, along with fresh thyme stems and salt. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped cauliflower, cover with a lid, and steam until tender, about five minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté uncovered, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is soft and the water has evaporated. This should take two to three minutes.
Finish the mash:
Transfer cauliflower and garlic to a blender/food processor. Add lemon juice and pulse until the cauliflower is puréed. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, mixed herbs, lemon-herbed
seasoning, and taste for salt and pepper. Blitz until the purée comes together and the seasoning is balanced. (Add water if you find it too thick)
Chickpeas with lemon and mchicha:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chickpeas and sauté for two to three minutes. Next, add mchicha and lemon juice, cooking and stirring frequently until the mchicha starts to wilt. Remove from heat and stir in parsley or coriander leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble
Place your plate and scoop out some purée with a spoon, then smear it on the plate. Top with chickpeas, lemon, and mchicha cauliflower steaks. Drizzle with chili oil (if needed). Garnish with fresh herbs and serve. Enjoy with a side of fresh salad. Feel free to add spices or herbs to the marinade for an extra flavour kick!
FOLLOW BELINDA
To keep up with her latest recipes and events, visit Fork.Ur.Munchies on Instagram
EXPERIENCE
ENTEBBE
Start your Air Tanzania Uganda adventure in Entebbe, home to the country’s international airport. While the close-by capital Kampala, gorilla trekking and the Big Five-filled national parks may be the next move for most visitors, there is much to reward sticking around in this lush, low-key city on the northern shores of Lake Victoria. From bird-filled botanical gardens to island escapes, we select a few of our favourite Entebbe experiences.
Red-chested sun bird
Searching for the shoebill
The shoebill is one of the great bird species of Africa and the swamps surrounding Entebbe are among the best places to see them in the wild. Using their massive beaks – which give the stork-like creatures their name and resemble a pair of deadly Dutch clogs – the birds feed on a wetlands bounty of eels, catfish, lizards and even small crocodiles. Bird watchers prize a sighting of this prehistoric-looking bird – the species does go back a long way, appearing in the artwork of the ancient Egyptians – and Mabamba Swamp, an hour from Entebbe by car or a 40-minute boat trip, is a prime spot. Growing up to 1.5 metres tall, the shoebill is hard to miss and draws attention to itself with its call – clattering that big bill to machine-gun-like effect.
Seek out the Ssese islands
Entebbe’s harbour offers opportunities to explore the islands of Lake Victoria. For one of Uganda’s most picturesque and tranquil escapes take the daily car ferry from Nakiwogo Dock – just south of Entebbe – to the Ssese Islands. This remote archipelago is a haven of white sand beaches, palm trees and lush forest. The ferry will drop you at Bugala, the largest and most developed of the islands – though this is all relative, you won’t find a car or paved road in sight – with its beachside lodges and bars. The island is a bird watcher’s paradise, and you’ll also find monkey-magnet forest as well as hippos and the sitatunga antelope in its wetlands. For
more wildlife, you can take a boat to Ngamba Island (direct trips are also possible from Entebbe), which has become a Jane Goodall-endorsed sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees in Uganda.
Take a nature bath in the botanical gardens
Visitors to Entebbe will be struck by its lush, green setting and the best place to soak up this verdant environment is its Botanical Gardens. It is a lovely spot for a calming walk amid ancient woodland that is home to colourful birds such as orange
weavers, red-chested sunbirds and the African openbill stork. Legend has it that in the 1940s the rainforest here was used as the backdrop to the popular Tarzan films in the US, but now it is a variety of monkeys with their distinct calls that swing from the vines here.
Sip a sundowner at the beach bars
Entebbe’s Lake Victoria coastline is peppered with hotel resorts with their own slice of the sandy beach. Many have their own beach bars such as the 2 Friends Beach Hotel, which has a terrace overlooking the lake to enjoy the perfect sundowner. A swim in Lake Victoria is not recommended with the occasional crocodile and hippo and the far more plentiful bilharzia parasite among the risks. However, 2 Friends like many other hotels here has an excellent pool for a cooling dip.
Shop for the perfect souvenir
Craft hub Pearl African Village is a showcase of Ugandan artisan talent, both modern and traditional. Situated on the commercial thoroughfare of Portal Road, the complex is a great place to explore local art, fashion, home décor, musical instruments and coffee.
Watch out for a rolex
Entebbe is a great place to pick up a cheap rolex. No, not the handcrafted luxury watches, but a delicious Ugandan street food. The name comes from how it is created, which involves combining an omelette (usually with sliced vegetables) on top of a fried chapati, and then rolling it up. The result is
‘rolled eggs’, shortened to ‘rolex’. You’ll find plenty of vendors on Nsamizi Road who will cook this tasty snack right in front of you. They may also be serving ‘kikomando’, a popular variation on the rolex in which the chapati is rolled with fried beans with additional toppings
How I travel abroad with a Tanzanian passport
Faysal Alao is a vlogger and tour operator from Tanzania living in Arusha. He uploads regular videos about his experiences and everyday lifestyle on his YouTube channel, ‘Lifestyle of Faysal’. You can also keep up with him on Snapchat @faysal_alao and Instagram @callmefays
A lot of people ask me how I manage travelling with a Tanzanian passport. The truth is it has not been easy. While every journey starts with a sense of excitement mixed with a bit of apprehension, I often find myself wondering if I’ll face yet another difficulty just because of where I’m from. Being a travel influencer with a Tanzanian passport has allowed me to see the world in unique ways. My adventures have taken me to bustling cities, serene landscapes, and everywhere in between. Content creation has been my biggest drive, and in this column, I’m not only going to explain how I overcome these challenges and share my real-life experiences.
One of my most memorable experiences was during a planned trip to Europe. I had everything prepared – the itinerary, accommodation, and collaborations lined up. Yet, the most critical part was missing: my visa approval. Days passed, and I anxiously waited, checking my email constantly, knowing that without it, my plans would be ruined. Just a day before my flight, I finally received my visa. While it was a huge relief, the waiting period had been nerve-wracking, a reminder that travel on a Tanzanian passport is never straightforward. But moments like these, filled with uncertainty, have taught me the importance of patience and perseverance.
Travelling with a Tanzanian passport comes with its fair share of challenges. Some countries impose strict visa requirements and additional scrutiny, given past instances of people overstaying or breaking the law. The process often involves providing extensive documentation, financial proof, and waiting for long periods. I’ve learned to prepare meticulously, ensuring I meet every requirement and plan for possible delays. By thoroughly researching each destination, understanding a country’s visa requirements, and maintaining a positive attitude, I’ve been able to overcome these obstacles and travel to over 30 countries, continuing my journey as a travel influencer.
In the end, while the path is not always easy, the experiences I’ve gained have been invaluable. Travelling as a Tanzanian has taught me resilience and adaptability. The lessons I've learned extend beyond travel – they’re about navigating life itself. I hope my story inspires others to pursue their passions, no matter the challenges they may face, and to remember that every journey, with its ups and downs, is worth taking.
MUSIC REVIEWS
Sound and vision
Mark Edwards rounds up the latest releases to stream, screen and read ‘NANI’ / D Voice featuring Zuchu
The singer from Dar es Salaam’s Temeke district was launched as a singeli artist, but his debut album, Swahili Kid, proved he can lend his melodic voice to a variety of musical genres including Bongo Flava, amapiano and Afro pop. The album featured two collaborations with his WCB Wasafi labelmate Zuchu and the pair team up again on new single ‘Nani’. Their voices blend well with D Voice’s honeyed, laid-back vocals complemented by Zuchu’s arch, mischievous flow.
REVIEWS
DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE
Perhaps it’s not surprising that two Marvel superheroes famed for their powers of regeneration have appeared in so many sequels. This is actor Ryan Reynolds’ fourth screen appearance as the wise-cracking Deadpool while Hugh Jackman has played the adamantine-clawed Wolverine an incredible 10 times. The combined star power of the two leads has made this one of the year’s most hotly anticipated films. Amid plenty of one-liners and double-entendres, the pair team up to save the multiverse.
BOOK REVIEWS
THE ROAD TO THE COUNTRY
/ By Chigozie Obioma
Nigerian-born writer Obioma has twice been shortlisted for The Booker Prize. His latest work could well be his best. Two brothers divided by civil war try to find their way back to each other. Kunle's search for his sibling Tunde becomes a journey of atonement which sees him conscripted into the army to fight a war he hardly understands. Once there, he will forge friendships to last a lifetime, and he will meet a woman who will change his world forever. But will he find his brother? Destined to be a classic.
‘NYASH’
/ Abigail Chams
The Tanzanian multi-instrumentalist and singer returns with a cheeky new single that champions body positivity. Chams, who signed to Sony Record while still a teenager, has been open to sharing her own insecurities with fans and started the youth programme ‘Teen Talks With Abby Chams’ as a safe place for young people to voice on the challenges they face. Her track ‘Nyash’ – African slang for bottom or backside – celebrates all shapes and sizes and is driven by a club-friendly track created by Tanzanian producers S2Kizzy and DJ Joozey that draws on South Asian influences.
DESPICABLE ME 4
Reformed supervillain Gru and his devoted, if destructive, team of mini yellow helpers, the minions, are back. Now there is a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his father. Domestic life come crashing down when it is announced Gru’s arch-rival Maxime Le Mal has escaped from prison vowing revenge against Gru. The Gru family is relocated and assume new names and identities as part of a witness protection programme. Gru becomes Chet, a solar panel salesman, but the biggest change affects the minions when they are given a super serum.
CAN FEMINISM BE AFRICAN?
/ Minna Salami
This provocative book utilizes social commentary and critique to highlight how the patriarchy and cultural norms suppress the feminist spirit of Adunni, a teenage girl born into a rural Nigerian village. Aged 14, she is a commodity, a wife, a servant. She is also smart, funny, curious, with a spirit and joy infectious to those around her. And despite her situation going from bad to worse, she has a plan to escape: she will find her 'louding voice' and get her education, so that she can speak up for herself – and all the girls who came before her.
Arts column
Festivals are for strengthening artistic communities and fostering innovation
Festivals are more than just vibrant gatherings of music, dance, and art, they are also vital platforms that strengthen the bonds between artists and their communities. For Tanzanian artists and cultural practitioners, festivals provide a unique space to connect, collaborate, and showcase their talents.
Wikiendi Live held at Nafasi Art Space is a prime example of how such gatherings foster a sense of belonging among artists while inspiring the wider public to engage with the arts. The two-day festival is packed with performances, art fairs, workshops, and more as artists come together to celebrate and elevate Tanzanian culture. Through these connections, artists not only share their work but also build lasting relationships with fellow creatives. These relationships often lead to future collaborations that extend beyond the festival, further strengthening the artistic community.
Beyond fostering connections, festivals also serve as platforms for creative innovation and experimentation. They provide a safe and exciting environment for artists to push the boundaries of their work, trying out new ideas and forms of expression that might not be possible elsewhere. From live performances that blend traditional and contemporary styles to interactive art x, festivals allow artists to explore uncharted territory.
For Tanzanian artists and cultural workers, taking part in festivals – or even organizing their own – can be a transformative experience. Festivals inspire creativity, build community, and keep the arts thriving. Get involved, and let your creativity flourish!
YOUR ULTIMATE TRAVEL COMPANION
Fly
with ease and book your next adventure with the new Air Tanzania mobile app
FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Book a flight
• Change or cancel your flight and purchase extras such as additional baggage allowance
• Check in, view your boarding pass and add it to Apple Wallet.
• View or change your seat.
• Check the latest flight status and receive flight and gate change notifications.
• Join Air Tanzania’s rewards programme Twiga Miles and earn points every time you travel to enjoy premium services
• Book Twiga Miles award tickets.
• Check your Twiga Miles account balance and current tier status.
• Manage your trips, profile and customise your travel preferences.
Download the Air Tanzania App now on Play Store and App Store
Travel information Before take-off
Taking your first flight is certainly exciting, but can also become a source of stress for those who are unfamiliar with the rules, procedures and customs of flying. To prepare yourself for your first flight, it is therefore important to get information on everything you need to do before and during your journey. Here is a useful pre-departure checklist.
1 Before departing, it is important to check the airline’s website for its hand luggage rules: weight, sizes and types of objects you can take on board. For example, as regards liquids, you are advised to carry these in your hand luggage, only in transparent, reseal able, plastic containers, not exceeding 100 ml. If you have connection flights, we advise that you also check the websites of other airlines.
2 Arrive at the airport in advance (at least two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights).
3 Check in online, if possible. If travelling with hand luggage alone, you can check in online and print or download your boarding pass which you must take with you directly to security checks.
4 Set your mobile to flight mode, as well as other devices connected to the internet that you are taking on board. Cabin crew will remind you of this step before take-off. With flight mode set, you can still take photos of your unforgettable journey and you can also enjoy the in-flight entertainment system!
AIR TANZANIA FLEET
DE HAVILLAND CANADA DASH
8-Q400
Number of aircraft available:
5 De Havilland Canada
Seat capacity: (3 De Havilland Canada) Business Class 6, Economy 70, (1 De Havilland Canada) Business class 10, Economy 68
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 2,063 km (1,362 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: up to 360 knots (414 mph or 667 km/hr)
Wingspan: 93 ft 3 in (28.4 m)
Length: 107 ft 9 in (32.8 m)
5 To prevent sickness from ruining your first flight on a plane, we advise you to take natural remedies, such as, for example, ginger tablets or gum to chew.
6 Enjoy the view! By choosing a seat near the window, you will see breath-taking landscapes and you can take photos of the exquisite white clouds you will be flying above.
7 Try to take a nap. Sleeping on the plane will make time pass faster and you will arrive at your destination calm and rested.
8 Lastly, especially during take-off and landing, the change in pressure inside the cabin may cause discomfort in your ears. Chew gum or wear earplugs to combat this.
National carrier Air Tanzania is justifiably proud of its revamped six-strong fleet. Here we take a close-up look at our aircraft with technical data and specifications.
AIRBUS 220-300 (CS300)
Number of aircraft available: 4
Seat capacity: Business Class 12 and 120 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 6,112 km (3,300 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 470 knots (541 mph or 871 km/hr)
Thrust per engine at sea level: 23,300 lbf / 103.6 kN
Wingspan: 115 ft 1 in (35.1 m)
Length: 127 ft (38.7 m)
Interior cabin width: 129 inches (3.28 m)
BOEING 737-MAX 9
Number of aircraft available: 2
Seat capacity: Business Class 16 and 165 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 6,570 km (3,550 Nm)
Wingspan: 117 ft (35.9 m)
Speed: 853 km/h
Length: 138 ft (42.1 m)
Fuel capacity: 25,800 litres
BOEING 787-8 DREAMLINER
Number of aircraft available: 3
Seat capacity: Business Class 22 and 240 Economy Class
Number of flight-deck crew: 2
Range: 13,621 km (7,355 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 488 knots (561 mph or 903 km/hr)
Thrust per engine at sea level:
64,000 lbf / 280 kN
Wingspan: 197 ft 3 in (60.12 m)
Length: 186 ft 1 in (56.72 m)
Interior cabin width: 18 ft 0 inch (5.49 m)
FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Air Tanzania has a free allowance for passengers’ baggage across economy and business class. For full details and rates please see our website www.airtanzania.co.tz or contact booking enquiries
+255 748 773 900
Passports and visas
A valid passport or traveldocument that is valid for at least six months is required to enter the United Republic of Tanzania.
Visitors will also require a valid visa upon arrival. There is a range of visas available depending on the nature and frequency of your visits, but a single entry visa can be obtained on arrival in Tanzania subject to the fulfilment of all immigration requirements. There is a US$ 50 charge for the visa.
Those travelling to Zanzibar require an inbound health insurance policy, which is mandatory for all foreign visitors. The insurance can
BOEING 767-300F CARGO
Number of aircraft available: 1
Seat capacity: N/A
Range: 6,025 km (3,253 Nm)
Typical cruising speed: 488 knots (561 mph or 903 km/hr)
Cargo volume: 438 cubic metres
Cargo weight: 52.7 tonnes
Thrust per engine at sea level: 60,600 lbf / 270 kN
Wingspan: 156 ft 3 in (47.57 m)
Length: 180 ft 3 in (54.94 m)
be purchased in advance online or at check-in when departing for Zanzibar. The insurance is charged at US$44 per person.
For a full list of visas available and for countries for which special terms exist, visit the Air Tanzania website.
Check-in
Check in online, if possible. If travelling with hand luggage alone, you can check in online and print or download your boarding pass, which you must take with you directly to security checks. You should check in two hours ahead of your flight time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Family travel
Fares for infants and children
As a general rule, children up to two years old are not required to have their own seat and are allowed to travel on parents’ lap. An infant tickets costs 10 per cent of the regular fare. Depending on the destination, taxes and fees may apply. Please note that only 1 baby per adult is accepted. You can choose to buy a seat for your baby at the reduced rates for children if any children’s rate is applicable.
If your child is older than two years or turns two while you are travelling, you will have to book a separate seat for him or her and book the children fare for the entire journey. If a child travels with an accompanying adult in the same class of cabin, the child should be seated in the same seat row as the accompanying adult. Where this is not possible, the child should be seated no more than one seat row or aisle away. Reduced rates
ECONOMY
BUSINESS
apply for children aged two to 11 on most routes, depending on the travel class. Children turning 12 years en route need to be booked as adults for the entire journey.
Expectant mothers
Our priority is always your safety and that of your unborn child.
To avoid unnecessary risks to you and your baby, we recommend that all expectant mothers consult a doctor before booking their ticket and inquire about their fitness to fly the length of the trip they intend to take.
Depending on the stage and circumstances of your pregnancy, you may be required to present certain medical forms before flying. For your own safety and the well-being of your child, Air Tanzania will not accept expectant mothers who are pregnant from their 34th week or beyond.
UMNR (children travelling alone)
If you’re planning for your child to travel alone, we’re here to make sure they enjoy their trip and that they are well taken care of throughout their journey.
When you book our unaccompanied minor service, your child will be received at the originating airport, taken care of during transit and while on board the aircraft. He or she will be handed over to the person designated by the parents/guardians upon arrival at the final destination.
Cost
To avail the unaccompanied minor service, an adult fare needs to be purchased for the child. Please contact us to book the flight and the service.
Infant fare checked baggage allowance
Infants travelling on an infant fare are allowed 10 kg as baggage allowance.
Child fare baggage allowance
Children and infants travelling on a child fare are eligible for the same baggage allowance as adults.
Wheelchairs
If you need wheelchair assistance at the airport, you must advise Air Tanzania of this at the time of booking. You can request wheelchair assistance through our Call Centre or at Air Tanzania Sales offices.
Inflight Wi-Fi
On board Wi-Fi
Enable Wi-Fi on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, and select AirTanzaniaWifi
You will need to launch your web browser, which will display the log-in web portal. From the portal, simply select your preferred price plan.
Portable electronic devices (PEDs) You can use your e-readers, tablets and smartphones from gate to gate – including taxiing, take-off and landing – without a risk to safety.
Note that on-board Wi-Fi is only available on certain aircraft. Please follow cabin crew instructions at all times.
Zanzibar
Those travelling to Zanzibar require an inbound health insurance policy, which is mandatory for all foreign visitors. The insurance can be purchased in advance online or at check-in when departing for Zanzibar. The insurance is charged at $44 per person.
