MwanaFalsafa1
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 26, 2008
- 5,565
- 836
Jamani wana JF naombeni details kuhusu Ikulu yetu. Kuna mtu mwenye historia ya makazi haya ya raisi wetu? Je kuna mwenye picha za kuonyesha Ikulu yetu ilivyo(au kutokana na usalama hai ruhusiwi?)? Pia uchunguzi wa ule moto uliyo tokeaga Ikulu iliishia wapi?Nimeona ni vyema tukaongelea makazi haya maarufu Tanzania. Any details at all will be appreciated. Maana wenzetu kama Marekani Ikulu yao is a symbol of pride for them.
The State House, Dar es salaam, is the official residence of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, whose personal standard was first raised on the battlemented tower on December 9, 1962.
The building, formerly Government House, was constructed by the first British Governor Sir Horace Byatt of the then Tanganyika Territory. When Governor Byatt took up office early in 1919, he had to first stay in a nearby building (the current ministry of health). The Royal Naval gunfire had reduced the German Government House to a gutted ruin on December 15, 1914.
The new Government House, completed in 1922 and built partly on the foundations of the old German Palast previously occupied by Governor Schnee, was designed by Mr. J. H. Sinclair, at one time British resident in Zanzibar. Sinclair was a skilled architect, and had been responsible for the design of the Residency in Zanzibar.
The State House is a fine looking structure, blending African and Arabic architecture, with wide verandahs, arches, and covered ways. It stands in grounds extending over 33 acres and overlooks the Indian Ocean. The building is white-walled and cool within. The entrance and rooms are lofty, with floors of terrazo or African wood blocks.
The original portion of the building is the central block, which includes a tower. It is normally entered by the great brass-studded west doors that are surmounted by a coloured replica of the United Republic Coat of Arms.
Two giant drums flank the entrance, and immediately beyond is the grand entrance hall with its ornately-decorated columns. This spacious hall extends the full height of the building and is lit by clerestory windows.
The State House contains a number of interesting gifts and objects of art that were presented to Tanganyika by friendly overseas governments to mark either the achievement of independence in 1961, or the inauguration of the Republic of Tanganyika in 1962.
Other items have been presented at various times by individual persons or organisations. Together they beautify the furnishing of the house and do much to enrich the historic character of the building, which is both home and work place for the President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Among the gifts which first attract the attention of visitors in the entrance hall is a large silver gilt table centre-piece of modern design standing on the staircase, an independence gift from the former Administering Authority. An eye catching traditional Ethiopian shield with crossed spears, the gift of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, is displayed on the opposite wall.
Gifts from other Heads of State and Governments are elsewhere in the house and in the private apartments and state guestrooms. Straight ahead, and partly visible through the doorways, of elaborately-carved wood, is the Grand Drawing Room, surely one of the loveliest of apartments.
The floor is of highly-polished timber, and a further series of doorways carved in wood open on to a broad shaded terrace overlooking the lawns while the harbour approach beyond. At one end of the Drawing Room is an attractive minstrel's gallery, while doors at the other end open into the Music Room.
The top of the tower, from which flies the President's personal standard when he is in residence, is reached by a stone spiral staircase. The central block also includes the Cabinet Chamber in which the President presides over meetings of his colleagues. Here, large polished tables form a square around which Ministers sit. To the rear of the President's chair is a backcloth bearing embroidered representation of the coat-of-arms of the Republic of Tanganyika, a gift in 1961 of the government of India.
Opposite the Dining Room, on the ground floor, is the entrance to the lift to the first floor. The passage-way to the south from here leads to the Princess Margaret wing, which was built for the visit to Tanganyika of Her Royal Highness in 1956. A private architect, Mr. Goldthorpe prepared the drawings for the wing in 1955 and construction started immediately to ensure completion before the Royal visit.
Linking the Princess margaret wing to the remainder of the house is a peaceful nook containing a pool and fountain. Thence to the Banqueting Hall which comfortably sets 100 guests. This elegant room with wood-tiled floor and ornate coffered ceiling can be opened to cool breezes on three sides, while remaining completely shaded by wide verandahs. In convenient proximity is a large modern kitchen, with refrigerator room, servants' duty room and House Keeper's office adjoining.
Upstairs are spacious bedroom suites, beautifully appointed and complete with sitting rooms, dressing rooms and bathrooms.
To the north of the central block is a wing that forms part of the original building. The ground floor comprises accommodation for senior staff of the President's Office. Formerly it also included the private study of the Governor.
The complex duties of the executive head of State are conducted by the President in his study, a large room which was built in 1961 as a conference chamber for the then Council of Ministers. On the wall above his desk are Maasai spear and shield which were ceremonially handed to President Nyerere at the time of the country's attainment of Republican status in December 1961.
Also on the walls are a pair of interesting pictures created entirely from different woods, and given by the late President Sylvanus Olympio of Togoland in 1961 to mark Tanganyika's independence.
The State House is particularly colourful when a visiting Head of State is in residence, for then there are two standards flying from the tower and the long drive from the east gate is livened up with flags on either side.
When the darkness falls, the building is also an impressive sight as floodlights are switched on. The stark white house is thrown up in vivid contrast to the surrounding night sky, and is good to look upon from both the sea and the land.
In a part of the grounds of the State House there is a large enclosure accommodating the nucleus of a collection of certain species of wild life. So far, these include gazelles, bucks, ostriches and peacocks.
Of much interest at the State House grounds are the trees and shrubs some of which were planted as far back as in 1934. As the visitor explores the ground, he /she will find in the trees and shrubs which are planted there a gathering of the nations of the world. Countries with tropical climate such as; India, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, Malaysia, Melanesia, Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, China, Australia, Malagasy, Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, the Carribean countries, besides East, West, Central and North Africa, the countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean and Iran.
Most of the trees and shrubs have been planted for the colour of their flowers, the striking appearance of their foliage or the welcome shade that they cast. At most times of the year there is colour to be found in the smaller shrubs, but the flowering of the large shrubs and the trees, is more seasonal. In August and Early September a mass of yellow-brown leaves flourish on the mango trees
