Summary

A chance encounter in Tanzania leads to the discovery of Germana, a self-taught female motorcyclist, whose skills and passion for riding could pave the way for empowering women in the region through motorcycle tourism.

Abstract

In a serendipitous meeting in a Tanzanian village, the author is approached by Germana, a local woman with a keen interest in his motorbike. Her exhilarating, unlicensed ride around the village showcases her exceptional motorcycle skills, which she developed autonomously. The author later learns about Germana's background, her work at a gas station, and her self-taught riding prowess. This meeting sparks a collaboration with Amani, who runs a motorcycle touring company and shares a vision of empowering local women by involving them in his business. Germana's story is emblematic of the potential for women to gain confidence and freedom through motorcycling, and it marks a pivotal moment for her, Amani, and the author, as they work towards making this vision a reality.

Opinions

The author is impressed and inspired by Germana's motorcycle riding skills, viewing them as a sign of her determination and potential.
The author believes that Germana's skills could be transformative for her and other women in Tanzania, offering them a path to greater independence and self-determination.
Amani's enthusiasm about finding Germana and potentially other skilled female riders in the community suggests a strong commitment to inclusive and empowering business practices.
The author conveys a sense of admiration for the way Germana has taught herself to ride, seeing it as a metaphor for overcoming limitations and aspiring to greater freedom.
The narrative reflects an optimistic outlook on the impact of motorcycle tourism in empowering women, suggesting it can lead to significant personal growth and societal change.

When She Rides, Mama Africa Rejoices

With a most scintillating smile

When I met Germana in Tanzania, both our lives changed (image from own source)

“May I?” she asked while pointing at my motorbike.

“Hell yes,” I replied.

With that said, she jumped on the bike and raced off like a hurricane. Seriously, I have never seen a more scintillating smile on the face of a woman in Tanzania.

It was a sunny day in August 2021 in a dozy village middle of nowhere at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. I had no intention of pulling over in this deserted place while heading out to some secluded hot springs in the area. But something compelled me to do so anyway. It was perhaps the sight of a respectable woman sitting by the roadside under a sprawling bougainvillea tree that flawlessly matched the color of her headscarf. She was relaxing on a precarious plastic chair, camly observing the infinite dust rise and fall.

We exchanged a grin, and an instant later, I sat next to her sharing her shade. We were gesticulating using hands and feet in the absence of a common language we both mastered. We chatted away for a while underneath her tree in exquisite harmony when suddenly a young woman popped round the corner.

When she requested a spin on my bike, I simply nodded. She lifted her skirt, hopped on, accelerated, and started darting up and down the village’s main track as if the devil were chasing her. She was screaming and laughing at the top of her lung.

I briefly wondered if she’d held a driver’s license but instantly cursed myself for my narrow-mindedness. The way she was handling the motorcycle left no doubt.

She knew what she was doing. Without an audience. And quite possibly also without a license.

Eventually, she circled back, climbed off the bike, and thanked me with a genuine grin. She tossed the keys toward me and exchanged a few words with the woman under the tree before she roamed away. The latter smiled when I glanced at her curiously.

“My daughter,” she replied. Not without noticeable pride.

I jotted down the number of the woman whose daughter had just delivered such an incredible display of her skills. I vowed to send her the pictures I had been able to snap. Though, I had no clue how. Her mobile was a prehistoric brick with a cracked screen that would unmistakably not support receiving any images.

As I was riding away, I couldn’t get this young woman out of my mind.

She was a pro, but stuck on Tanzanias dusty backroads.

I tried to visualize her life in this sad looking little Tanzanian village, which I’m pretty sure very few people have ever heard of.

Today, I know more. And the fact that I have correctly assessed her skills. The young woman with the daring riding style is Germana. Born and raised where I had met her. She had taught herself the art of riding. Way back, before she got married and toiled at a local gas station. She often had to shuttle motorcycles back and forth to keep the pumps she serviced clear off vehicles. Such as when riders briefly disappeared to stretch their legs or grab a bite to eat.

She kept a close eye on all those motorcyclists who stopped by — for weeks, months, and years. Poked her head in, asking vital questions. Practicing what she’d picked up on the very next occasion. Thievishly enjoying the brief rides around the gas station, which — in her mind — slowly began to drift beyond the horizon. She wondered what was out there for her if anything at all. She couldn’t imagine that one day she may actually have the chance to endure it.

Amani runs a small motorcycle touring company in Moshi, which he is slowly expanding. He has ambitious visions for his business and the people of Tanzania.

A vision that empowers women, which Amani and I both share. I told him about the encounter with the young woman and her mother in that dusty settlement. And while I did, the many small dreadlocks that cascade down his face frantically started bobbling up and down.

“Seriously? A woman riding a motorcycle?” “Where?”

For a long time, he has been keeping eyes and ears open for motorcycle-riding women in and beyond his community. For women who would one day run part of his tours through Tanzania with international clients. Until this very moment, to no avail. In fact, he was close to giving up on the idea altogether. When we said goodbye to each other, he promised to go and look up that mysterious gal.

“Awesome! She’s out of this world on a bike!” was his first reaction after Amani met Germana.

Same as I, he was instantly taken by her convincing riding ability and not just that. Apparently, a couple of more gals in Germana’s neighborhood seem as sure in the saddle as she does.

For Germana, Amani, and me, this encounter signifies a particular moment in our bikers’ lives or maybe a turnaround point. One that may hold different features for each of us but unites us in our mutual passion for motorbiking, and we can do with it. If we just allow it to happen.

It’s about tapping into the spirit and ability of women motorcyclists, making them part of a beautiful journey into more confidence and ultimate freedom.

And that’s just the opening of an empowering story that rises to reveal its next episode as Germana rides along.

Thank you for reading!

Note by the author: While I write Germana’s story, this skilled young rider and one of her friends are back at school to obtain their motorbike licence through our help. Who knows, one day we may see more and more women in Tanzania who embark on a journey that will ulitmately lead to more freedom and self-determination.