Arusha City is a Tanzanian city, with a population of 617,631,[1] and the regional capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 2,356,255 (2022 census).[2]
Arusha is a multicultural city with a majority Tanzanian population of mixed backgrounds: indigenous African, Arab-Tanzanian and Indian-Tanzanian population, plus a small European and North American minority population. Religions of the Arusha city population include Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism.
History
Arusha clock tower area, 1953.The Arusha clock tower in the Central Business Area of Arusha City, 2005.
The current site of Arusha was first settled in the 1830s by the agro-pastoral Arusha Maasai from the Arusha Chini community, south of Mount Kilimanjaro.[4]:page 112 They traded grains, honey, beer, and tobacco with the pastoral KisongoMaasai in exchange for livestock, milk, meat, and skins. Demand for Arusha's foodstuffs increased substantially during the 1860s when the Pangani Valley trade route was extended through Old Moshi, Arusha, and ultimately to western Kenya.[4]:page 112 Although not yet a town, it was a regional centre with a number of urban features.[clarification needed][4]:page 113
Arusha was conquered by the Germans in 1896 after the murder of the first two missionaries who attempted to settle on nearby Mount Meru. The Germans established a permanent presence in 1900 when a military fort (a boma) was built and soldiers were garrisoned there.[4]:page 113 "The boma was a solid statement, meant to impress German moral and political order on the surrounding countryside. Set on a rise overlooking the plains, the fortress-like building dominated the surrounding landscape" complete with a machine gun.[4]:page 113
Many Africans were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands by the Germans and forced to dig lime or carry stones to construct the fort. The British took Arusha from the Germans in 1916 during World War I. German officials left the area, the British deported German missionaries and settlers, and only a skeletal military administration of the town remained.[4]:page 114
During the 1920s, civilian administration was implemented, missionaries from the United States arrived, British and Greek settlers reoccupied the former German farms, and the town grew, especially after the British moved the regional administration from New Moshi to Arusha. The extension of the railroad from Moshi to Arusha in 1928-29 greatly increased commerce.[4]:page 114 The Great Depression soon squelched commerce and Arusha in 1940 had fewer than 2,000 residents. Growth resumed during World War II and by 1948, the population had increased to more than 5,000.[4]:page 115
By the 1950s, Arusha was "a polyglot, westernized little town; it has a Greek community, several Germans predating World War I, and some German Jewish refugees post-dating World War II."[5] A state of emergency was declared in the Arusha region in 1953 in response to the Mau Mau Uprising. Journalist John Gunther noted at the time that "a loyal tribe, the Waarusha, threatened to take violent countermeasures against the Kikuyus themselves, if the British did not. The authorities arrested the leading Mau Mau conspirators, screened thousands more, and deported other thousands back to Kenya."[5]
Arusha has been a crucial city in the history of modern Tanzania. Official documents ceding independence to Tanganyika were signed by the United Kingdom at Arusha in 1961. The Arusha Declaration was signed in 1967 in Arusha. The Arusha Accords were signed at the city of Arusha on 4 August 1993, by representatives of competing factions in the Rwandan civil war.[citation needed]
East African Legislative Assembly.
The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi was signed on 28 August 2000 as part of a process forging peace in that country through power sharing and establishing a transitional government.[citation needed]
The January 2015 Arusha Agreement for South Sudan created a framework for the reunification of South Sudan's ruling SPLM party, which had splintered into three creating a humanitarian crisis as fighting between factions intensified. It provided that all SPLM members who were dismissed be reinstated to their previous positions and a secret ballot system be adopted.[6]
In 1994, the UN Security Council decided by its Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 that Arusha should host the ad hocInternational Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its foreign employees has influenced the local economy of the city increasing the cost of living for residents. The tribunal has downsized due to its closure in 2014, but its legal successor, the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1966, will continue entertaining a branch in Arusha, opening on 1 July 2012. The tribunal indicted 93 individuals and sentenced 62.[7]
TUN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Arusha.
The Tanzanian government intended to declare Arusha a city on 1 July 2006,[8] but this was delayed due to pending municipality boundary adjustments. Arusha was granted city status on 15 August 2012, with it becoming official on 2 November 2012.[9]
In 2013, a quarry located in Arusha collapsed and killed 14 miners after heavy rain.[10]
Mount Meru in the background of the city of Arusha.
Aircraft at Arusha Airport.Arusha City Central Bus Terminal
Arusha is served by two airports: the Kilimanjaro International Airport for international air travellers, some 60 kilometres (37mi) east, approximately halfway to Moshi. The airport provides international and domestic flights. Arusha Airport is a regional air hub in the west of the city, and serves more than 87,000 passengers yearly.
The city hosts the National Natural History Museum, which contains three exhibits on early man, plants and animals of the region, and the history of the city.[16] The Natural National History Museum used to be an administration outpost for the Germans in the 1900s. It was opened in 1987 as a public museum and displays important assets to the scientific community such as models of Australopithecus people, human ancestors that lived over 2 million years ago.[17] It is also home to a giant tortoise, over 100 years old, which freely roams the grounds.
A small museum adjacent to the Uhuru monument displays information about the proceedings of the 1967 Arusha Declaration.
The Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre is a large privately run art gallery in a striking building, resembling the Guggenheim museum whilst drawing on African symbols (drum, spear, and shield). It holds a wide range of African art, including from the Tanzanian TingaTinga school. Exhibits are for sale and there is not a permanent collection.
The Arusha Lutheran Medical Center in downtown Arusha.
Most Arushan children attend public schools located in almost every ward of the city. There are five international schools in and around Arusha: International School Moshi (Arusha Campus), Arusha Meru International School, Braeburn School, St Constantine's International School, and Kennedy House International School.
Arcadia University hosts a film course that has led to the creation of the Arusha African Film Festival, which allows people to come and watch films created by local people. The guidelines allows a multitude of filmmakers to be taken into account for awards, and each year a new theme is chosen for the festival. The AAFF is connected to the East African Film Festival, which also gives ample opportunity for awards and credit to young filmmakers.[20]
Despite its proximity to the equator, Arusha's elevation of 1,400 metres (4,600ft) on the southern slopes of Mount Meru keeps temperatures relatively low and alleviates humidity. Cool dry air is prevalent for much of the year. The temperature typically ranges between 10 and 30°C (50 and 86°F) with an average annual high temperature around 25°C or 77°F. It has distinct wet and dry seasons, and experiences an eastern prevailing wind from the Indian Ocean, a few hundred kilometres east. Under the Köppen climate classification system, it has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb). Areas away from Arusha to the south and west are classified as tropical savanna climate (Aw).
The record[22] high since records began in 2000 is 39°C or 102.2°F. The record low is 7°C or 44.6°F. Arusha averages 29.8 days per year above 32°C or 89.6°F – all between November and March. Arusha's annual rainfall average is 1,180 millimetres (46.46in), mostly coming during the long rainy season from March to May. Areas immediately to the north and northeast of Arusha can see more rain and cooler temperatures due to the influence of Mt. Meru, whose rain shadow extends toward the southeast side of the mountain.
A street in Arusha town.
Arusha and the northern highlands of Tanzania experience a bimodal rainfall pattern, with two rainy seasons. Many crops are planted twice per year. The long masika rains from March through May are more reliable in Arusha than in surrounding areas because of the influence of Mt. Meru. The short vuli rains are less reliable, usually coming in November and December. The dry kiangazi season is June to October.
Higher elevation areas north and northeast of the city are home to farmers growing bananas, coffee, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, leafy greens, and other vegetables.
Cultivation in areas to the northwest, west, southwest, south, and southeast focuses on maize, beans and wheat. There is a significant horticulture industry, with several companies growing flowers for export to Europe.
The city is home to the Tanzanian rugby national team. The city hosts international rugby matches as well. Joshua Peterson, who played for the national team, was the second youngest international rugby player ever, behind Jonny Wilkinson. Southern Pool A of the 2007 Castel Beer Trophy was hosted here as well.
The city also hosted the Mount Meru Marathon, held from 1985 to 2004.[23] The "all-comers" record for the fastest marathon performance in Tanzania, 2:13:46, was set at the event by former long-distance runnerBenedict Ako on August 1, 1993.[24]
On 21 May 2011, the Drake Bulldogs beat the CONADEIP All-Stars by 17–7 in the first ever American football game in Tanzania.[25]
Arusha is home for the Arusha Motor Sports Club (AMSC),[26] which provides motor entertainment for the city of Arusha. It was created in 1996 with the purpose of providing "motor rallying", which was a new concept at the time for Tanzania, as a new form of entertainment. The AMSC is the largest club in Tanzania that invites foreign competitors to rally and compete for AMSC.[citation needed]
On August 10, 2022, Arusha held the 44th CAF Ordinal General Assembly, which also included the launch of the new Africa Super League.[citation needed]
Tanzania comprises many lakes, national parks, and Africa's highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro. Northeast Tanzania is mountainous, while the central area is part of a large plateau covered in grasslands. The country also contains the southern portion of Lake Victoria on its northern border with Uganda and Kenya.
Transport in Tanzania includes road, rail, air and maritime networks. The road network is 86,472 kilometres (53,731 mi) long, of which 12,786 kilometres (7,945 mi) is classified as trunk road and 21,105 kilometres (13,114 mi) as regional road. The rail network consists of 3,682 kilometres (2,288 mi) of track. Commuter rail service is in Dar es Salaam only. There are 28 airports, with Julius Nyerere International being the largest and the busiest. Ferries connect Mainland Tanzania with the islands of Zanzibar. Several other ferries are active on the countries' rivers and lakes.
Moshi is a municipality and the capital of Kilimanjaro region in the north eastern Tanzania. As of 2017, the municipality has an estimated population of 201,150 and a population density of 3,409 persons per km2. In the last official census of 2022, the municipality had a population of 221,733. The municipality is situated on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano that is the highest mountain in Africa. The name Moshi has been reported to refer to the smoke that emanates from the nearby mountain. The municipality covers about 59 square kilometres (23 sq mi) and is the smallest municipality in Tanzania by area.
Marangu is a town located in Moshi District of Kilimanjaro Region. it is divided into Marangu East and Marangu west, each with its own village. It is recognized as one of the main gates for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. it is also famous for being the place where Mangi mkuu of the Chagga Thomas Lenana Marreale was born on June 15, 1915.
The Chagga are a Bantu ethnic group from Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. They are the third-largest ethnic group in Tanzania. They historically lived in sovereign Chagga states on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in both Kilimanjaro Region and eastern Arusha Region.
Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano located 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Kilimanjaro in southeast Arusha Region, Tanzania. At a height of 4,562.13 metres (14,968 ft), it is visible from Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the fifth-highest of the highest mountain peaks of Africa, dependent on definition.
Kilimanjaro Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital and largest city is the municipality of Moshi. With the 3rd highest HDI of 0.640 in the country, Kilimanjaro is one among the top five most developed regions of Tanzania. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,640,087, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 1,702,207. For 2002–2012, the region's 1.8 percent average annual population growth rate was the 24th highest in the country. It was also the eighth most densely populated region with 124 people per square kilometer. The most well-known tribes in the Kilimanjaro region are the chagga, rombos, and pare.
Arusha Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions and is located in the northeast of the country. The region's capital and largest city is the city of Arusha. The region is bordered by Kajiado County and Narok County in Kenya to the north, the Kilimanjaro Region to the east, the Manyara and Singida Regions to the south, and the Mara and Simiyu regions to the west. Arusha Region is home to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is comparable in size to the combined land and water areas of the state of Maryland in the United States.
United World College East Africa (UWCEA) is an independent international school in Tanzania, and a member of the United World Colleges movement. Established in 1969 as International School Moshi, the school is based on two campuses on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru near the city of Moshi, the capital of the Kilimanjaro region in north eastern Tanzania.
Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha Region of north eastern Tanzania. The park is small but varied with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas. In the west, the Meru Crater funnels the Jekukumia River; the peak of Mount Meru lies on its rim. Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east is grassland. The shallow alkaline Momella Lakes in the north-east have varying algal colours and are known for their wading birds.
Arusha City Council is one of seven administrative districts of Arusha Region in Tanzania. It is surrounded to the south, west and north by Arusha Rural District and to east by Meru District. The district covers an area of 267.0 km2 (103.1 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Cayman Islands. The district capital is the city of Arusha. As of 1994, Arusha District was the wealthiest district in Tanzania. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha Urban District was 617,631.
Hai is one of the seven districts of the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania.The district covers approximately 1,217 square kilometres (470 sq mi). It is bordered to the southwest by the Meru District of Arusha Region, to the west by the Siha District, and to the east by the Moshi Urban District and Moshi Rural District and the Rombo District to the far north. The western breach part of Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the Hai District. According to the 2022 census, the population of the Hai District was 240,999.
The United Nations Detention Facility (UNDF) is a United Nations detention center located in Arusha in Northern Tanzania. The other one is the United Nations Detention Unit in The Hague, Netherlands. The facility is maintained by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), a UN organization.
The Rwa or Meru sometimes Rwo are a Bantu ethnic and linguistic group based on the south and eastern slopes of Mount Meru in Meru District of the Arusha Region of Tanzania, the Rwa population is estimated to number 198,000.
The Arusha people are a Bantu ethnic and indigenous group based in the western slopes of mount Meru in Arusha District of Arusha Region in Tanzania. The Maasai regard the Arusha people as related as they were once a part of the immigrant Maasai whom arrived in Arusha in the late 18th century from Kenya. The Arusha people are not to be confused by Arusha residents who are a mix of people of different ethnic backgrounds that are born and reside within the borders of the Arusha Region.
Meru District, officially the Meru District Council is one of seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania.The District is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Siha and Hai Districts of Kilimanjaro Region, to the south by Simanjiro District of Manyara Region, and to the west by Arusha Rural District and Arusha Urban District. It covers an area of 1,266 km2 (489 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Faroe Islands. Meru District has an max elevation of 3,800 m (12,500 ft) at Rhino Point on Mount Meru. The administrative capital of the district is Usa River. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Meru District council was 331,603.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tanzania:
Kimandolu is an administrative ward in the Arusha District of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is roughly 6 km from the centre of Arusha town and lies between the Old Moshi Road and the Arusha-Himo highway, which leads directly to Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport. There are various charitable NGOs currently working in the area with schools, healthcare and sports, such as Art In Tanzania. The local representative is Jackson Lemunga.
Arusha District or Arusha District Council is one of the seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The district is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Meru District, to the south by Kilimanjaro Region, and to the west by Monduli District. the district surrounds Arusha City on all three sides. The district covers an area of 1,547.6 km2 (597.5 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Guadeloupe. The district capital is located in Sokon II. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha District was 449,518.
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