01/05/2019
Dar es Salaam City
Dar Es Salaam City
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city (population about 5,000,000 estimated 2002), economic centre and former capital of Tanzania. The Name was Translated from Arabic Language means ‘Safe Harbour’. The city serves as the capital for the surrounding Dar es Salaam Region as well as, arguably, the de facto current capital of Tanzania. Though inland Dodoma is the official capital, the vast a majority of federal government employees live in Dar and most major political figures maintain residences here. Located on a harbour on the Indian Ocean, it is the main port for Tanzania, handling exports of minerals, coffee, cotton, sisal and hides. In addition it is the hub of Tanzanian’s national transport system as most major highways and all railways originate in or near the city. Local industries include trade, food products, textiles, cement, and pharmaceuticals. About one half on Tanzania’s manufacturing employment is located here despite the fact that Dar holds only ten percent of the population. Dar es Salaam is located at 6°48′ South, 39°17′ East (-6.8, 39.28333).
Though the city has a low violent crime rate, this is increasing along with the already high number of instances of theft as inequality increases and the amount of money available from Tanzania’s thriving aid industry increases. One common nickname of the city is “Bongo” (meaning “brain” in Swahili), essentially implying that street smarts are what is needed to service here.
The economically important Tazara railway runs from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka, Zambia.
Administratively, Dar es Salaam is broken into 3 districts: Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke.Â
CULTURE;
Downtown Dar es Salaam has a very Arabic and Indian flavor to it, with many small business proprietors being of those origins. Many of the buildings and general layout of the downtown area have a frenetic, claustrophic feeling that lends itself to street vendors and restaurateurs doing a good business. The night life of Dar es Salaam includes several night clubs and casinos, and a multitude of local bars and restaurants, some of which have local acts performing. Most of these are East African Dance Bands but there is a trend towards R and B (“Bongo Flavor”) or hip hop acts.
The areas outside the city center are of a newer construction and are more spread out and disorganized (Sprawling). There are are very heavily populated by Africans, except for Oyster Bay, which still has a large “western” population. Unfortunately, though there is little in the way of open racially motivated hostility, the various ethnic communities of Dar es Salaam do not intermingle heavily. The edges of Dar es Salaam spreading are growing outward rapidly.Â
taxing the transportation system and giving rise to fears that he city will start to suffer problems from Urban overcrowding in the near future.
A few local restaurants specialize in traditional Indian or Zanzibar cuisine, while many other establishments, such as the New Protein Bar, serve traditional Tanzanian foods such as “Nyama Choma” (roasted meat) or “Mishkaki” (Shish Kabob) with salt and various hot peppers. There are also an ever-increasing number of international restaurants as the expatriate community and tourism grow.
There are a few museums such as the National Museum, the Village Museum, or the Botanical Gardens that one can visit, and within an hour’s drive North is Bagamoyo, home to the Kaole ruins. There are beaches on the Kigamboni peninsula East of Dar es Salaam and on Kigamboni Island to the North that residents and tourists frequently visit. The National Stadium hosts periodical football matches between rival Tanzanian clubs and Dar es Salaam’s Simba club, as well as international matches.
The first Cineplex in Tanzania to show first-run Western and Indian releases was opened in Dar es Salaam in December of 2003 ........(....muko pouwaaaaaaaaa hapooooo)
KUZA UTALII WA NCHI YAKO
