By Anangisye Mwateba, Misenyi
ENTABUKO Kanyigo, a Haya term meaning “The Origin of Kanyigo,” is among the cultural heritage festivals that narrate the ancient history and traditions of Kanyigo Ward in Misenyi District, Kagera Region.
The annual festival, held every December 30, aims to pass on indigenous knowledge and cultural values of the ancestors of Kanyigo to the younger generation, particularly youths from Kanyigo Ward and the wider Kagera Region. The event features visits to natural and archaeological sites found in the area, alongside discussions on how such heritage resources can be preserved and utilised for social and economic development.
Speaking during the festival, the founder and owner of the Kanyigo Ward Museum, Dr Daniel Ndagala, said the idea behind establishing the festival was to create a rare opportunity for young people to understand the lifestyle and practices of their ancestors, while also learning about economic and social opportunities embedded in heritage tourism.
“Currently, we are singing the song of attracting eight million tourists by 2030, yet Tanzania has over 60 million people. Tanzanians themselves rarely visit their own tourist attractions. Foreign tourists do not come to distribute money freely; their visits present opportunities for Tanzanians to benefit along the tourism value chain, including accommodation, food services and selling cultural products. It is therefore important for us to promote our areas to attract both domestic and international tourists,” said Dr Ndagala.
On his part, the representative of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Assistant Director for Antiquities and Museums Development, Mr William Mwita, said that amendments made to the Antiquities Act in 2022 allow the private sector to establish and own museums and heritage sites for social and economic gains.
Mr Mwita added that the ministry’s role is to provide guidelines on the proper management of museums and the conservation of heritage sites, as is currently being done for the Kanyigo Museum and the Entabuko Festival.
“The establishment of museums, commemorative festivals and the management of heritage sites by the private sector aims at creating employment opportunities through heritage tourism. To date, there are about 42 privately owned museums across the country,” Mr Mwita said.
The Entabuko Kanyigo Festival continues to position Kanyigo as a unique cultural tourism destination, attracting growing interest from both local and international visitors.
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