Original Story Published by: Amanda Lichtenstein, www.globalvoices.org
Photo Source: Amanda Leigh Lichtenstein
(Above) George Joseph Msambure, founder and CEO of Old School Rides Tanzania, pictured in front of a row of classic cars outside of the Ongala Music Festival 2019, Bagamoyo, Tanzania
On a dusty road in the sleepy, coastal town of Bagamoyo, Tanzania, a row of vintage cars attracts festival-goers on their way to the 2nd annual Ongala Music Festival, held this year at the Bagamoyo Arts and Cultural Institute (TASUBA).
“Our elders, they had great cars! We're trying to restore a love for the classics,” says George Joseph Msambure, the founder and CEO of Oldschool Rides Tanzania, a club devoted to restoring and celebrating vintage cars in Tanzania and the region. With 109 members and counting, those with a passion for vintage cars get together and talk shop about their 51 classic cars, including a 1938 Škoda. The group also organizes meet-ups and showcases their cars at various events, like the Ongala Music Festival — named after legendary Tanzanian musician Ramadhani “Remmy” Ongala, who died in 2010, at the age of 63.
“Remmy loved classic cars, and we want to respect that,” Msambure said. That's why the club rolled up to the three-day music festival to showcase a few of the gems in their collection, from old school Volkswagen Beetles to the 1979 Volkswagen Kombi camper van and a 1970s BMW.
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