dunia duara (the world is round)

#Tanzania #MobilePhones: 'Schyssss, I'm texting one from the other half of the nation'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmothers. Young kids. Women. Men.

Kanga sellers. Mkokoteni drivers. Farmers. Mandazi bakers. 

Of Asian, African - or European origin.

Across religions. Partisan politics. Age. Gender.*

Across the nation. 

Texting is a must.

Maybe the KATIBA should include a chapter on the ONE thing which seems to unite WATANZANIA?

More here about the mobile phone epidemic in Tanzania. More black and white photos here.

*) Of course, not all TANZANIANS have access to mobile phones, in fact the gap between the ones who have and the ones who haven't is probably more interesting to focus on?!

Tanzanian mobile phone users to hit 36m by 2015 the Tanzanian daily The Citizen wrote on July 26 2011. If correct this means about 75% of the 42 million population will have access to a mobile phone within the next four years. The Citizen is focused on the growth perspective and the competition between the telecom companies I am curious about the impact of the access of the mobile phone has if we are talking rural Tanzania, women and people with little or no education.

These articles 'Is the ‘mobile phone revolution’ in Africa really for everybody?' and'Mobile phones and the new ‘digital divide’' are coupling the positive development with concerns.

#Tanzania. Black & White. (Things look totally different in black and white).

 

I am all for colour, but a request for some of my photos from Tanzania in black and white, made me look at them differently.

Lack of colours make you see other things clearer. It is more about structure, light and shade. Contrast.

Not the last time. 

Me & My #MobilePhone. (MAYBE MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT) #Photography #Africa #Tanzania

 

I see this a lot - a Tanzanian holding her or his mobile TIGHTLY. Always attached. Always prioritised.

Call me and I WILL ANSWER, and forget EVERYONE else around me. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE PERSON CALLING. MAYBE MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

HOW CAN I RISK NOT ANSWERING MY MOBILE PHONE?

One thing is the statistics:

Africa now has more than 650 million mobile phone subscribers. That’s more than either the United States or the European Union. And it’s a market that has seen explosive growth. Since 2000, the mobile phone market has grown 40-fold, from 16.5 million, according to the World Bank.

The other thing is that I have the feeling that 'HALF OF THIS COUNTRY IS BUSY ON THE PHONE MAKING CALLS, WHICH THE OTHER HALF IS RESPONDING TO'.

WHAT DIFFERENCE does it make in every day life - those statistics?!

#DaresSalaam balancing between new and old

I have photographed central Dar es Salaam's new construction and old buildings for a couple of years.

It is as if the whole country's challenge to balance between old and new is compressed in the city centre.

Daily balancing between tradition and so-called modernity. Between diversity and streamlined conformity. 

More photos here.

#DarBuildingCollapse: Please, contribute to News Update for @GlobalVoices

Dar es Salaam friends, I'm updating yesterday's sad news for Global Voices (in English) in regards of the collapse of the building in central Dar es Salaam. 

I've heard from friends who were there when the building collapsed and who helped getting people out of the rubble yesterday, and others who stayed on during the night.

I've heard reports of a community supporting across religion, race and nationality. Aunties, teachers and neighbours exchanging grievance and comfort. I have read the blame and the anger, bits and pieces of what people believe should be done to the owner of the building, and to prevent future catastrophies.

Do let me know if you think certain issues should be mentioned. (Suggestions preferably need to be backed by a link to a public online website - like Twitter, online newspapers, blogs etc. - not people's private Facebook)