Iringa General Shopping

General Shopping

Masai Market – Go and visit Sengai (the unofficial leader of the Iringa Masai) in the Masai market between the Posta and Sokoni. All manner of beaded things, katenge bags, herbal medicines, and second hand shoes available! You will also get souvenir traders bothering you outside of Hasty Tasty – They are selling cards, carved wood items, and “Musical” Instruments. One of them has a nasty habit of playing his terrible violin type device, I find shouting “Inatosha” (it is sufficient) stops him for a few minutes and eases the headache. I am currently in the process of applying for a PC05 grant from VSO to buy the thing from him so he can focus his attentions on finding himself a more productive role in society… development in action. Remember, they are used to American tourists in Iringa so you’ll have to bargain hard for the best price!

Neema Crafts is a fantastic project and a place you must visit if coming to Iringa. The workshop employs deaf and physically disabled people who produce Elephant Dung Paper products (Cards, Albums, etc), beautiful Beaded jewellery (Bracelets, Earrings, Flip Flops) some of which come from beads they make themselves using an old Ghanaian method from old glass bottles (seeing the kiln firing is a must), Cushions, Vitenge Patchwork Blankets, Lamps and Lamp Shades, anazing freehand batiks, occasionally they will have Djembe drums one of their workers makes and more recently have employed disabled folks who are weaving rugs, Scarves and various other interesting textiles. Along with the obvious benefits of providing employment to people that Tanzanian society has rejected, the products are excellent and make great presents! They will be happy to give you a guided tour, and they have a café selling proper coffee and home made cakes, ice cream and Italian Panini toasted sandwiches  among other delights. They also sell giant chocolate cookies to take away, which has kept me going these long years! and I hear sun dried tomatoes may soon be on the cards.

There are dozens of shops selling vitenge and kanga. The best are located around the Dala Dala stand near the market and down “Indian” street. Expect to pay 2,500/= for kanga and 4,000/= for vitenge. Real Wax vitenge comes in at about 10,000/= if you are a purist. Always demand a punguza for multiple purchases though they are tough negotiators! There are several duka opposite the Posta selling batiques, carvings, paintings and painted tins. Laugh at the first price they offer you… and then punguza them to within an inch of their lives. In the corner of the main market you’ll find the basket market - several stalls selling straw mats, baskets, kitchen bits and pieces. The hand woven baskets are a signature of Iringa and well worth getting for keeping your mchele and maharage in. Currently you will pay 10,000/= for four medium sized baskets – an absolute bargain for the Iringa style they will bring to your bare, soulless volunteer accommodation. For food based retail therapy, take a walk to Premji’s and/or Raju’s on “Indian” street, two mini-supermarkets heavily stocked with wazungu luxuries; Wine, Marmite, Coco Pops, Olives, etc. Not what you would describe as cheap but when you are desperately in need of a yeast extract based hit, beggars can’t be choosers. Iringa Bakery (next to Lulu’s). Sells amazing bread. Opening hours are bizarre – 4 out of every 5 visits ends in disappointment, but when you are successful it makes it all worthwhile! Usually between 5 and 6 on weekdays is the best time to capture the bakers in their natural environment. The Consellata Fathers and Sisters live on two sites up in the Gangilonga suburb. The fathers sell their own cheese (well, that of their cows…) including mozzarella (amazing), the sisters sell homemade pasta, pasta sauce, and Kiti Moto (pork) which they raise themselves and then cruelly slaughter on the premises (who would think such mild mannered nuns could have such cold, blood thirsty hearts?)