DOROTHY BARLOW (88) died on February 16. She had come to Tanzania in ca. 1950, and after the untimely death of her husband William (PWD) in 1959, stayed on in Dar working for TDFL and other companies. She became a Tanzanian citizen in ca. 1970. Her voluntary activities included the St. Albans Church choir, administrative work at the Missions to Seamen and being a trustee of the Tanzania Society for the deaf.
REV’D CANON DAVID B. BARTLETT, MA (74) of the UMCA/USPG died on August 15 1998. In Tanzania from 1954-90 and 1995-97 he served in many capacities including Warden of the Theological College, Rondo; priest-in charge St Albans, Dar es Salaam; setting up a new parish of Muheza and building Muheza Designated District Hospital with his doctor wife, Marion: and, similar work at Kwa Mkono and, finally Zanzibar Cathedral. He was made Chancellor and Vicar-General of the Diocese of Zanzibar and Tanga in 1973. At his funeral the recently resigned Archbishop John Ramadhani was able to preach as he was in Britain for the Lambeth Conference.
KATE BERTRAM (86), the former President of Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge, who died recently, carried out pioneering research into the freshwater fish of East Africa starting in 1934. Among a series of scientific papers she wrote was ‘The Fisheries of Lake Rukwa’ (1939) a classic work on the fauna and ecology of the lake -Daily Telegraph.
GERVAS ISHENGOMA (70) a prominent figure in the co-operative movement in Kagera Region and former Commissioner for Cooperatives died on May 27.
Chief ADAM SAPI MKW A W A (79), described in the Daily News as ‘the country’s most decorated legislator, politician and leader’, died of high blood pressure on June 25. He was Speaker of the National Assembly from independence except for the period from 1973 to 1975, when he was appointed Minister of State for Capital Development. He was installed Chief of the Wahehe in 1975 and held this position until 1962, when the chiefdom was abolished. He was the first Hehe chief to have only one wife even though his religion allowed him to have more than one. Also known as Mtwa Mkwawa, Chief Adam Sapi was the first African to be made an honorary Captain of the King’s African Rifles. Mwalimu Nyerere and President Mkapa (who described the Chief as ‘clean, committed, dedicated, diligent and as having no enemies’) were among thousands who attended the elaborate funeral at Kalenga, 16 kms from lringa. As the body was being laid to rest, the Chiefs elder brother recited Hehe rituals heard only at the burial of chiefs. He said “Adam Sapi is not dead, according to Hehe traditions. He has just broken his leg and is now resting amongst his ancestors”. Chief Adam Sapi is succeeded by his third child (first son) who will be known as Mtwa Mfwimi (Hunter) Mkwawa II. The new Chief declared amidst cheers and ululations that he would strive to restore Hehe traditions and customs. At this remark people looked towards Mwalimu Nyerere, who was sitting in the audience and who had abolished chieftainships in Tanzania in the 1960’s, but, according to the Guardian, ‘he remained calm’ .
The famous blind master drummer MORRIS NYUNYUSA (81) who was born in Tunduru district and performed in many countries -on as many as ten drums at a time -died on May 9. He will be remembered amongst other things for his signature tune heralding the news bulletins on Radio Tanzania, Dar es Salaam -Daily News.
REV’D DAVID POWELL (88) served in a number of parishes in the Diocese of Masasi under the UMCA from 1946 to 1965. He was appointed in charge of music under Bishop Trevor Huddleston in order to introduce indigenous music into services.
FRANCIS JOHN RIDDELL who died on June 26 served as a District Officer mainly in the Central and Lake provinces and in Dar es Salaam from 1946 to 1967.