On this island crammed 131 people - they consider themselves the happiest people in the world Bashny.Net

As far Africa has a huge Lake Victoria. At the lake itself is a small island called Mgingo, which we want to tell you. The fact that this piece of land is home to 131 people, which, believe me, a lot. To all these people fit there, we had almost the entire land build shacks. The island itself is a disputed territory between Uganda and Kenya. These feuds between the two countries have allowed residents to organize a "republic of the Senate." Locals are not allowed on the island of strangers engaged in fishing, and live by their own laws. The history of settlement Mgingo we want to tell you today.

Until 1991, the island Mgingo there were no people. Rumor has it that this evil spirit house Calella. But the two fishermen who called Dorje Kibebe and Dalmas Tembo, gave the old wizard about 300 kg of fish to the banished spirit. Only after that the fishermen landed on the island and began to live there.





Later, the fishermen have joined about 60 people from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. People are attracted by the possibility of a better catch and that the island was created by a small municipality with its own laws. Tembo and Kibebe settlers were elected honorary senator, and when in 2009 the number of inhabitants of the island reached 131 numbers, they decided not to let anyone else.





Catching Nile perch fishermen per week earn around $ 200! The average African in the neighboring countries received the same amount of 2 to 5 months.





Uganda and Kenya have repeatedly argued over the island, but did not come to a consensus. Therefore, they have to turn a blind eye on these people.





Although in reality the neighboring countries benefit activities of local fishermen. At first the neighbors sank the boat, cut the network, and even killed a few people. But then we decided that Mgingo residents must pay taxes to both countries. Therefore, about 60% of their income given the islanders, but even so, their income is higher than that of their neighbors in the Lake Victoria!





Lifelong commune run by its co-founders, and five other senators selected all the island's inhabitants among men who have attained 30 years of age. Senators decide by a simple majority.





On the island you can find several bars, a pharmacy, a beauty salon and four public houses. Wives and relatives of the men that fish periodically haggling body. Any stranger who landed on the island, he must leave it for the day.





The biggest punishment for the inhabitants of the island is exile. During the existence of the commune there were 6 such cases. All of the theft. Smaller offenses are punishable by flogging.





Another interesting fact: only 200 meters from the Mgingo is another island - Usingo. But no it is not moved, because it is considered that there lives an evil spirit Tuk. In addition, expelled from Mgingo spirit Calella, allegedly also moved to Usingo. And while no one was able to find a sufficiently strong sorcerer, able to cope with the two spirits. Even soldiers from the armies of Kenya and Uganda (Usingo also disputed territory) refuse to be based on the island of evil spirits! In general, Usingo sometimes stop scientists who come to study Lake Victoria and its inhabitants.