The one thing that all of us will remember of the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam is it’s desastrous traffic: wherever you go, unless it is after midnight and before sunrise, you get stuck in traffic jams. Congestion everywhere. Thus we didn’t see much of the city’s tourist attractions (apparently there aren’t that many, anyway), however we had the chance to visit the hospital of CCBRT (Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania), an NGO providing health services to the poorest, with support by the charity organisation Light for the World.

CCBRT, a very well-run and friendly hospital, organised a concert at a local sportsground in Temeke, one of the poorest areas in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. Upon arriving on the site, the musicians were surprised and excited by the environment: hours before the concert a crowd of some 300 people, amongst them many women and children, had gathered to welcome the Windhund and the singer Bi Kidude, who is a legend not only on the island of Zanzibar.

Siga and Sekembuke backstage

Otto Lechner, interviewed by Austrian journalists before the concert

The concert started with the performance by Bi Kidude and her musicians, some of whom had joined the Windhund workshop at Zanzibar’s DCMA a week ago.

Bi Kidude was followed by the appearance of Siga and Sekembuke on the Zumari horns, who managed to catch the attention of the very youngest audience with a musical-clownesque entry.

Jovin, who presented the musicians, explained the purpose of the visit to this particular site: on the following day, CCBRT offered free eye testing right here, and the concert served also as a call for participation.

The concert was attended by the Austrian honorary consul, Mr. Suitner, and his wife. The VIP-lounge, by the way, was quickly dismantled after the concert. Athletes, who use the Temeke ground for their football training, needed the space…