Charles Dundas (governor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Sir Charles Cecil Farquharson Dundas (1884–1956) was a district commissioner of the Moshi area in Tanzania during the 1920s. In 1930 he founded the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union. He popularised the area's coffee production, and was given the title Wasaoye-o-Wachagga (Elder of the Chagga).

He noticed that, in Chagga society, care of the furrows was a prime social duty. If a furrow was damaged, even accidentally, one of the elders would sound a horn in the evening (which was known as the call to the furrows). The next morning, townspeople would leave their normal work and set about the business of repairing the damaged furrow.

Dundas became very popular and respected during his stay at Moshi. When he left Moshi for the last time by train to Tanga and ship to Dar es Salaam, the Chagga reputedly hired a band to accompany him on board the ship and serenade him on his journey. As the boat sailed into Dar es Salaam harbor, the band apparently struck up God Save the King. Allegedly, the Governor, who was Scottish, was angered.


  • Sir Charles Dundas, Kilimanjaro and Its Peoples, 1924
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford
Governor of the Bahamas
Succeeded by
HRH The Duke of Windsor
Preceded by
Sir Philip Mitchell
Governor of Uganda
Succeeded by
Sir John Hall