Martin:
A few miles down the coast from Kigoma is the town of Ujiji. Once the centre of the slave trade it's also the place where Stanley met Livingstone in 1871 and came up with the immortal phrase "Dr.Livingstone I presume". The location of their meeting is now a small museum and memorial.
The museum is run by the remarkable Mr Govolambingo - a Livingstone enthusiast totally dedicated to keeping the memorial going despite limited funds. When we arrived he was keen to let us know that Michael Palin had filmed here some years before. When he discovered we were a fellow and member of the RGS he was totally delighted and took us on a tour of the grounds. The original mango tree under which the pair met has long gone but, Mr Govolambingo told us, the modern trees around the memorial were grafted from the original. Under the shade of the trees he then recited a comprehensive history of the day Livingstone and Stanley met.
The museum itself holds a few interesting artefacts and some rather unusual papier maiche sculptors of the meeting!
Mr Govolambingo doesn't use the internet but he was very keen for us to help him out with some links to other institutions that hold Livingstone records around the world. We pointed him towards a few including the RGS - expect a handwritten letter from the custodian of Ujiji sometime soon!
Our host's one request as we left was for a pen - perhaps from the UK. I have never seen anyone more delighted than Mr Govolambingo when Annemarie pulled out from her bag a complimentary pen from the Royal Livingstone Hotel. "This is a most happy day for me" he said.
Mr Govolambingo we are very please to have met you - you made our day too.