Bringing astronomy back to the youth of Tanzania
Astronomy in Tanzania dates back a long way. Our grandparents used to look at the sky and be able to tell time, season, birthing of cow and many more aspects of life. This knowledge was passed from generation to generation orally, but in recent times due to the formation of towns and increase in the western way of life this knowledge has undergone a recession period.
Lack of books and the increase in the race to combat the hardship of life has meant the current generation in Tanzania do not bother to look into the sky as it can’t put food on their table. Migration of people to towns has widened the gap between grandparents and grandchildren and the oral method doesn’t seem to work anymore. School curriculum doesn’t emphasise much on astronomy and even teachers don’t have interest nor know much about astronomy which has great repercussions on the transfer of knowledge to kids.
Today Tanzanian Youth has lost the taste of science and curiosity for the sky as it is seen as American desire and rich people’s interest and bad enough it is not regarded as African Culture. Through the International Year of Astronomy 2009 we have managed to bring back the desire, take people’s eyes back onto the sky, exploring the wonders of the universe and creating the need to write down oral stories from our grandparents.
In April 2009 100 hours of Astronomy had small coverage but with great impact to most participants and today for Galilean Nights we have managed to increase the number of participants and we expect even more people in Tanzania to watch the sky.
Mponda Malozo
Galilean Nights Local Contact in Tanzania
