Chagga

Every two weeks we venture about an hour from the village (I have the unique opportunity to go on this adventure a few times being that Tanzania will be my new home for the next few months). Our journey entails heading to the black smith, the market, Chagga huts, Chagga tunnels, making FRESH coffee - naturally I plan on bringing back a few bags - and hiking to a waterfall.  

THE BLACK SMITH: It is deserted. We have arrived early and the black smith is not ready. Our arrival causes a quick bussel. Suddenly, the spears are out and the fires are lit. We have a chance to try out our black smith skills...some what successfully. The trick is to open your hands while lifting the bags up to let the air in.

It wasn't all work and no play, I made a new friend!

 

THE MARKET: The outdoor market is bursting with people and goods. There doesn't seem to be enough space for both the merchants and the customers. The merchants are mostly women peddling everything from house hold goods like cloth, food and chickens to food for livestock. It feels familiar. Quite similar to an American farmers market, only most of the goods are displayed on a blanket surrounding the vendor.  

CHAGGA: Shortly, we arrive to the Chagga hut and the tunnels. The huts were surprisingly spacious inside, though they needed to house both the family AND the livestock. Aside from the massive huts, what is really impressive is the strategy behind the Chagga tunnels. The tunnels were built as a defense against the low land, nomadic tribes. When the tribes would come to attack the Chagga people, the entire village - livestock included - would go underground. The tunnels had passages and rooms all the way to the river. When the enemy would funnel into the tunnels chasing after the Chagga, they would be attacked and released into the river in the middle of the night. The passages from room to room were in a zigzag pattern to decrease any chance of an echo and allowing the enemy to locate the rooms from above. Each room had a vent that led above ground to allow both light and air in. The vents were covered by vegetation that would not attract animals or insects however, the surrounding plants were either poisonous or attracted undesirable animals and insects; making the vents difficult for the enemy to discover. Had these vents been discovered the strategy would have collapsed. I know...MIND BLOWN!  

CHAGGA HUT

 

CHAGGA TUNNEL

 

COFFEE: Instant coffee is a thing of the past. Once you have separated your coco beans from their shell, roasted them, ground them...there is no turning back. And to think it all started with this little tree...

 

KILASIYA: A picture is worth a 1,000 words...