The Ideal Gift Basket " KISONZO"

The ''Kisonzo" basket is woven from reeds which grow along the river banks in Singida region Tanzania.And ''Kisonzo" refers to a single basket, for more than one they are called "Visonzo".

This baskets are made by women (wanyiramba and Wanyaturu tribes) as an extra income generation activity after harvesting their food and cash crops in the fields.they make them in different sizes, patterns,colours and colour combination.

The basket can be used as a fruit basket, as a storage container for dry food such as peanuts, container for serving dry food. container for storing non food small items or as a decarative item.And that is why it is an ideal gift basket.

The women also make colourful table mats in different patterns.
At Sanaa Zetu we have in stock  of the beautiful Singida baskets and other products. You are most welcome.
                             Karibu Sana.

THE MARVELS OF COW HORN

Today i would like to  talk about the Cow horn. cow horn as depicted from the name it is a substance which is hard as a bone,with properties similar to those of finger nails. The tip of the horn is conical in shape,and in most cases horns coming from the same cow  are alike.  The cow use the horns to defend itself from its enemies.

In the past cow horn had many uses, to name a few, it was used   as a drinking container, a media for sucking poison from a snake bite,a musical instrument, a trumpet, handle for tools.... etc.

In recent times craftsmen took advantage of the properties of the cow horn, by designing and producing a wide variety of products.

 horn as a musical instrument

 C ow horn Hair pins

cow horn bangles

Cow horn  rings

 

Cow horn earings

Cow horn key holders

Cow horn soap dish

Cow horn salt and pepper container

At Sanaa Zetu we have some of the cow horn products, we also make products as per customers request. And we have also a wide variety of other products in stock.
You are most wellcome to visit us.
                                                            KARIBU  SANA                  


                                                                                                               

Recycled Costume Earings

Women especially the young ones move with the fashion trends so in their wardrobes they have a wide variety of dresses to suit  various occasions. And  also posses jewelry to match with the dresses they have. Now real jewelry is very expensive for most of the young ladies to afford so their other option is to resort to costume Jewelry. Which can be worn in most occasions.
Today I will show you some digital images of  costume earrings made from recycled tin coming from bottle tops, beer and soft drinks cans. This type of earrings are ideal for fun fare occasions.

 Made from Kilimanjaro beer bottle tops

Made from Cocacola bottle tops

Made from beer can with Leopard motif design

Made from beer can with Tingatinga birds motif design

Made from beer can with Tingatinga bird motif design

Made from beer can with Zebra motif design

At Sanaa zetu we also make costume earrings tailored to customers needs. You are most welcome to visit our shop. Customers satisfaction is our motto

Recycled Tin Cars

In  Tanzania we have craftsmen who make tin cars from recycled tin containers. There is a group in Chalinze and two groups of Chagga craftsmen in Kilimanjaro. The craftsmen in Chalinze Have  specialised on making tourist Land Rovers with an open rooftop. And they paint their cars with  Tingatinga art on them together with some nice Swahili words. The Chagga craftsmen are capable of making any type of car whose all doors can be opened including the boot of the car.they also paint  the cars in colours which are similar to those of real cars. Today i have digital images of the Chalinze Tin Cars.And some of the cars made  Chagga craftsmen. The tin cars can be used as toys for children or a decorative product in a home. in my update in the near future you will see more cars made by the Chagga craftsmen.

"Hakuna Matata" There is no problem

here we have:- vitara ,Land Rover short chasis & Scania Truck
(made by Chagga craftsmen)

And here we have:- Porsche, Suzuki pick up, suzuki, Incar Fiat Truck, Incar Fiat Loader,Land Rover  long chasis & Leyland Albion Bus ( made by Chagga Craftsmen)

"Jambo Rafiki" How are you my friend

At sanaa zetu we have in stock of  the  Chalinze tin cars, you  are most welcome to visit our shop. Customer satisfaction is our motto

''UJAMAA" Makonde Ebony Carving

Hi, today i want to talk about an ebony carving called "Ujamaa", some people refer to it as the "Family Tree".
First of all what is "Ujamaa"? It is a Swahili word which means extended family or family hood. I prefer to refer to it as communal living.
Makonde Ebony carvers just like artist, they communicate or tell a story through what they are carving.
Now as we look at the "Ujamaa" carving it tells us about village life and the various activities performed by the villagers.
On the onset of Arusha Declaration Policy in Tanzania early 1967, Makonde carvers started to carve carvings which will motivate people to live in the village so as to go along with the Government

policy. Likewise musician, Poets, performers and so forth. The joint efforts in conjunction with the Government bear ed fruits, villages were established.

Ujamaa Ebony carving

Now as we look at the carving we see many people entwined together. Here the carver want to tell us that these people are united, there is peace, work together, live harmoniously together (people from various tribe, ethics and religion) in the same area (village), speak a common language (Swahili), love one another, they are all equal(no gender issues), They are Organized and so forth. By looking at it you can add many more additions.

And if we look closely, we will see each individual holding something on his / her hand and carrying  something on the head. These reflects the various activities performed in the village. For instance on the carving we can see a man holding an axe, it implies he is going to chop logs for firewood or cut a log for carving work. Here he is seen as an individual, but in reality, a day is set aside where all men in the village perform this activity collectively, likewise other activities.

So from the carving you can be able to depict the life style of the Makonde people, in those days. So an Ujamaa carving is History which is in perpetual growth.
We have  stock of Ujamaa carvings in our shop, Sanaa Zetu. You are most welcome. customer satisfaction is our motto.

Kanga the mostly used clothing in Tanzania

commonly used kanga wrap at home

Attending Occasions

Attending Occasions

As a headscarf

Tanzanian women love Kangas and one woman can have several pairs. And for those who are kanga enthusiast they make a new purchase every week. Kanga is used by our women tied on the waist on top of a dress as an apron of its kind whilst attending her daily duties in her home. It is also used to hold and cover a new born baby. And when the baby has grown, they use kanga as a baby carrier on her back. Also men wear their wive kanga whilst at home. At funeral occasions almost all women their wear kangas around them. At send off parties the husband to be is put to test. He has to pin point her wife to be amongst several women completely covered by kangas. A kanga can also be used as a headscarf.Apart from the uses mention a kanga has several other uses such as decorative material on send off or wedding occasions...etc. And some of our ladies carry a kanga in their handbags for use in emergency situation.

 So you can imagine the total number of kangas in our homesteads. Kanga is sold as a pair called "Doti".

Guinea fowl (Kanga)

Guinea fowl feather

So let us look at what makes the kanga to be a so special clothing to our women folks.
Kanga is the Swahili name of bird called Guinea fowl. And that is where the clothing got its name.
Designers were inspired by the dotted patten on the Guinea fowl s feathers.
A kanga is rectangular in shape and measures 110cm by 150cm. It has brilliant print and a swahili saying on it, which is enclosed with a border all around it.
Kanga  production started in early 1950 s in India and China and brought to East African coast by trade merchants.So you see it was initially worn by coastal people and Zanzibar Island. And then spread inwards into the mainland as it grew in popularity. In the mid of 1960 s kanga production started in Tanzania.
When you are talking of its quality, it varies from country to country. As for Tanzanian Kangas is made from 100% of pure cotton cloth.

relax my heart don t quarrel with a poker of other people business                   

work hard in fabricating a gossip it does not bother me

I know you  have slipped and that is why i have not asked

\

You are most welcome to visit our shop Sanaa Zetu, for  your Kanga and other needs. customer satisfaction is our motto.

The Maasai Blanket ''LUBEGA"

The Maasai  are amongst the few tribes in Tanzania who are still adhering to their culture. And their famous for that. This people are herders of cattle (nomads),  so they  move from one place to another in search of good pasture and water for their cattle. It is a tradition of Maasai men  to wear colourful outfit  known as "lubega" in Kiswahili or popularly known as Maasai blanket. This piece of cloth they just simply fling it around their bodies. And to hold it in place they use to tie it into a knot near the shoulder area, with belt  support  around their waist. The belt also carries the "sime" (Maasai sword) and a club. The Maasai warrior plait their hair in a very unique style of their own, also put on "lukaria",a special red soil all over their bodies. For a complete attire dress up they elongate the lobes of their ears by making big holes on them, carry a shield, a spear and put on sandals made from old used car tyres. When fully dressed up they attract a lot of attention to passer by. Tourist love to take a photograph with them. Now a days we see man from other tribes also flinging the Maasai blanket around their bodies to keep them warm during cold season.
The Maasai cuture is very rich, to write about it, you are talking of writting a book of many pages.

Maasai wariors getting organised just before perfoming their traditional
Maasai dance

People from other tribes wearing Maasai attire

The Maasai blanket is available in a wide variety of colour mix. Below  you can see some of the varieties. The blanket can also be used as a table cloth, curtain,  car cushions, sofa upholstery etc.

 At  our Shop Sanaa Zetu we have a wide variety of Maasai blankets.You are most welcome. We are based in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Customer satisfaction is our motto.

                                                             KARIBU SANA