Upanga Jamatkhana described in Professor Karim F Hirji’s “Growing up with Tanzania”

Excerpts from Professor Karim F. Hirji’s “Growing up with Tanzania: Memories, Musings and Maths”:

At page 31

The other thing that awed me was the majestic Upanga JK. A blend of traditional Islamic and modern architectural styles, it was a two story structure with halls larger than half a soccer field. An elegant, tall minaret with four giant clock faces at the top stood at one corner. On three sides it was surrounded with a picturesque garden with winding walkways and cool cement benches, enticing one to sit, admire the flora and regale in the aroma. A fountain with five powerful jets sprayed thin beams of water into the heavens. Focused light beams from the base converted the emergent droplets into glittering diamonds. On festive nights, the prayer hall was decorated from end to end like a grand party auditorium and was filled to capacity. The devotees dressed up. The children came elegantly attired as well.

At page 74

The gallery of lights atop the central JK and Upanga JK domes were switched on during the major religious and national holidays. They significantly enhanced the festive atmosphere. But not quite satisfied, the Upanga elders sought to bestow a mark of uniqueness onto our JK by converting the stationary light bands into rotating bands. With the funds secured, the layout was planned and an electrician was found. A group of volunteers including Shiraz Budhani, Fidu Moledina and I were assigned to assist him and implement the major parts of the job.

As the supplies were being collected, it came to notice that one essential item, a cam shaft with three aluminum connectors angled 120 degrees to each other, was not at hand. But it was the heart of the project. Joined to a motor and wired correctly, the mechanism would create the illusion of rotating lights. I offered to make the unit at the Dar es Salaam Technical College. My co-workers were not confident that I could produce a unit of the desired configuration and quality. They thought it should be made by a commercial workshop, but the supervising electrician took up my offer.
…

I completed the job in two days, brought the cam shaft to the JK, and held my breath as the electrician joined it to the motor and did the wiring. Good lord, it did work. Other volunteers had spent much effort doing the external and internal rewiring, ensuring insulation, securing the motor, and placing mercury contacts and switches. The eventual product was an elegant display of rotating green, red and yellow lights swathing the JK dome.

https://books.google.ca/books

http://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/growing-up-with-tanzania
http://www.theismaili.org/gallery-tanzania-jamat-prepares-mawlana-hazar-imam%E2%80%99s-visit-july-2011

Earlier:

Professor Karim F. Hirji publishes his memoirs “Growing up with Tanzania”