THE HISTORY OF KARAGWE AND TRADITION REVIEW PROJECT TO BE DONE IN AT THE CLIMAX OF WORLD CULTURAL WEEK 20th DAY OF MAY 2016

THE HISTORY OF KARAGWE AND TRADITION REVIEW PROJECT
TO BE DONE IN AT THE CLIMAX OF WORLD CULTURAL WEEK
20th DAY OF MAY 2016

Karagwe has a rich and long history as well as chain traditional values that can traced as far as six centuries. In fact, Karagwe is among the few areas with such a long history in Tanzania.

 History usually is characterized with oral tradition, (which is sometimes mythical) and documented information collected through scientific analysis of the available facts and artifacts as it is asserted by Farellius, 1993), that, “historians cannot reach the historical reality at a good percent without involving other professions including among others anthropologists and archeologists”. 

The history of Karagwe, traditions and culture have been analyzed by different disciplines which developed interest in them. Among those are historians, archeologists and anthropologists. Amongst the early documents which in fact carry the first hand information is the one which was written by John Hannington Speke in 1860.

In his zeal to quench the thirsty of his sponsors about the Source of the mighty River Nile, he happened to have a stop and a two months stay in Karagwe before he continued to Buganda. He wrote his observations and findings about Karagwe in an article in the Journal in Britain. His article was titled The Discovery of the Source of Nile. Fifteen years later, that is in 1875, an American Journalist Henry Stanley passed in Karagwe and documented his observations in an article titled Through the Dark Continent.

These two vital documents provided a cornerstone and a pivot upon which further investigations and ethnographic findings have depended for reference. There have been a number of researchers and scholars from the dates of the German Rule, British rule as well as independence and post independence era, trying to unfold the History of Karagwe. 

The list of references at the end of this document gives some few found documents directly or indirectly talking about the history and traditions of Karagwe. Some of the books and articles which include that of J.Ford and Z.Hall and Israel Katoke (1975) talk about the history of Karagwe which has been accumulated for the past 500 years. Birgita Farellius, (2008), gives more detailed analysis on the context of symbolism and social context of the ruling system that prevailed for 500+ years in the same location. More other academic papers add more information on the same context from different perspectives. 

The intention of this project basically, is to make a more detailed analysis on what has been documented and narrated by consulting more elders who may confirm or reject some hypothesis that where put forward by different scholars. 

As a benchmark, we have prepared an in depth discussion with elders from all over Karagwe, whom we believe are conversant with the Karagwe history and traditions. The discussion will be held in Karagwe in 20th May 2016.

 Key informants have been selected through a snow ball method aiming at getting informants with rich information a number of 45 elders have been identified and invited for the event.

The panel will compose of elders of two different categories
a) Elders who achieved their knowledge through both education and experience
b) Elders who acquired their knowledge through only experience and possibly not influenced with the new way of thinking.
c) Elders from the nearby societies who have a special social relationship or affiliations with Karagwe
The discussion will be lead by experienced anthropologist who at first will present the short summary of what is known about Karagwe history and instigate discussions among the elders by posing some instigating topics within the context. The elders will be led to discuss up saturation, that is, one elder building on the knowledge of the other until no new information is gathered.

The event will be held at Bugene secondary school and some students from nearby schools will be invited to witness the event.
Community radios in Karagwe will cover the event so as to achieve the audience from all over Karagwe and the nearby districts. The discussion may proceed in the community radio by allowing people to call from different areas and add information to what has been discussed in the session with elders.
EVENTS OF THE SECOND DAY 21 MAY 2016
21st may will be the climax of the cultural week whereby the festival will be held at Nyakahanga Primary school grounds.

The day will be decorated by events such as:
a) Competition on traditional drumming and dancing
b) Competition on traditional singing
c) Competition of traditional RAP ( majigambo)
d) Assembling and competition for any available antiquities 
e) Football match for two selected teams

All competitions will be prized to motivate the competitors and add more value to the event. 
The events will be carefully documented both electronically and hardcopy devices such as still pictures for further undertakings
On behalf of the organizing committee we are hereby inviting you to officiate the two events

NYEGERA KARAGWE-KARIBU KARAGWE
Edward F Ruhinda
A member of the organizing committee 
References 
1. John Hanning Speke, 1863. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. William Blackwood and Sons Edinburgh and London
2. Stanley, 1875. Through the Dark Continent
3. J.Ford and Z.Hall The History of Karagwe (Bukoba District)
4. Has Cory and ……The history of Bukoba district
5. Elliot,1947:The history of Karagwe
6. Israel Katoke, 1975:. The Founding of Karagwe Kingdom. The History of Banyambo north west of Tanzania. 1450-1905 ( The PhD thesis at the University of Dar es salaam)
7. Birgitha Farelius, 2008. Tradition Symbolism of Kingship in Greats lake region. A PhD thesis of Upsalla University. Sweeden.
8. Israel Katoke, Christianity and Culture. An African Experience. An academic paper Publications, Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Transformation
9. Karagwe (Kaifuro)1 and the Founding of the Nyanza mission (c.m.s.). Tanzania notes and records No.66 of 1966
10. A. T. Matson. The Instructions Issued in 1876 and 1878 to the Pioneer C.M.S. parties to Karagwe and Uganda. the journal of religion in africa xii, 3 (1981)
11. Andrew Reid and Rache MacLean. Symbolism and Social Context of Iron Production in Karagwe. World archiology Vol.27(1):144-61.Symbolic Aspects of early technologies. Rouledge.19950043-8243.
12. Bertram B.B. Mapunda. Water, Iron and Soil in a Matrix of Culture: Analysis of the Prosperity of Milansi and Karagwe Kingdoms, Tanzania. Nile Basin Research Programme. © BRIC 2009 University of Bergen

TOOLS FOR INDEPTH DISCUSSION
1. Mnyambo ni nani na nini asili yake. 
2. Je Karagwe imetokana na nini? Nini Chanzo cha jina hili?
3. Nini chimbuko utawala wa Karagwe, ni yapi majina mahsusi katika tawala utawala wa Karagwe?
4. Kabila ni nini?
5. Je Mnyambo ni kabila au ni sehemu ya kabila?
6. Watawala hao walitokea wapi? Nini kilitokea? Wapi yalikuwa makao makuu ya utawala huu?
7. Tunaweza kuongea nini kuhusu utamaduni wa mnyambo? (chakula, lugha, mavazi, nk)
8. Mnyambo asilia ana(ali)jisshughulisha na nini kwa ajiri ya kipato na kuendesha maisha?
9. Nini sifa kubwa ya Myambo? (Prestige)
10. Hebu tuongee kuhusu ndoa na urithi katika utamaduni wa mnyambo. Mwanamke ana nafasi gani?
11. Kwa nini utamaduni wa mnyambo unapotea, ulianza kumomonyoka lini?
12. Nini kifanyike kuurejesha utamaduni wa mnyambo na kuufanya uwe na nguvu tena?

CREDIT TO: NEVER