Daisy Sykes Buruku remembers

[Mohamed Said]

DAISY SYKES BURUKU REMEMBERS
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''...the open door policy prevailed at our home.

Which is how we always had visitors of all races, caliber and background.

But what has really stayed within my memory was frequent arrival of the leadership echelons of the pre-independence era, the tribal chiefs and the leaders of the budding nationalist movements, trade unions and other government staff.

Hence, courtesy to my father’s fame and hospitality, I grew up to be no stranger to the famous tribal chiefs and royalty as I greeted and attended to the dignitaries who came home regularly.

Such high profile frequent guests included Mangi Mkuu Thomas Mareale, Chiefs Abdiel Shangali, John Maruma from Moshi, Adam Sapi Mkwawa from Iringa, Kidaha Makwaiya from Usukuma, Abdallah Fundikira, Harun Lugusha from Tabora, Humbi Ziota from Nzega, Michael Lukumbuzya from Ukerewe and Patrick Kunambi from Morogoro among others.

They were normally accompanied by their very dignified looking wives who never ceased to mesmerize me.

I remember among the chiefs, was the one and only woman Chief Mwami Ntare from Kasulu Kibondo.

In this unlikely manner, as children, we gained awareness about the demography, tribal languages and culture of the myriad of tribes and people of Tanganyika, way before most other people from the coastal region knew about.

I was also most privileged to meet at this time the growing class of African civil servants, the elite who were distinguished by their education in Makerere College and other institutions.

These were the nucleus among the new breed of educated Tanganyikans in galvanizing political awareness and freedom.

Most memorable to me were great men such as Hamza Mwapachu, Zuberi Mtenvu, Mzee John Rupia, Steven Mhando, Dunstan Omari, Uncle Dossa Aziz to name but a few.

There were also the elite from Zanzibar like Uncle Ahmed Rashad Ali and Abdul Wadood who were a constant feature in the family.

But I could never forget Uncle Maloo, a Baluchi from Easterm Congo who enjoyed Dad's hospitality for so long that we believed he was one of the Sykes.

Top most in my mind as a child was Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and through him we got to know for the first time of the existence of a tribe called Zanaki.

His home coming was always an event and there would be silent murmurs of “Mwalimu is coming or has arrived,” For me that signaled my main task as I was always asked to make breakfast of tea and eggs whenever he arrived from St Francis Secondary School in Pugu where he taught.

I in fact have a more or less vivid childish memory of him actually taking up temporary residence at our Stanley St. home after he resigned from St. Francis, while his committed friends, that is Baba and Uncle Dossa, were looking for a place for him to stay.

Our house at Stanley being a corner house had a unique design for those times.

The main house with several rooms was on the Stanley side and the Sikukuu side was a kind of studio cum apartment with just the sitting room and an open plan bedroom.

So although it was sizeable, it was difficult for two male adults to share.

I believe, my Uncle Abbas who was the regular occupant of this premises would have had to move to Kipata, our other home, or squeeze in on the main house, so that Mwalimu could be comfortable and have privacy.

Of all the regular visitors, Mwalimu Nyerere and Uncle Hamza Mwapachu were highly impressionable to me because of the way they pronounced my nick name, ''Daisy,'' with an Anglicized twist, making it a permanent name for me, even lagging behind my official name Aisha.

As a child I also remember how diligently Baba was preoccupied about the welfare of Mama Maria and her kids, making sure that enough cooked food was delivered to her daily at her little shop in Livingstone/ Mchikichi, a mark of extreme kindness and generosity.

It was also during this formative period in my life that I met the budding women nationalist leaders such as Bi Lucy Lameck from Moshi, Mary Ibrahim and the Moslem women such as Bibi Titi Mohamed, Bi. Tatu biti Mzee, Bi. Hawa biti Maftaha from Dar es Salaam, who all passed as my grannies.

Interestingly, these Moslem women were drawn in by Bibi Chiku biti Kisusa, populary known to us as Mama Sakina.
It was Mama Sakina who introduced these famous Moslem women mentioned above.

Baba was very central to this strategy because without his encouragement and influence, it is unlikely that these women could have been drawn into the mass mobilization of Moslem women to become prominent at political rallies, singing and shouting out nationalist slogans.

This was knew in the culture, a trend that was at the time totally unexpected and untypical for Moslem women.

I overheard numerous discussions when my Dad and his colleagues discussed the names and occasions for which these women were to be brought in to build the political momentum.

I also remember vividly how Baba who was very close to Mwalim Sakina and her sister Mwalim Fatna (both daughters of Mama Sakina), brought them close to Mama Maria and who introduced Mama Maria Nyerere to their Mother and her friends (Bi Hawa Maftaha, Bibi Titi and Bi Tatu biti Mzee).

It turned out that it was these women who then helped Mama Maria to set up a small shop on Livingstone/Mchikichi Street and where she spent most of her daytime.

As a kid I remember visiting this little shop regularly to deliver lunch to Mama Maria, which was not far from our home in Stanley /Sukukuu Street.

With Baba fully committed to this routine, he made sure the delivery was on time, a matter which at times vexed our mother...''

PHOTO: Daisy Sykes Buruku, Mr. and Mrs. Abdulwahid Sykes, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Nyerere, Mwami Theresa Ntare and Chief Thomas Marealle.

The last photo right Bi. Chiku bint Said Kisusa, Bi. Titi Mohamed and left is Tatu bint Mzee and in the middle is Julius Nyerere Dar es Salam Airport the first trip to UNO 1955.

Daisy Sykes Buruku

Mr. and Mrs. Abdulwahid Sykes

Mr. and Mrs. Julius Nyerere

Mwami Theresa Ntare

Chief Thomas Marealle

Bi. Chiku bint Said Kisusa, Bi. Titi Mohamed and left is Tatu bint Mzee and in the middle is Julius Nyerere Dar es Salam Airport the first trip to UNO 1955​