Dar es Salaam, Sept. 19 -- AT the shores of Lake Nyasa, beneath an old mango tree closely associated with the history of Lundo Island, domestic tourists recently encountered something more enduring than scenery: a living account of culture, tradition and memory. Gathered around the tree, they listened to island elder Vincent Tadei, popularly known as Mzee Magogo, as he recounted stories and beliefs that have helped shape Lundos cultural identity across generations.

The encounter offered visitors an opportunity to understand Lundo beyond its waters and natural beauty. It presented the island as a place where history survives through people, places and oral traditions. At the centre of the experience was the old mango tree, whose history, ...