VILLAGE & FAMILY LIFE

TRADITIONAL VILLAGE ITEMS

Items which can be viewed at Kagera Onsite Museum, Temba, Bukoba Heritage Hill

Open daily for viewing

English: Stone Basin
Luhaya (Vernacular): Orunabilo.
Kiswahili: Jiwe la maji ya kuoga

This large stone has been shaped to form a shallow basin.

It was traditionally used for washing. Water is poured into the hollow, and the user washes their body using it.

Stone stays cool for a long time—longer than metal or plastic. Because of this, the water inside can become very cold. In some traditions, this cooled water is believed to have added benefits, especially when used at specific times, such as early in the morning.

Jiwe hili kubwa limechongwa kutengeneza beseni la kina kifupi.

Lilikuwa likitumika kwa ajili ya kuosha mwili. Maji humwagiwa ndani ya uwazi huo, na mtumiaji huosha mwili wake humo.

Jiwe hubaki baridi kwa muda mrefu—zaidi kuliko chuma au plastiki. Kwa sababu hii, maji yaliyomo yanaweza kuwa baridi sana. Katika baadhi ya tamaduni, maji haya baridi huaminika kuwa na faida za ziada, hasa yanapotumika kwa nyakati maalum, kama vile asubuhi mapema.

English: Wooden Stool
Luhaya: Ekitebe, enkeeto
Kiswahili: Kigoda

This wooden stool is passed down from one generation to the next.

It is usually reserved for the elder man of the family, who is the only person allowed to sit on it. The stool has a special place in the home, positioned so the seated person faces the front of the house.

From here, he holds authority and can see and welcome visitors as they arrive

Hiki ni kiti cha mbao kinachorithishwa kutoka kizazi hadi kizazi.

Kwa kawaida, hutengwa kwa ajili ya mzee wa familia, ambaye ndiye pekee anayekalia kiti hiki. Kinawekwa mahali maalum ndani ya nyumba, kikiwa kimeelekezwa upande wa mbele wa nyumba.

Kutoka hapo, ana mamlaka na anaweza kuona pamoja na kuwakaribisha wageni wanapoingia nyumbani.

English: goblet
Luhaya: endee
Kiswahili:kikombe cha sherehe

This goblet is used for drinking beer.

It is made from a hollowed fruit, similar to a pumpkin, with the seeds and pulp removed and the shell carefully cleaned. This example is over 100 years old.

Such a goblet was reserved for a highly respected member of the royal family. Because it cannot stand on its own, a servant would stay nearby to hold it for the user.

Kikombe hiki hutumika kunywea pombe ya bia.

Kimetengenezwa kutoka tunda linalofanana na maboga, ambapo mbegu na massa yake huondolewa na ganda husafishwa kwa uangalifu. Kifaa hiki ni cha zaidi ya miaka 100.

Kikombe hiki kilikuwa kinatumiwa na mwanamume au mwanamke mwenye heshima kubwa katika familia ya kifalme. Kwa kuwa hakiwezi kusimama chenyewe, mtumishi alipaswa kuwa karibu kukishikilia kwa mtumiaji.

English: Wooden Containers
Luhaya: Ekyanzi
Kiswahili: chombo cha maziwa cha mti.

These curved, decorated wooden containers were used for storing milk.

Milk kept in them was served to respected members of the household, such as the family elder. Before use, aromatic herbs were burned, and the smoke was directed into the container to season it.

Fresh cow’s milk was then poured in and left to absorb the herbal aroma as it naturally soured into yogurt. Once ready, it was covered and served.

Vyombo hivi vya mbao vilivyojipinda na kupambwa vilitumika kuhifadhia maziwa.

Maziwa yaliyowekwa humo yalitolewa kwa watu wa heshima, kama vile mzee wa familia. Kabla ya matumizi, mimea yenye harufu nzuri ilichomwa na moshi wake kuelekezwa ndani ya chombo ili kukipatia harufu maalum.

Kisha maziwa ya ng’ombe yalimwagwa ndani na kuachwa yaloweke harufu hiyo ya mimea huku yakibadilika kuwa mtindi kwa njia ya asili. Yalipokamilika, yalifunikwa na kutolewa tayari kwa matumizi.

English: Grain Mill
Luhaya: Ekitwangilo
Kuswahili: Kinu

This is a grain mill—a large hollowed mortar carved from a tree trunk.

It was used for shelling and pounding grains. A specially shaped curved wooden rod was used to crush the grain, as shown in the image of the young girl.

This simple tool reflects everyday life and the skill involved in traditional food preparation.

Hii ni kinu cha nafaka—chombo kikubwa kilichochongwa ndani ya shina la mti.

Kilitumika kumenyia na kusaga nafaka. Fimbo maalum ya mbao iliyopinda ilitumika kusaga nafaka, kama inavyoonekana kwenye picha ya msichana mdogo.

Chombo hiki rahisi kinaonesha maisha ya kila siku na ujuzi uliotumika katika maandalizi ya chakula cha jadi.

English: Woven Baskets

Kiswahili: Vikapu

These woven baskets are made using raffia wrapped around small bundles of dried grass.

The materials are carefully woven together to create baskets, trays, bowls, and other containers.

Each piece reflects skilled handcraft and a tradition of turning natural materials into everyday objects.

Vikapu hivi vilivyofumwa hutengenezwa kwa kutumia nyuzi za rafia zilizofungwa kuzunguka vifurushi vidogo vya majani makavu.

Vifaa hivi hufumwa kwa uangalifu ili kutengeneza vikapu, sinia, bakuli na aina nyingine za vyombo.

Kila kitu kinaonyesha ustadi wa mikono na utamaduni wa kubadili malighafi za asili kuwa vitu vya matumizi ya kila siku.

Below are items that can be viewed on request by visitors and the diaspora community at the British Museum, London, UK.

Image Source: British Museum – Online Collection

Spoon/Ladle

A wooden spoon or ladle was traditionally used for cooking, stirring and serving foods.

Description: Wooden hand-carved spoon/ladle
Dimensions (centimetres): Height: 6.50cm| Width: 41.50 cm |Depth: 9.50 cm

Made by Haya People  (circa 1930)

Link: British Museum

Hoe

The hoe—’jembe’ in Kiswahili—is an essential agricultural hand tool,  primarily used by farmers for tilling and preparing soil, planting seeds and harvesting root vegetables like cassava or sweet potatoes.

Description: Iron Hoe with a wooden handle.

Dimensions (centimetres): Height: 66.50 cm | Width: 42 cm |Depth: 22.50 cm

Made by Haya People (circa 1922-23)

Link: British Museum

Comb

Hand-carved wooden comb—’shanuo’ in Swahili—is a functional and cultural tool used for hair grooming, status and personal expression.

Description: Wooden comb, with fine and coarse teeth and incised lines on the handle

Dimensions (centimetres): Height: 15.50 cm | Width: 7.40 cm | Depth: 0.80 cm

Made by Haya People (circa 1932)

Link: British Museum

Barkcloth

Made by Haya People (circa 1918-1939)

Description: Barkcloth, large rectangular piece, rich brown colour, painted with geometrical designs in greyish black (description from acquisition register)

Dimensions (centimetres):

Length: 245 cm | Width: 245 cm

Link: British Museum

Armlets

Armlets crafted from the coarse, durable hairs of the giraffe’s tail were traditionally worn as protective, good-luck talismans and served as indicators of status and decorative adornments.

Description: Three armlets made of giraffe hair.

Dimensions (centimetres): Height: 0.40 – 50 cm | Width: 7.40 – 7.80 cm |  Depth: 7 – 7.90 cm

(circa 1922-1923)

Link: British Museum

Basket

Traditional basket weaving used locally sourced, natural star grasses via coiling and weaving techniques. Baskets were the primary vessels used to collect,  carry and store food and grain.

Description: Coiled cylindrical basket made of grass or leaf, circular with a flat base, with black and pale patterns woven in stripes; with a lid.

Dimensions (centimetres) : Height: 6.40 cm | Width: 5.90 cm | Depth: 5.90 cm

Made by Haya People (circa 1902-06)

Link: British Museum