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Dar es Salaam in Delft Blue
Introduction
In the fall of 1998 I spent three months in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, where I taught photography at a local institute.
During this period, I collided with the enormous
differences between the Tanzanian and my own culture.
These differences unfortunately make it very difficult to
achieve a mutual understanding and comprehension of
each other. Nevertheless, I dare say that after the three
months I understood that these cultural differences are
not invincible.
With the support, the patience and the courage of several
Tanzanians who guided me into their culture, I discovered
we are all basically the same, regardless of colour or race.
Only the circumstances we live in -which largely determine
us- differ enormously, reinforcing the impression we inhabit
different worlds, not one.
As a result of this new understanding I asked a large group
of people in my neighbourhood in Dar es Salaam to pose for
the camera with a favourite object. I then asked them why
they chose this specific object. A selection of these photographs is shown here, for those who are interested and for those who want to learn something about life, assuming
they are fortunate enough to have access to the Internet.
I here by would like to express my utmost gratitude to
my guides, especially Andrew, Sandile, Mary
and Bwana Mzee Sir John.
Barend Schweigman
Dar es Salaam /
Amsterdam,
December 1999