Interesting fact learned from this week’s Cool Saturday Maasai guests: A lion will not kill a woman or child. In fact Benedict shared the story of when a lion protected his brother who was lost in the bush for over two weeks. During the day the lion would sit at a distance from the boy; in the night it would move closer, chasing away any animals threaten him. (read more to learn more interesting facts).

As children, Daniel and Joseph would watch their father work and practice carving with pieces of cassavas root. After attempting to carve an elephant, a giraffe or a woman carrying a basket on her head, they would eat it!

I was initially invited to Tanzania to help women with some knowledge of sewing to start a group to support church and families.   Their initial challenge was their misconception about tourists. “We want to make things for visitors, but most of the people who visit here have money, and people with money buy plastic imported products.” 

Historically Maasai children who were given the opportunity to study in boarding schools were required to put aside their traditional dress and hairstyles, and miss out on many Maasai cultural activities because the schools would not accommodate their unique cultural needs

On the opening day of school we invited all the students and their families to a celebration. 

I heard a saying early on, “If you can get a job with a monthly salary, you can do whatever you want all day.”

Part of the original mission of ADEA is to work with artisans to produce creative products that are appealing to tourists and interesting to international buyers.

From the elders we learn about local life; the traditions, customs, and social constructs under which communities functioned; and also local perspectives on national events

From the elders we learn about local life; the traditions, customs, and social constructs under which communities functioned; and also local perspectives on national events

Tanzanian children learn early on to help in the home.

In Maasai culture meat consumption is the norm, and the best part, the head, is saved for an elder.

Drinking tea is a normal part of the current Tanzania tradition.

Watu wa Mtwara [People of Mtwara]

Sometimes planting the seed is enough if that is all you can do. I learned this last month I revisited the Maasai community in which ADEA helped to found two primary schools in Rombo, Kenya – on the eastern face of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The smartphone has brought the impact of world fashion to this remote corner of Africa.

Last week one of our carvers arrived at the ADEA office donning a baseball cap with the logo of my hometown football team, the Seattle Seahawks. It was great to see a fellow fan… or was he?

Soon after I arrived in Mtwara I went to buy bread. I waited patiently for the man in front of me to finish his business, and then I stepped forward to make my order. Just then…

This is not likely (though I have no proof to the contrary). This funny consideration came from some older Tanzanian Shilling notes and a publication we purchased on the history of Tanzanian banknotes.

Watu wa Mtwara [People of Mtwara]

One of the great pleasures of living in a less developed corner of the world is the connection and relationship to nature. I sense this when I discover that there are bees in my honey.

Last week eight class-six (sixth grade) primary school students came to our museum to ask if we could tell them what impact the British had on the islands of Zanzibar to help them prepare for their history exam the next day. Though very last minute, we were encouraged …

Two month ago the government came and cut down many of our trees. Maybe 14 coconut trees; 4 mango trees; lemon, lime and orange trees; and 6 or 5 cashew trees. There was nothing we could do because the village leaders agreed that the government could do this so that electricity lines could be set up. We were given nothing by the government for the trees that were cut. But it will be good to have electricity.

Watu wa Mtwara [People of Mtwara]

Most of us might think a rainbow is a wonderful and beautiful thing. But not so with the Makonde.

I have been selling roasted peanuts for long long time. People around here know me. I started selling roasted peanuts when I was in primary school, and continued after finishing. I am now around 42 years old. Every morning I roast a 20 liter buckets worth of peanuts. On a good day I sell four basins full. I like this work very much, and will do it until I die!

Watu wa Mtwara [People of Mtwara]

At 4:40 p.m. six boys on bicycles were outside the front of our museum, so the museum manager and I went out to greet them.

Being about four weeks ago, our small museum has experienced a daily inundation of primary school children at our museum; some days more than 30. They come during their lunch break and after school. They come to see…

In the hall in font of my office hangs a brightly colored world map. I often refer to it, to help my team understand where I come from or where I am going, or when I dream about cooler places when I become weary of the heat or dust. A normal part of my day is a visit from the banana seller.

I moved to Mtwara, Tanzania in 2003 to co-found the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization or non-profit) ADEA (the center for African Development through Economics and the Arts). ADEA is located in Mtwara in the southeastern corner of the country on the Indian Ocean coast with the Mozambique boarder just to the south. Back then, Mtwara was known as the Wild West of Tanzania,

I was initially dubious as to how interested local youth would be in artifacts and daily work traditions. H How wrong I was. They were so happy to see them, and the elders were so happy to share them.

Sitting fees is a payment paid to participants of a workshop or program for …. participating. In Tanzania, they have come to be expected in conjunction with charitable training and government programs. ADEA also had to deal with this expectation.

Welcome to Blog #6. This is the last of the introductory blog post focuses on category – Local Experiences. Blog posting categorized under Local Experiences will be dedicated to a wide rang of things that have happened to me or I witnessed over the years outside of the principle ADEA activities and programs already listed.

This introductory Blog focuses on category – MaKuYa Cultural Museum and Learning Center. The museum is currently our primary project as we aim to ignite the joy of learning and discovery here Mtwara.

In 2006 we at ADEA along with some other expats working in Mtwara, Tanzania had the idea of a festival, one that celebrated culture and fun. In 2008 this idea became the MaKuYa Traditional Culture and Performing Arts Festival. It sparked a renaissance in traditional dance, it bridge the generations, and lifted appreciations for local culture.

In 2007 ADEA partnered with the Pillar of Maasai Development (PMD) Community Based Organization (CBO) in Rombo, Kenya to bring primary school education to Maasai children whose families needed future hope due to devastating loss of land and cattle. In this blog I’ll share dimensions of ADEA’s work with the Maasai: our efforts, successes and challenges. Also, the culture I have experienced and friends I have made.

Under this category you will learn about ADEA’s work with artisans that initially launched ADEA – and thus our name “The center for African Development through Economics and the Arts”.

Welcome to the first of many (maybe hundreds) of very very short blogs from Africa drawn from my more than two decades of working, living, socializing, exploring, and experiencing life in East Africa. These blogs will be diverse in their content drawn from past and present developments of my ADEA