Press Releases

U.S. Ambassador Provides Funds to Restore Kaole Ruins

December 7, 2007

Today, U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, Mark Green, handed over $10,900 (approximately 12.8 million Tanzanian Shillings) to Dr. Donatius Kamamba, Director of the Department of Antiquities and acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Ambassador Green and Dr. Kamamba were joined by Anthony Tibaijuka, Antiquities Conservator, and Sheiba Bulu, Communications Officer at the Ministry, inside the U.S. Mission in Msasani for the brief hand over ceremony.

The check handed over is the first installment of a total $20,900 project (approximately 24.6 million Tanzanian shillings) towards the restoration of Kaole Ruins near Bagamoyo. The Kaole Ruins were excavated in 1958 and house two mosques (one the remnant of the oldest mosque in East Africa, dating between the Third and Fourth centuries) and several tombs. The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation project is two-fold: (1) restoration and upkeep of the two mosques located at the site; and (2) an update and reprinting of A Guide to the Ruins of Kaole (circa 1974).

The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation is the only program in the U.S. Government that provides direct small grant support to heritage preservation in developing countries. Established by the U.S. Congress in 2001 with $1 million to help developing countries preserve their cultural heritage, the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation emphasizes the preservation of the world's cultural patrimony as an integral component of U.S. foreign relations.

To date, the Ambassador's Fund has supported nearly 400 projects worldwide, totaling more than $10 million. Funded projects include technical support for the restoration of historic buildings; assessment and conservation of museum collections; archaeological site preservation; documentation to save threatened traditional crafts; improved storage conditions for archives and manuscripts; recording oral history; and documentation of indigenous languages.

The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation is provided on behalf of the American people and is only one of the several programs the U.S. Government provides as direct assistance to Tanzania. During the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007, the U.S. Government is expected to provide over $648 million (over 745 billion Tanzanian shillings) in direct assistance and through multilateral organizations to Tanzania.

Previous Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation projects in Tanzania include:

FY 2006 ($25,589) Restoration of Pemba’s Shumba and Micheweni Mosques that contain unique features combining Swahili and Persian architecture dating from the 17th to 18th centuries. FY 2005 ($23,500) To preserve through digitization 19th century records documenting the lives of slaves who passed through the Swahili Coast and information about the measures taken to abolish slavery. A catalogue and pamphlet were produced to make the collection accessible to the public.

FY 2004 ($23,500) To preserve the heritage of the island and make it accessible to the public by creating a museum in a restored 18th century fort in the town of Chake Chake. The island of Pemba on the Swahili coast was a popular destination for sea faring traders and conquering dynasties resulting in a wealth of historical sites, artifacts, and documents.

FY 2002 ($24,090) To support the preservation of Taarab music, a blend of influences and styles from the Arab world, India and beyond, that has become not only the national sound of the Islands, but also an outlet of political and social expression. This traditional form of music is threatened by globalization and the infusion of western musical styles.