The story behind the iconic Kariakoo Market

Engagement Assistant

Mwananchi Communications Ltd

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The market whose existence dates back to the colonial days is found in the heart of Dar es Salaam serving millions of people in East and Central Africa.
Kariakoo is not only a market place but a very important point in sports of Tanzania since it hosts two Main Clubs; Simba Sports Club at Msimbazi Street and Young African Sports Club ‘Yanga’ at Jangwani Street.

Dar es Salaam. On Saturday night July 10, an inferno errupted at the iconic Kariakoo Market, incidentally it was on the same date that the architect of this building Beda Amuli died 5 years ago.
The market whose existence dates back to the colonial days is found in the heart of Dar es Salaam serving millions of people in East and Central Africa.
It was from this market that an entire business area which is now worth trillions of shillings was named.
Kariakoo hosts an extensive market which is a major contribution to Dar es Salaam's economy. Kariakoo neighbourhood, at the intersection of Mkunguni, Swahili, Sikukuu and Nyamwezi streets.
Before the Kariakoo market was built, there was a building of steel structures, a military camp called Carrier Corps, a British carrier company which local people simply pronounced as ‘Kariakoo’.
When this company left, the building was used as a market but later it became very dilapidated.
In 1970, the Dar es Salaam City Council wanted to develop the market and the late Beda Amuli got the project. According to sources privy to Amuli, a city engineer interviewed him and he showed him some sketches of a market from Israel.
The said engineer once said: "Amuli had done a market project as his 4th year project when he was in Israel and there he had done some research for the project. This student idea gave me a guidance to design a real African market".
The concept Amuli developed was based on a Traditional African market.

The story behind the iconic Kariakoo Market

What you need to know:

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