The Kilimanjaro Heritage
The world over, Mount Kilimanjaro is famous particularly for hikers and climbers. In Africa, it is the highest mountain on the continent with a dormant volcano and a sight to behold. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in one of the regions in the Republic of Tanzania in East Africa, called Kilimanjaro. With a population of 1.6 million people, it is the 8th most densely populated region with 124 people per square kilometer. It is named the cleanest region, particularly referring to its capital city Moshi.
On the streets of Moshi, it is forbidden to drop refuse on the roadside. Not even spitting is allowed. Years back, people learned this the hard way by paying a penalty of fifty thousand Tanzanian Shillings. This trick worked magic to date and it has not only maintained the title of a clean town but also made Moshi a desirable place to be.
The natives of Kilimanjaro are people called the Chaggas. They are known for their love for progress, wealth and strong family ties. A Chagga man would rather bleed to death than let his lineage go unnoticed and not taken care of. It is said that they make responsible men and they are among the most reliable family men. For the love of their family and for unity, Chaggas usually must gather in the village every end of the year. This old and enduring tradition is called kuhesabiwa. Goats and cows are slaughtered, beer is brewed from bananas and it is a huge feast for both locals and visitors. At this time of the year, buses from other parts of the country are flooded and fully booked as all Chaggas flock home.
Photo Credit: Stephan Bechart
The Kilimanjaro Mountain stands at 5830 metres above sea level. What a beauty to behold! This dormant volcanic mountain is named after two languages: Kilima which means mountain in Swahili and Njaro which means Whiteness in Chagga language. So one could simply say the ‘’White Mountain’’ Rightfully so because of the volcanic snow covered mountain peaks. But why not call it Snowy Mountain?
The answer is: the Chagga people did not have snow in their vocabulary and so they referred to it as the White Mountain or the Shining Mountain. Also, the Chaggas do not view Mount Kilimanjaro as one mountain, they insisted that it was important to recognize and acknowledge its three peaks namely Kibo, Mawenzi and Kimawenzi or ‘broken top’. Its beauty does not end with an outstanding height, but stretches to wow the eyes of the viewer with its true and never melting ice atop the peaks . No matter the weather, the snow on Mount Kilimanjaro remains as a crown. It is literally a cake on a silver platter, describing how the mountain appears seated on the clouds.
Geographically, the mountain stands at the border of Tanzania and Kenya, making it a magnet for tourists who eagerly yearn for an adventure. It is undeniable that there is a whole scenic view from the Kenyan side, while climbing and exploration is only possible when in Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro reminds us of the seventh wonder of the world, the famous Victoria Falls, falling from the Zambezi river in Zambia, while its panorama view is seen standing on the Zimbabwean side.
Kilimanjaro Mountain has served the Kilimanjaro region with pure and safe drinking water for years now. It is only in this town that people prefer tap water to bottled water . Among the many benefits, it is at the center of a flouring tourism sector. Together with National Parks such as Mkomazi Park, Kilimanjaro is the backbone of the Northern Tanzania Tourism Circuit.
Another interesting detail about the Kilimanjaro region is the amount of banana trees in the local. Banana trees surround many homes and they are essentials in all households. For instance, bananas are used to make a local brew called Mbege; to make meals such as a special porridge called Mtori; and for a famous meal called Machalari.
Kilimanjaro is also known for animal husbandry. The people are renowned for keeping and rearing herds of cattle and goats, just like their neighboring tribe, the Maasai found in Arusha, a region that borders Kilimanjaro on the North. This animal husbandry tradition was given a lift a two years ago when the late President of Tanzania, Dr. John Magufuli established a leather processing and leather goods manufacturing factory in the region.
The Kilimanjaro Leather Industry Company Limited is the biggest leather processing industry in East Africa, set up to increase value of the skin and hide from livestock in Tanzania. Located in Moshi Munincipal with a great view of Mount Kilimanjaro, the factory and envisaged industry has the capacity of employing about 3000 people directly and about 1000 indirectly. It is believed that in addition to tourism and trading, the industry will greatly boost the economy of the Kilimanjaro region.
Arora is a poet