Diminishing Architectural Artifacts along the Coastal Stretch of Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate and document the existing architectural heritage in Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam in the midst of urbanization, where artifacts have been dwindling over time. The study was carried out using an exploratory methodology and case study strategy, with various tools, such as a field survey, secondary data, physical documentation, and photographing. Several findings were concluded: both Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam have valuable architectural and cultural heritage elements, such as Arabic, Swahili, Indian, Islamic, Western, and modern and contemporary that must be restored, up kept, and maintained for the two cities\' sustainability. Some of the artifacts, such as doors, have inscribed messages that are no longer visible. Demolition and partial replacement of heritage artifacts have been taking place in Dar es Salaam since the 1990s. To save the historical heritage in the two localities, a more comprehensive approach involving the government and other stakeholders (private and public) is required.

1. Introduction

Tanzania is endowed with an abundance of significant cultural heritage resources dating from the Pliocene period (about four million years ago) to the present. These resources are divided into groups and distributed throughout the country. There are archaeological sites like Olduvai Gorge, historical sites like Kaole Ruins and Kilwa Kivinje, historical towns like Bagamoyo and Mikindani, traditional settlements like Kalenga in Iringa, historical buildings like Colonial BOMA, sites with special memories like Colonial Cemetery of World War I and II, and natural features and structures like Amboni Caves and Mbozi Meteorite (the list is shown in the Appendix of the chapter).

The aforementioned historical sites and buildings contribute significantly to the rich culture of both tangible and intangible heritage, showcasing civilization’s socioeconomic, sociopolitical, socio-spatial, and socio-environmental layers. Historical buildings within the historical culture are endowed with rich architectural artifacts from periods before traders and colonial occupations that have had rich historical attachment and have greatly contributed to the formation of Tanzania’s current urban fabric. Old buildings bear witness to a city’s or town’s esthetic and cultural history, providing people with a sense of place and a connection to the past [1].

Regardless of the rich and long layers of historical heritage present along Tanzania’s coast strip, the same belt has been undergoing rampant urbanization, threatening both historical artifacts and intangible heritage (cultural heritage). The old town of Bagamoyo and the City of Dar es Salaam, which share a number of historical monuments and cultural heritage, are the most impacted by ongoing spatial transformations combined with human socioeconomic activities. Regardless of the ongoing disappearance of both tangible and intangible heritages, there is a scanty knowledge of the damage but also lack of documentation of the existing conditions for future generations. Above all, the need for policy to raise awareness, protect, and upkeep the heritage is of utmost importance. Thus, this chapter intends to document and discuss the historical background of the two places, document the existing situation, and propose a policy intervention to protect the heritage.

2. Literature review

Various literatures around the world, particularly in developing countries such as Tanzania, show that conservation of old heritage has not been given as much attention as it is in the developed countries [2]. The challenges facing heritage in the sub-Saharan Africa include the followings: ranked low in government priority scales and it is considered priceless [3], threatened with various forms of economic development [4], contradicting laws and policies governing development within heritage sites [5], not given sufficient resources when compared to other endeavors, such as defense and health; also, they are under stuffed [6], rapid urbanization [7]. Further, it has been urged that poor countries can be affected by a vicious circle, in which the low level of development hinders culture promotion, while the failed exploitation of national heritage, in turn, hinders the possibility of culture-based development strategies [8].

Literature also shows that, despite the lack of attention, cultural heritage is a profitable asset and an important industry, generating millions of jobs and billions of euros in revenue for the countries where efforts to develop and maintain it have been made [9]. Cultural heritage has been associated with the economy in the developed countries, with contributions in cultural economics introducing the concept of cultural capital as a means of understanding the economic dimension of cultural activities in relation to other forms of capital inputs [10].

Furthermore, many of the issues and challenges that developing countries face in terms of heritage management are quite different from those that developed countries face [11]. Some of these differences are what cause places like Bagamoyo and many other Tanzanian towns to fail to preserve their cultural heritage, causing it to dwindle. For example, Bagamoyo, despite facing the challenges of rapid urbanization, lacks the capacity to protect and develop its existing heritage due to a lack of resources. Cultural heritage has been defined as the legacy of tangible items (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, textiles, paintings, or archaeological artifacts) and their intangible attributes (such as folklore, traditions, language, or performance arts) inherited from the past and preserved for future generations because of their artistic, cultural, or historic value [12]. Although the definition here touches on a variety of topics, this study focuses primarily on tangible items, particularly buildings and their immediate surroundings.

It goes on to say that the act of preserving cultural heritage is known as Heritage Conservation, and it primarily focuses on doing everything possible to postpone the natural laws of deterioration on tangible items in order to ensure the transmission of significant heritage messages and values to future generations. Another author has demonstrated that cultural heritage is now one of the most important global industries, with significant economic benefits for host countries, regions, and local communities. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s most recent research, cultural tourism represented 40% of all European tourism in 2019, generating 319 million jobs and more than 30 billion € in revenue each year [13]. This means that towns like Bagamoyo can change their economic status if they work hard to preserve their existing heritage.

2.1 Methodology

2.1.1 Case study method and criteria for the study site selection

The study applied a case study method where it was specifically conducted in Bagamoyo, particularly in the conservation area where old buildings with various architectural artifacts are found. The selection of the area of study was in coherences with the subject matter that tries to unveil the insights of diminishing architectural elements in the urbanizing historical towns. Bagamoyo has a long and rich historical background, artifacts, styles, culture, and architectural evidence was selected to represent the case.

As an exploratory research aiming at exploring the level of diminishing of architectural styles in the new development within the historical buildings, the study underscores the architectural styles and design considerations while maintaining its character in historical towns or cities. Primary data collection method involving collecting the information direct from the field through interviews, photographing, sketching, observation, and mapping were applied as data collection tools. The study involved four groups of respondents who included the local authorities (antiquities and district council), professionals (architect, urban planners, and conservation expertise), indigenous, and new residents.

Observation (architectural aspects on building, including circulation, space arrangement, form, shape, textures, building materials, building elements (roof, wall, floor, openings, and building height)) was applied. Also, a variety of architectural styles were determined and seven styles were discussed. These include Swahili style, Indian style, Arabs style, Islamic style, classical style, and modern and contemporary style were outlined for further discourse. Data from the site were analyzed and constituted the main discourse in the study.

3. Findings and discussions

3.1 Overview of cultural heritage in Tanzania

As stated in the introductory part, Tanzania has a number of cultural heritage artifacts that have put the country on the map of the world due to the richness of its heritage. These heritages are distributed all over the country, and they have been sources of tourism attractions wherever they are located. Each heritage contributes a unique artifact of its own kind, thus, in totality, making a rich combination when considered altogether. Some of the heritage sites contain archaeological heritage, including the Oldvai Gorge in the northern part and Kunduchi Ruins in the eastern part of Tanzania. They showcase the evolutionary history and development of mankind spanning thousands of years of human civilization (Table 1—S/N 1).

Table 1.

(S/Ns 1–7) Overview of the cultural heritage in Tanzania.

Likewise, there are cultural heritage sites based on trade along the coast of East Africa where most of these towns remain in ruins, such as Kaole and Kilwa Kivinje (Table 1—S/N 2), which date back to the thirteenth century. These towns demonstrate the old civilization in terms of building materials, building styles and typologies, culture, space use, etc. Other sites include historical towns of Bagamoyo and Mikindani (Table 1—S/N 3), with their famous slave trade dynamics where slaves were shipped from East Africa to other parts of the world.

Tanzania is also a home for old and traditional rulers who strongly resisted colonization including the Chief Mkwawa from Iringa whose scull was taken to German for years and later returned to Tanzania, currently, hosted at Kalenga Museum in Iringa (Table 1—S/N 4). There are also many old German forts (BOMA) located in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mikindani, Bagamoyo, etc. (Table 1—S/N 5). These are important historical sites showcasing the technology, planning strategies, construction materials, and technology as well as the administrative structures of the colonial occupations.

Other sites include the memorial sites of WWI and WWII, which house the remains of different nationalities that fought in the wars (Table 1—S/N 6). The sites demonstrate various layers of civilization and their corresponding struggles for power, existence, success, and development within Tanzania.

Lastly, there are heritage sites due to natural features that still astonish the world today, including the Amboni Caves in Tanga and meteorites located in Mbozi and Mbeya in the southern highlands (Table 1—S/N 7). These two sites host scientifically fascinating natural features that attract tourists, archeologists, geographers, and researchers from around the world due to their uniqueness. Mbozi is an ungrouped iron meteorite found in Tanzania. It is one of the world’s largest meteorites, variously estimated as the fourth- to eighth-largest. Similarly, the Amboni caves are among the fascinating natural features that are made from limestone complexes, with the longest cave measuring up to about 750 m long. It is believed that the caves were formed about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. The area covers about 234 km².

3.2 Evolution of Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo is a small historic town in the coastal region of Tanzania, approximately 75 km north of Dar es Salaam. It is one of the East and Central African towns with historical ties to the slave trade, which drew African societies into international economies and promoted exports and infrastructure [14]. The name Bagamoyo is derived from the word “Bwaga Moyo,” which means “lay your heart down,” where slaves rested after long journeys from the countryside to the coast to be sold to foreign traders. Bagamoyo became the capital of the German occupation in East Africa in the late eighteenth century, serving as the German headquarters for German East Africa (first under the auspices of the German East African Company and then the German Imperial Government) between 1886 and 1891 [15].

Bagamoyo is distinguished by the presence of various cultures and ethnic groups (intangible heritage) in a region endowed with iconic architectural structures ranging from native Swahili, Persian, Arab, Indian, and European (tangible heritage), as well as a blend of several styles. Some of the heritage buildings have been ruined by time; others are in danger of collapsing, and others are only foundation marks. The current situation in Bagamoyo raises concerns and questions about the historical town’s future if action is not taken to reverse the current trend, which is destroying all of our legacy, identity, and value.

3.2.1 Architectural heritage in Bagamoyo

The legacy of Bagamoyo’s historical town is threatened by the construction of industries along the Bagamoyo corridor and plans to build a new Bagamoyo port, both of which are triggering large-scale investment in Bagamoyo, attracting people to migrate from various parts of the country to Bagamoyo in search of employment and other opportunities for residential, institutional, and commercial spaces. Because of the rapid pace of urbanization occurring within and around Bagamoyo’s historical town, there has been an increase in new buildings that do not respect Bagamoyo’s heritage. The architectural features of the old buildings, such as windows, materials, roof, doors, and street characters, are not considered in the new buildings (Table 2). This situation undermines Bagamoyo’s value and identity on a daily basis, resulting in the disappearance of the historical heritage.

Table 2.

Various historical heritage artifacts in Bagamoyo and their properties.

Bagamoyo, like other coastal old towns, has struggled to preserve the legacy, value, and identity of the historical town’s architecture in the face of the mushrooming of new buildings with various architectural styles, mostly contemporary and modern architecture. If the trend of constructing new buildings with new features within the historical town continues, one wonders if Bagamoyo will continue to be “Bagamoyo”.

In a nutshell, the Bagamoyo historical town is undergoing a rapid urban transformation as a result of technological advancement and economic development, with these development activities having massive architectural implications for the historical urban fabric. This necessitates the conduct of a study to provide insights into the architectural patterns established by historical public buildings and how they may be blended with upcoming buildings that will be integrated into the old historical setting.

3.2.2 Diminishing of architectural heritage

3.2.2.1 Building status in Bagamoyo

As previously stated, urbanization has resulted in both socio-spatial and socioeconomic transformations in Bagamoyo. Growth has occurred at the expense of existing old heritage rather than in accordance with its conservation. Much effort and interest have been expended by the government, individuals, and investors to erect new structures while allowing the old ones to decay and deteriorate over time. The vast majority of them have been dismantled, and some are in poor condition. Although a few buildings have received some renovation programs, the maintenance has not been sustainable. Buildings in Bagamoyo have a variety of meaningful historical types of windows (Swahili with Indian and Arabic features) that are being replaced by modern glass windows (Figure 1). Similarly, have beautiful facades with bay windows that are also left to stand out.

Figure 1.

Series of German buildings with balconies covered to increase the floor plan area.

3.2.2.2 Building facades

Building facades were created to communicate messages to the outside world. Extensive verandahs/balconies, long eaves, courtyards, and massive walls were all used to demonstrate design and construction solutions for the existing situation. White paint was used on the facades to reflect back the impinging heat and solar radiation. In some cases, white is used to communicate the rulers’ authority and power. In comparison with the new upcoming buildings, the facades lack architectural and attractive features, instead being purely functional, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Historical architectural artifact vs. current architectural artifacts (source: Author 2022).

3.2.2.3 Doors and windows

Doors in historical heritage buildings are decorated with engraved decorations that represent hidden meanings, such as ownership, origin, type of business, personality, and so on. These types of important information were attached to the frontage of the buildings in order to convey a message to visitors or passersby. The urban fabric was designed to engage people in their interactions with the outside world (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Different kinds of doors found in old heritage that are disappearing (source, Mosha 2019, edited by the author).

3.3 Architectural ornamentations

Bagamoyo’s historical heritage is embellished with ornaments in windows, facades, door openings, balconies, balustrades, roof eaves, and parapet walls. These not only add ornamental value and beauty to buildings, but they also tell the story of past perfection and professionalism. They speak of a culture of beauty and perfection, a culture endowed with artisans concerned not only with the functionality of the buildings but also with their meanings, language (semiotics), and self-satisfaction. Patience can be seen in the ornaments, as well as the time it took to design and realize the small details and the overall structure. Endurance of the material preparations (lime, coral stones, mangrove wood) to the point where the beauty of the buildings as shown in Indian, Arabic, and Swahili styles was realized in the end (Table 3). It can be seen that ornamentation was consistent from one style or layer to the next, and each style had its own symbol to represent its era.

Table 3.

Ornamentation in openings.

The ornamentations that were inscribed in openings were connected to the meanings borne by the users or the owners of the buildings. For instance, door frames were inscribed with prayers, name of the owner, and types of business the owner was dealing with such as dates as shown in Table 4. Other ornamentations were meant for decorative purposes such as flowers, sun, fish, pineapple, and palm leaves. All the ornamentations were contextual, that is, were obtained from the surrounding context or social background of the owners.

Symbol	Arabian door	Indian door	Mixed Arab-Indian door
Space to write a prayer and/or name of house owner		✓	✓
Lotus flower	✓	✓
Dates	✓
Sun	✓
Frank-scents	✓
Roots of date tree	✓	✓
Palm leaves		✓	✓
Pineapple		✓	✓
Fish	✓		✓

Table 4.

Different doors and their compositions and symbolism.

As previously stated, Bagamoyo has a rich historical heritage that should be preserved for future generations; however, many of the buildings containing those architectural artifacts have been left to deteriorate or replaced by other modern buildings, resulting in the loss of many valuable heritages.

3.4 Architectural heritage in Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam served as a second headquarters for the German occupation of Tanzania, but it had previously been exposed to Arabs, who left a few architectural artifacts in the urban fabric. The German occupation significantly influenced Dar es Salaam’s formal planning in terms of streets, blocks, layout, and circulation systems. Furthermore, the occupation has made significant contributions to the city’s main old urban fabric, which can be found in strategic locations such as the old post office, ocean road, the Old Boma, and several buildings along Sokoine drive.

Dar es Salaam, on the other hand, has been subjected to unprecedented urbanization pressure in recent decades [16, 17]. This has resulted in a boom in contemporary construction methods, with little regard for existing old buildings and historical fabric in general. The presence of old heritage within the city’s historical areas is critical, as it has been stated that the intertwining of architectural styles provides a sense of place that evokes life before the present and contributes to the character that serves as an intangible asset [1, 18, 19].

It should also be noted that the appearance of building materials has blended into the streetscapes, for example, carved timber doors and windows, decorative ironwork, timber facades, wooden railings, roofing tiles, and so on. The original building heights in the Central Business District (CBD) balanced the skyline, allowing religious structures, such as temples, churches, and mosques, to dominate the silhouette and serve as a point of reference for the city [20]. This would have been the language of the CBD area if the new structures had not eroded the skyline (Figure 1).

Azpeitia Santander et al. [21] stated that in Dar es Salaam, architectural heritage conservation is managed by various government and private organs. Several lists have been issued by the government’s Department of Antiquities, the Dar es Salaam Master Plan Consortium, the government’s Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlement Development, and DARCH (Dar es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage), a private nonprofit organization concerned with architectural heritage conservation. Because the lists are not reconciled as one, they contradict one another, resulting in conflicts over managing architectural heritage buildings and giving power to urbanization due to a lack of a consistent list [1].

3.4.1 Elimination and replacement of architectural heritage buildings

Samora Avenue, Bridge Street, and Kaluta Street were demolished, and at least 12 new buildings were constructed. At least 9 of the 12 built buildings were built on previously undeveloped land, and 3 were built on the sites of demolished structures (Figure 4). The rate of urbanization began to accelerate at an unprecedented rate in the 1980s, thanks to the implementation of a free-market economy policy that attracted foreign investors who came with specific requirements for where they should build their structures. Due to this pressure, and because the country was attempting to attract investments, the government was lenient in limiting some of the conditions stipulated by the investors. As a result, it paved the way for investors to demolish some of the old buildings in order to create space for their offices/investment buildings.

Figure 4.

Map of the CBD showing the old heritage buildings that were demolished due to urbanization forces.

According to the literature, the demolition of old heritage has been increasing since the post-independence period of the 1960s; however, as stated in the previous section, the speed of demolition increased more between the 1990s and 2020, as shown in Table 5 and Figure 5. Similarly, new structures that do not respect heritage have been built in the same location to replace the old heritage. As a result, both tangible and intangible heritage are dwindling in the CBD area. Various initiatives have been put forward by private and public institutions; however, the effect is already significant.

Years	Interval	No. of demolitions	No. of built structures
1967–1994	27	9	12
1994–2005	11	57	22
2005–2020	15	35	41

Table 5.

Building demolished and new buildings from 1967 to 2020.

Figure 5.

New buildings erected in the historical heritage CBD from 1990 to 2020.

3.5 Countermeasures

The Historic Urban Landscape review, according to Ref. [21], could be used to strike a balance between architectural heritage conservation and urbanization, with the goal of ensuring larger-scale sustainable development in the city. In this context, new functions such as service-oriented activities like ecotourism can provide social and economic benefits as well as city accommodation. This is demonstrated by the trend between 1995 and 2020, when changes in building fabric were influenced by its ability to generate income, thereby balancing with the economy.

Furthermore, Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa have been identified as countries with good legal frameworks for heritage conservation, with these laws establishing administrative structures responsible for heritage protection in various forms [22]. Having responsible organs and tools, such as Tanzania’s Antiquities Department, can be a starting point for developing effective mechanisms for the protection and upkeep of historic heritage, such as those in Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam.

4. Conclusion

Generally, Tanzania is rich in cultural heritage sites that cover historical ruins, historical towns, traditional settlements, historical buildings, sites with special commemorations, and natural features with cultural importance. These sites with cultural heritage are distributed in the central, south, north, coastal, and lake zones, making the country famous for tourist attractions in all aspects. The majority of the overall heritage sites are well maintained as compared to the specific cases of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, where the main discourse was focused.

More specifically, Tanzania’s coastline has a rich history comprised of numerous layers of civilizations that have left behind both tangible and intangible cultural legacies. These legacies serve as landmarks and memories of the city for future generations. It is also stated that there are fewer heritage items now due to a number of factors, such as carelessness, ignorance, the economy, and a lack of appropriate conservation policies.

Both Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam have valuable architectural and cultural heritage, as documented in the analysis, with elements from Arabic, Swahili, Indian, Islamic, Western, and modern and contemporary. The styles were accompanied by distinct building components, such as doors, windows, roofs, building materials, and layouts, that distinguished one style from another. These elements contribute significantly to the history and value of the two historical locales, and they have been dwindling over time.

According to the study, most architectural artifacts from the two localities are left to deteriorate over time due to a lack of resources, proper management, a lack of integrated policies between urban development and urban conservation, and a lack of awareness of the importance of historical heritage.

Accordingly, there is a need to raise awareness among local officials, the government at large, and a few private individuals who own heritage buildings so that they can collaborate to develop strategies to manage the heritage. The data show that unstoppable variables such as population, regulations, and the economy drive urbanization. Heritage policies should be developed through a participatory process in which the government should involve other stakeholders from both the private and public sectors in order to achieve a common understanding of the importance of identifying, protecting, and conserving heritage resources for social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Appendix. Images of the historical places mentioned in the introduction

Figure A1.

Image of the Oldvai Gorge located in Ngrogoro, Arusha, Tanzania is known as the cradle of humankind.

Figure A2.

Remains of the Kaole ruins, a national historic site located in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

The area contains old Swahili coral stone ruins dating to a period between the thirteenth century and sixteenth century.

Figure A3.

Kilwa Kivinje.

Figure A4.

Kilwa Kivinje was originally a fishing village community situated among the ruins of Oman’s established city in early nineteenth century, which was a center for slave trade run by Arabs by then. After the end of the slave trade, this place became the garrison town to support their colonial efforts in the Southern Tanzania.

Figure A5.

Mikindani settlement in Mtwara, Tanzania marks some of the oldest towns along the coast of Africa.

Figure A6.

Mikindani is a historic coastal town located in Mtwara. The name comes from the Swahili word mikinda which means “young coconut trees.” Therefore, the term “Mikindani', literally means “the place where there are young coconut trees” in old Swahili language.

Figure A7.

Museum at Kalenga Iringa houses some historical artifacts and heritage, including the head of the famous chief “MKWAWA,” who fiercely resisted the Germans for a long time. Finally, he was captured, hanged and his head was taken to German for 40 years, later it was returned to Tanzania, housed in this museum.

Figure A8.

The remain of the skull of chief Mkwawa in Kalenga Museum in Iringa.

Figure A9.

Mikindani German BOMA.

Figure A10.

ARUSHA German Boma-Museum for natural history.

Figure A11.

Remains of the Dar es Salaam Arab-German Old BOMA.

Figure A12.

Mbozi Meteorite located in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Mbozi is an ungrouped iron meteorite found in Tanzania. It is one of the world’s largest meteorites, variously estimated as the fourth-largest to the eighth-largest; it is located near the city of Mbeya in Tanzania’s southern highlands. The meteorite is 3 meters (9.8 ft) long, 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) high, and weighs an estimated 16 metric tons (16 long tons; 18 short tons).

Figure A13.

Colonial cemeteries of the WW1 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Figure A14.

Commonwealth cemeteries in Dar es Salaam.

As demonstrated in the introduction part, the above list constitutes an important historical heritage in Tanzania and Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo in particular.