Global Partners 2003
East Africa Travel Grant Report

Mary Bruce, Monmouth College

Fax number: 1-309-457-2310

I joined Robin Visel and Brad Nystrom’s project on literature and on education, and had a very productive visit. Originally, we planned to hold the mini-seminars January 5-12, so I bought my ticket for January 1, planning to rest over the weekend and begin January 5th. However there was a glitch in the tickets of my colleagues. Although urged to get tickets early, they could not, as there was some question regarding Brad Nystrom’s wife’s health. By the time this issue was resolved they could not get transport until January 6th.

Therefore, since I arrived a week before my colleagues, I went South. While there, I learned a little about rural village education, specifically, in the Mufindi District. There, Tanzanians strive to inculcate academics and to build upon knowledge automatically gleaned from village life. For example, young children learn the trails and habits of animals at home. Then the school teaches facts such as the elephant eats over 200kg a day and feeds on 112 different varieties of plants. In the village of Mafinda, contrasting with Tanzanian rural educational efforts, is a TRIAS project sponsored by Belgium, which teaches nutrition and practical vocational skills, such as sewing for the girls and woodworking for the boys. I hope to communicate with this Mafinda TRIAS project through email and eventually write an article about it.

Just before the others arrived, I returned to Dar. Then I and Dr. Sonja Darlington of Beloit College called upon Dr.Hamza Njozi, Head, and other members of the Literature Department at the University of Dar es Salaam. This visit amounted to a diplomatic call in that it broke the ice and gave the department a look at these Americans who had descended upon them. Initially, they seemed quite reserved, but later relaxed as we explained that Global Partners’ intent was simply to exchange ideas and teaching methods.

After my other colleagues had arrived in Dar, we held a gathering that accomplished our initial intent. We discussed our respective curricula and students as well asked questions of one another. Books we donated to the literature department were much appreciated. The donation of copies of my novel, Dr. Sally’s Voodoo Man, produced much interest and ultimately resulted in my being invited to the university to teach creative writing, as I do at Monmouth College.

Perhaps our most cordial host was Dr. Peter Chonjo of the Education Department. He was at the airport with me at midnight when Robin Visel et al arrived. The next day he gave us a tour of the campus and introduced us to what seemed like everyone in the Education Department. We met the Head, the Dean, associate deans, computer support people, secretaries, as well as other members of the Education Department. Then dean then called a formal meeting, and we had a round table discussion about education policies in the USA and in Tanzania. At one point, we were surprised when the dean suggested we needed official government permission to "gather data!" After we explained that we were not gathering intelligence data, the dean asked us to make a presentation on Tuesday, January 13. Unfortunately, I had to leave the country January 12 in order to return to classes. I am eager to find out how the presentations were made and received. After this formal meeting with the dean, Dr. Chonjo took us all to lunch.

The piece de resistance regarding the department of education was a dinner at the house of Peter and Joyce Chonjo. The hospitality was magnificent, and the conversation, which revolved around Mrs. Chonjo’s ambition to open a school, stimulating.

Thanks to Dr. Darlington, we also had dinner with Ruth Mena, former Member of Parliament. Ruth Mena was instrumental in getting laws passed for gender equity in Tanzania. She provided us with an inside view of what it was like for Tanzanians, particularly women, to transition from a socialist state into a market economy. "We had no preparation or foundation," Mrs. Mena remarked.

In addition to interacting with scholars and politicians, we also visited two presses that published in English and Swahili. We visited Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, and saw the wide variety of the books they print. They publish books, from texts on anthropology and history to adult and children’s’ fiction. Unlike many American publishing houses, these people were very accessible and cordial.

Next we went to E & D Limited, a select press owed by Demere Kitunga and writer, Elieshi Lema, author of Parched Earth, who happened to be there and whom we were fortunate to meet. Their press puts out beautifully illustrated books. They term themselves a "Development Publishing Company." The goal of E&D Limited is to produce quality books, especially for children and young adults.

Although my visit was short, for I had to return for classes, my visit to Tanzania resulted in much learning for me. I will take the experiences I had and the people I met back to my college and town communities, as well as incorporate some of their writings into my courses. This trip also opened possibilities for the future and whetted my appetite for them. Dr. Njozi asked me to "help out" with creative writing and with his folklore project. I want also to collaborate with Sonja Darlington in getting a book out on hitherto unknown (to the West) Tanzanian women writers. Thank you, Global Partners for an enriching experience.

For additional information, please contact Matt Horstman at horstman@glca.org or 1-734-761-4833.