Time
2023-06-14
Description
I: Mr. [Anonym], I have another picture here, it is registered with number 2018_18301_001, look at it, can you identify what is this?
R: This is something for making fire.
I: What is it called?
R: In Pare community it is called 'linyindi', there is a special tree called 'mvumo', but there is another tree which was used in the same way 'mkonde', those trees are there, you find dry trees and make a round thing, whereby you will stir it until you get smoke then fire comes out, but there is also another tree called 'mzumba nkhozo wautei', you use that tree….in fact it looks like ropes and they are many we see them here, so you take the dried ones and crush them like this until it is powder then you dip it in here, if you stir, the fire quickly comes out.
I: In Pare community you said it is called what?
R: 'Lunyindi'
I: And in Sambaa tribe?
R: It is 'unyindi', meaning it is moving round at the same place.
I: What communities were using lunyindi?
R: They were the Sambaa tribe, Pare tribe, Mbugu communitiesand other communities like Safwa and Ngoni tribe, this was because they were many.
I: In which region were the Safwa communities found?
R: The Safwa community are found in Mara region and in Tarime mainland.
I: And the Ngoni?
R: The Ngoni are in Songea.
I: So, was it special for setting on fire?
R: When going to the forest, it was the matchbox.
I: What another tree was matching to this?
R: I only know those two trees, the 'mvumo' and 'mkonde'.
I: What gender and at what age were using ‘lunyindi?’
R: This was mostly used by old people who went hunting and farming, they need not to carry fire but they were carrying this, or he kept it in his farm shed, hence this was used by people like that, but after the old people got very old, the young people when they went to hunt they were carrying these, or were making them in the forest, that means you cut them and do like this and you get fire.
I: Did you make fire on dry or fresh wood?
R: From a dried tree, and it was named 'khunge', which means it has dried up a long time ago, but in Pare community they say 'ikulunge'.
I: And you must have another tree to stir to get fire?
R: Yes.
I: How important was it to the cultures of the people you have mentioned?
R: It was important because they were avoiding buying matches from the shop.
All: Laughing.
I: Were there matches during that period?
R: Yes, there were matches called 'nyota'.
I: What years are those?
R: It was the years of 1961 and 1962.
I: Is ‘lunyindi’ currently still made?
R: Probably if someone likes it, for instance you like it from the memories and maybe you inherit me, because it is said ‘we keep inheriting’, we were inherited by our ancestors and we should inherit you, for example I have grandchildren and children, they don’t want to be taught, they don't want this kind of work.
I: What do they really like?
R: They buy match gas…
All: Laughing.
I: Mr. [Anonym], such ‘lunyindi’ like that if it is brought into our current environment, how much money would you buy it for?
R: Maybe Tsh. 5000/=, this is because its raw material is not the same as much as the others as I explained to you.
source: Amani-Stade Proejct / Amani Field Research 2023, Interview No. 19
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R. Anonymous
Person
-
National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)
(Client)
-
unknown actor
(wissenschaftlicheR BearbeiterIn)
Place