Ukerewe
- history and background
Ukerewe
District north of Mwanza is a paradise of green, unspoiled and often un-inhabited
islands, situated in Lake Victoria. The main island - Ukerewe Island - is easily
reached by chartered plane to the airstrip at Nansio or by daily ferries from
Mwanza.
Lake Victoria is the world’s
second largest fresh water lake. It lies between the two rift branches of the
Rift Valley. The lake is at an altitude of 1.134 metres above sea level and
it is 82 metres deep. In the lake, there used to be more than 400 fish species.
To promote sports fishing, the Nile Perch and the Nile Tilapia were introduced
to the lake in the 1960’s, and they are now believed to have caused a dramatic
fall in the number of the other fish species. Fishing is an important industry
in Ukerewe District and a lot of fishing boats, as well as canoes and traditional
dhows, can be seen plying the narrow waters between the many smaller islands.
hamlets,
where the local fishermen land their night’s catch. Ukerewe is a paradise for
birdwatchers, especially at the west shore and on its smaller islands. Here
is found an abundance of different birds including the beautiful Fishing
Ukerewe
Island is 50 kms long and between 25 to 35 kms wide. It is a rocky island with
smaller hills. The subsoil is dominated by crystalline rocks - from the oldest
Precambrian earth period-, which are strongly lateralised. The landscape varies
between flat land, cassava and rice fields, fruit plantations, rocks, rocky
and sandy shores, beautiful lakeshores, and pine forest. The main town on Ukerewe
is Nansio; where the ferries from Mwanza arrive and as well accommodate the
district headquarter.
Eagle, Cormorants, and an occasional
Crowned Crane. Sports fishing
are possible on almost any location around the island.
Most inhabitants are living in the
many traditional villages scattered around the island. Along the shore is found
many picturesque fishing
Aniceti
Kitereza (B/W picture below), born 1896 in Sukumaland/Tanzania, was the grandson
of the King Machunda from the Silanga-Clan of the island of Ukerewe in the Lake
Victoria. After attending the missionary school and studying theology he worked,
with only few interruptions, as catechist and translator. He knew German, English,
French, Sukuma, Kikerewe, Swahili, Greek and Latin. He wrote several books on
historical topics of East Africa, collected folk tales and wrote the big family
saga of King Machunda in the Kikerewe language. The latter has been published
in German
under the title of “
Die Kinder der Regenmacher”
and “Der Schlangentöter”
In
1873 the explorer Stanley came to Ukerewe, where he asked King Lukongo for assistance
to build canoes so that his escort would be able to pass to the north west of
Lake Victoria. In return, Stanley had to promise to teach the king how to transform
human beings into lions and leopards. A promise, which Stanley though did not
fulfil.
