Kisoma was best known for his knowledge of the trees of the Udzungwa area. As a Hehe tribesman he was especially at home in the mountain areas, and had names for almost every tree.

These names are particularly helpful for field researchers working in an area that has more native trees in one hectare than the whole of the UK! Kisoma was also a medicine man and between ecological surveys could often be found searching for precious medicines.

One of the oldest and most respected members of his community, Langson was a constant source of advice for his neighbours, family and friends. In Swahili the term “Mzee” is used for this kind of respected person. The death of Mzee Langson was a huge blow to all of the surrounding villages, especially given that he was in good physical health at the time of his death. Even that week he had been hard at work on his farmland. Upon news of his death the women of the village made repeated cries of “Babu uko wapi?” or “Where are you grandfather?”, and a sullen mood was quite apparent in the village for some days following the tragic event.

Professor Jon Lovett from the University of Twente said, “Langson was my constant companion in the field and made a huge contribution to the work of many researchers.”

Mzee Langson will be sorely missed, but his spirit will live on in the trees and the names now used by all ecologists working in the Udzungwa area, who continue to work closely with two of his sons, Ruben and Aloysi.