Ridge Art (21 Harrison) is hosting a kanga party to promote eco-safari excursions to Tanzania in East Africa on Friday, October 16, 6-9 pm, and Saturday, October 17, noon-5 pm. Pat House of Vanishing Worlds LLC-Safari Tracks will demonstrate how to wrap and use kanga cloths. They will also be offered for sale.

The kanga is a rectangle of pure cotton cloth with a border all around it, printed in bold designs and bright colors. They are worn by both men and women. Men generally wear them around the house and to sleep in, women wear them everywhere, and babies are virtually born into them and are usually carried in a soft sling of kanga cloth. The designs vary from purely decorative patterns to commemorative ones honoring a person or an event. Most will have a motto in Swahili.

The story of Vanishing Worlds LLC - Safari Tracks begins over 25 years ago when Pat House took her first trip to Tanzania. At that time expatriates owned all the safari companies and nearly all the skilled and managerial jobs were also controlled by foreigners. This was when Pat met Andrew Uronu. Andrew had studied to be a naturalist but could not make an adequate living working the safari jobs that were available to native Tanzanians.

Pat had made several trips to East Africa with a variety of guides and companies. Then through arrangements made by Tanzanian friends, she went on a safari organized and led by Andrew. Pat, an experienced traveler, immediately noted the differences. He had superior tracking skills, an excellent knowledge of his country’s history, real sensitivity to fellow Tanzanians and excellent attention to detail. The lodges he suggested complimented the natural world with understated luxury.

With Pat’s initial financial backing, tour bookings and encouragement, Andrew’s safari company became the first to be owned and operated by a native Tanzanian. Wildlife tourism is one of the most important and lucrative businesses in Tanzania. Andrew takes great pride in the wildlife heritage of Tanzania and views it as a natural resource. Like Andrew many Tanzanians study to be naturalists or complete courses to perform jobs in the tourism profession. However, many businesses are still led by outsiders using local drivers as their eyes and ears but leaving the higher paying jobs to expatriates employed by large companies based in other countries. Thanks to Andrew’s hard work and perseverance, Vanishing Worlds-Safari Tracks has been operating as a business for 15 years.