The project started in September 2013, and it aims to identify, protect and promote heritage resources in Kilwa, Southern Tanzania. The first semester of this year was marked by the construction of an information centre to promote all cultural and natural sites inventoried in 2014. Ideally located on Kilwa market square, where visitors coming by bus alight, the centre will also be a selling point for culinary products (salt, honey, pastries...) and craft products (sculptures, sewing, basket weaving...). Six tour guides working in Kilwa under the supervision of the local government manage the centre nowadays. Two members of the administration attended a training session at the beginning of September 2015 in France, provided by the Communauté d’Agglomération de Rochefort Océan, one of the project partners. Architecturally, the building showcases the resources and expertise available in Kilwa. The centre, designed by architect Arnaud Misse, was built by 25 people in 7 weeks time under the supervision of architect Nuria Sánchez Muñoz. The principal materials used are stones for the walls, locally produced lime mortar, earth for internal plasters, timber for the openings and roof structure, bamboos and palm leaves for the covering. We wanted to prove that contemporary architecture could make use of techniques developed over the past 1000 years in Kilwa. The final cost of the building is 26 million shillings, equivalent to 13,500 euros. This money has almost entirely benefited the population, either in the form of labour, or in the form of materials production (for instance, the shaping of quarried stones or the weaving of ceiling mats). Apart from a few steel bars reinforcing the lower ring beam, all other materials originated from Kilwa.

Another result of the first semester is the design of a leaflet presenting Kilwa, to be distributed by the Tanzania Tourist Board during different international tourism fairs in Africa, Europe and Asia. This brochure in three languages (English, French and Kiswahili) was designed by the Communauté d’Agglomération de Rochefort Océan and Fouras tourist office.

The project will continue until September 2016. The final year will be devoted to the development of selected tourist sites, the production of an exhibition, the design of promotional materials and the improvement of guest houses in villages within the district.

News of the project

The three years project which started in September 2013 has come to an end. This adventure, which involved hundreds of people within Kilwa district, gave an important impetus to the development of cultural tourism in this territory. The project was managed by CRAterre, supported by two Tanzanian partners: Kilwa District Council & Kilwa Masoko Township Authority and a French one: Rochefort Ocean. Funding was provided by the European Union and the French government.
The project aimed to develop Kilwa as a tourist destination by promoting its unknown natural and cultural resources. Even if Kilwa is a major city in the history of East Africa, it does not enjoy the reputation of other Tanzanian sites, especially those in the north of the country. The World Heritage status of the two islands was insufficient to attract an adequate stream of visitors to support the local economy. The project therefore set out to identify and promote other available resources to convince visitors to extend their stay, while contributing more substantially to the local economy. The project was structured around 7 activities:
1.    The management of heritage resources, which was formalized by a series of meetings and workshops around different heritage resources. This activity was continuous over the 3 years.
2.    The inventory of cultural and natural resources, done in 2014. The inventory catalogue is available on CRAterre website.
3.    The promotion in 2015 and 2016 of these resources at the local, national and international levels and the equipment of selected sites for a better visitor experience.
4.    The construction in 2016 of two guest houses in two remote villages, using earth (wattle and daub technique) and other local materials.
5.    The construction in 2015 of a tourist information centre using a wide range of local materials including stone, earth, wood, bamboos and palm leaves for the roof.
6.    The promotion of local architectural and urban values in 2015 and 2016, with the publication  of a catalogue on Sustainable architecture in Kilwa.
7.    The documentation in 2016 of an old Kivinje building to prepare a future conservation project.

This project is sponsored by the European Union and the Government of France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Culture and Communication).

Discover Kilwa

As part of the European heritage project dedicated to the Kilwa region in southern Tanzania, a 7-minute video inviting people to this beautiful destination was prepared by 2 documentary producers: 2-pieces films (France) and True Vision (Tanzania).

These fascinating images you immediately transport you to an unknown territory!

Partners

Communauté d’agglomération Rochefort Océan, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication