The Livingstone tower of Bagamoyo is a two storey high, 2 x 2 m
(approx) building that is named after the great Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone and
is located inside the compound of the Catholic church of Bagamoyo –
Tanzania.
It is said to be the remains of the oldest church of east
Africa, as well as part of a larger historic remains site that consists
of buildings such as the Holy Ghost fathers house, the sisters house
(now museum), the dispensary, the baobab tree and the missionary
cemetery all of which date back to the late 19th century or early 20th
century.
A history of the tower the tower was built by father Anthony
Horner in 1872 as part of the first church of the Holy ghost mission and
presumably the oldest in east Africa. The church itself was later on
dismantled and a new one built nearby that still stands today.
After his death and being transported from Zambia by his two porters (Chuma and Susi),
Dr. Livingstone’s body was interred at the tower for one night (24th –
25th of February 1874) while awaiting transportation to Westminster,
London [1]. Because of this, the tower was renamed in his honor.
What to do there?Nothing much, except admire the architecture
of the tower, the artifacts inside it and read the descriptions. The
tower is quite small and much of it has already been renovated with
modern materials such as a cement floor and paint. There is a building
next to it, although this is presumably not the old church. Other than
that, you could check out the missionary cemetery at the end of the road
that is left of the tower or the sisters house (now museum), the church
and the Holy Ghost fathers house.
Location of Livingstone towerThe Livingstone tower of Bagamoyo
is located at the end of Mango drive and inside the Catholic church’s
compound, in the northern part of the town of Bagamoyo – Tanzania. It is
also behind the current (stone built) church and next to the gates of a
teachers college, the church’s dispensary, the holy ghost mission
fathers house and the catholic museum. For more information on its
location, please see the map below (click to start).
How to get there?Head north from the town centre using the
tarmac paved road that goes along the beach, until you get to Mango
drive (a long stretch of dirt road with Mango trees on either side).
Turn onto Mango dr. and head to the end, the tower should be visible
straight ahead when standing between the church (left) and the ruins of
the fathers house (right).
References1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Ghost_Mission_(Bagamoyo) – accessed on 25th May, 2017
Other information from a visit to the museum
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