Dar residents usher 2016 in style

ORTON KIISHWEKO

TO the count of three, two and one, another year was ushered in at midnight yesterday. The skies were lit with a spectacular display of fireworks at different points in the city and its suburbs.

With deafening ululations, sound of vuvuzelas, blaring music, and prayers, as is the norm; Dar es salaam dwellers had leaped into 2016. The rest of the night turned into day until dawn.

At Ledger Plaza Hotel, Bahari Beach in Dar es salaam, in the city’s outskirts, the hotel used its ocean location to have a more distinct display as local people and guests singers enjoyed themselves with music blaring through mega base speakers placed at various corners of the hotel.

As the two shared microphones, hugged and danced to each other’s music the already electrified audience was kept on its toes and would at times join in a chorus every time a familiar song blasted through the speakers. From here, it was picturesque at most key hotels across the ocean as colourful plumes of fireworks painted the skies at Whitesand, Giraffe and Landmark hotels as well as Escape one.

At Hisaje Bar in Bunju, revellers celebrated carnival style on the narrow roads with some blasting away on music and drinks as others plotted for their next destination.

At Oceanic Resort in Mbweni, it was fanfare and celebration as the five-minute fireworks on various high points of Tegeta seen from here the start of the New Year.

A characteristic mood of enthusiasm and uncertainty engulfed Mbezi beach as more residents and revellers welcomed 2016. Like it normally happens, in hotels across Mbezi beach, the New Year was ushered in with glitzy fireworks. Others in various churches ushered in the New Year with night prayers.

At Dorcus Ministries, faithful started prayers late in the evening and did not rest until they ensured they ushered in 2016. At Mbezi garden hotel, glasses clinked to merriment toasts, the blistering glamour of fireworks was showcased.

The display of fireworks that lit the skies did not keep Christians in the area at sloam church from sacrificing their sleep to express their devotion and gratitude to God for seeing them through 2015.

But most visible was the pairing of the night as families moved in close contact and youthful couples sauntered through the night. Many held hands with some walking along in groups.

Kids as young as one year also didn’t miss out on the night. Throughout the night, even before the New Year traffic had slowly built up snaking through several streets only to worsen at the clock especially through roads heading to beach hotels along the Indian ocean