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Ebrahim Hussein (1943- ) Tanzania
Ebrahim Hussein started writing plays as a student at University College, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1966-1967. At least since early 1967, Hussein was confronted with different approaches to drama and theatre structures, in particular with Western models of advanced theatre arts in the 20th century (Brecht). In the mid-1970s, Hussein appeared to have left Brecht behind to adopt a Tanzanian/Swahili traditional narrative form as an apparently purist African, truly Tanzanian type of theatre/drama. He freely uses narrative and performative techniques that epic theatre had revived or newly introduced into the international theatre in the 20th century, and at the same time he draws on the literature, thought, and ways of perception of his own rich Swahili culture as a major source of inspiration.
Bibliograpy
Ebrahim Hussein started writing plays as a student at University College, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1966-1967. At least since early 1967, Hussein was confronted with different approaches to drama and theatre structures, in particular with Western models of advanced theatre arts in the 20th century (Brecht). In the mid-1970s, Hussein appeared to have left Brecht behind to adopt a Tanzanian/Swahili traditional narrative form as an apparently purist African, truly Tanzanian type of theatre/drama. He freely uses narrative and performative techniques that epic theatre had revived or newly introduced into the international theatre in the 20th century, and at the same time he draws on the literature, thought, and ways of perception of his own rich Swahili culture as a major source of inspiration.
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Muhammed Said Abdulla (April 25, 1918 ) Tanzania
Tanzanian novelist generally regarded as the father of Swahili popular literature.
Abdulla, after completing his formal education, began his career as an inspector in the Colonial Health Department. After 10 years there, however, he decided to become a journalist. In 1948 he was made editor of the newspaper Zanzibari, and during the next decade he also served as assistant editor of Al Falaq, Al Mahda, and Afrika Kwetu. In 1958 he became editor of Mkulima, the national agricultural magazine, where he served until his retirement in 1968.
Coinciding with his shift to Mkulima was Abdulla's first success as a writer of fiction. His "Mzimu wa Watu wa Kale" ("Shrine of the Ancestors") won first prize in the Swahili Story-Writing Competition of 1957-58, conducted by the East African Literature Bureau, and was published as a novel in 1966. In this work, Abdulla introduced his detective hero, Bwana Msa--loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes--and other characters who recur in most of his subsequent novels, which include Kisima cha Giningi (1968; "The Well of Giningi"), also a prizewinner; Duniani Kuna Watu (1973; "In the World There Are People"); Siri ya Sifuri (1974; "The Secret of the Zero"); Mke Mmoja Waume Watatu (1975; "One Wife, Three Husbands"); and Mwana wa Yungi Hulewa (1976; "The Devil's Child Grows Up"). With each new title, Abdulla's work developed in complexity and sophistication of plot; his use of the Swahili language is admired throughout East Africa, and his works--reprinted several times--are widely used as school texts. The novels characteristically pit the hero's powers of reason against a web of ignorance and superstition that serves to conceal the true nature of the narrative conflict.
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Pera Ridhiwani (1917-1997 ) Tanzania
Tumepokea habari za kusikitisha za kifo cha Mzee Pera Ridhiwani mwalimu, mtafiti,mwanazuoni na mpenzi mkubwa wa Kiswahili. Marehemu Ridhiwani ni mfanyakazi mstaafu wa Taasisi ya Uchunguzi wa Kiswahili, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam(1980-1989). Ameaga dunia nyumbani kwake Tanga, Jumatatu tarehe 4/8/1997, saa 7.00 mchana.
Marehemu alizaliwa Mnyanjani Tanga mwaka 1917. Alianza shule ya msingi hapo hapo Mnyanjani mwaka 1927. Mwaka 1929 alijiunga na Tanga Central School, ambako alihitimu darasa la VI mwaka 1937. Alisomea ualimu katika Chuo cha Walimu Mpwapwa kuanzia mwaka 1933 hadi 1936, na kutunukiwa cheti cha Daraja la B. Alifundisha katika shule mbalimbali hapa nchini hadi mwaka 1949, alipoteuliwa kuwa mwalimu mkuu wa shule ya Msambweni, Tanga. Mwaka 1971 alihamishiwa katika shule ya Kisosora, Tanga kwa wadhifa huo huo. Alistaafu kazi serikalini mwaka 1972. Baada ya kustaafu, alifundisha masomo ya dini na Kiswahili katika Shule ya Sekondari ya Jumuiya (BAKWATA), Tanga mwaka 1976-1977. Kuanzia Aprili 1976 hadi Agosti 1977 alikuwa Naibu Mwalimu Mkuu wa shule hiyo.Kutokana na utumishi wake mrefu na juhudi yake katika kuhudumia umma, serikali ya Kiingereza mwaka 1959 ilimtunukia nishani iitwayo "Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour". Marehemu alimwoa mke wa kwanza, Bi, Mwantumu Kamata, mwaka 1938. Alizaa nayewatoto watano. Mke wake wa pili, Bi, Anzuani, alimwoa mwaka 1967. Huyu pia alizaa naye watoto watano. Mwaka 1980, TUKI ilimwomba Mwalimu Ridhiwani akubali kuajiriwa na Chuo kikuu kwa mkataba maalum ili ashughulikie kazi ya unukuzi wa miswada ya zamani iliyoandikwa kwa hati ya Kiarabu. Marehemu aliifanya kazi hiyo vizuri sana hadi mkataba wake ulipomalizika mwaka 1989. Mbali na kazi za ajira, Mzee Ridhiwani alikuwa ni mwanzilishi na Mwenyekiti wa kwanza wa Chama cha Taaluma ya Kiswahili Tanga, kilichoanzishwa mwaka 1953. Katibu wa kwanza wa chama hicho alikuwa ni Marehemu Shaaban Robert. Marehemu J.W.T. Allenalikuwa ni halmashauri.
Zaidi ya yote, Marehemu Pera Ridhwani alikuw ani mtafiti mahiri wa lugha na utamaduni, na ameandika makala na vitabu kadha kuhusu mambo hayo. Kadhalika, alikuwa bingwa wa unukuzi wa miswada ya zamani iliyoandikwa kwa hati ya Kiarabu; miswada aliyonukuu alipokuwa TUKI ni zaidi ya hamsini. Vilevile, Marehemu alishirikiana na kuwasaidia watafiti wengi wenyeji na wageni, mathalan J. W. T.Allen, W. Whiteley, P. Mbughuni, Katrin Bromber, Kelly Askew, George Mhina, Fr. Kapinga, T.S.Y. Sengo, M.M. Mulokozi na wengine. Isitoshe, marehemu alikuwa mwalimu wa lugha ya Kiarabu na taaluma ya dini
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May M Balisidya (?- 1987), Tanzania
May was among the most promoters and famously known scholars of Tanzanian and oral African Literature; a very hardworking developer of Swahili language. She had held the National Swahili Council of Tanzania for two terms, and an excellent teacher who knew very well how to challenge her students in literary discussions. In the realm of research, she made a lot concerning the theory of oral literature, specifically the oral literature of Wagogo and Swahili at large. She was one of the few women Swahili writers of her age in East Africa. As a writer, May's works leave a very lasting effect both in Swahili content and form. And her most prestigious Swahili work is the novel called Shida, ("Hardships" 1975). Always an advocate for equality among all people in society, she shows in Shida the plight of the people of lower classes in Tanzania where, she cautions, the economic rift between the leaders and those who they lead is bigger and bigger. She went on to question that kind of life in the hilarious plays Harakati za Ukombozi ("The Liberation Struggles", co-authored with Penina Muhando and Amandina Lihamba, 1977) and Ayubu ("Job", co-authored with the Paukwa Theatre Association, 1984). These satirical works laugh at the social, political, and economic situation in the country, showing how the very people who announced the Arusha Declaration on political platforms and rooftops are the same ones who have gone all the distance to trample on the very foundations of the pronouncements. She also showed tireless efforts in securing the desired reputations and right for Swahili language to be used as the medium of instruction at all levels of our education system in Tanzania. Such was May who wrote the much-needed books for pre-school children to alleviate the acute shortage of children's literature in Tanzania. She passed away on 27 th December, 1987 following a long cancer illness.
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Mzee Hamis Akida (22nd November 1914- ), Tanzania
In the heat of Dar es Salaam around 2.30p.m local time, an old man is well seated behind his table working on some papers in his office. Very well known for his great devotion and contribution to promotion of Swahili language, Mzee Hamis Akida has really come a long way to his present stand as a man of incredible understanding of the language and culture of Swahili people who reside along the coast of Tanzania. Mzee in Swahili language is a title of respect for an old man. For those who have come across his writings will have their hats-off to his down to earth vividness in the usage of grammar in Swahili language. On Saturdays his weekly column "The way we speak" appears in the Daily Mail, a local paper in Dar es Salaam in which, he writes about usage of different verbs in Swahili grammar. Many a reader of his columns gets far more understanding of Swahili language.
Mzee Akida was born on 22nd November 1914 in Tanga, a coastal region of Tanzania where he grew up and did his primary education at Tanga Primary School from 1925 to 1931. His primary education took only six years instead of the usual eight years those days. "I was too clever," recalls Mzee Akida in a cheerful tone remembering his old good days. After his six-year primary education he joined Tabora Secondary School in the now Tabora region. He spent two years at Tabora secondary school and in 1934 he went to Tanga and worked for a Postal Office. He moved to Dar es Salaam in 1938 where he worked with the Provincial Administration Office and then Regional Administration Office. In February 1961, he was promoted to work in the Commissioners Office in the Ministry of Labour.
It wasn't until 1969 when Mzee Akida entered the academic world of promoting Swahili language. He joined the University of Dar es Salaam for a specific job of translating scientific terms, which begot Kamusi ya Biologia, Fizikia na Kemia, a dictionary for Biology, Physics and Chemistry terms in Swahili language. The dictionary published in 1990 in Dar es Salaam, has excellent translation of scientific terms, to which much of his contribution played a big role in its completion. The translation took about fourteen years and was completed in 1984. In 1978, between his work of translation at the University of Dar es Salaam he had a chance to go to Germany and Austria for further studies in which he associated with an International Scientific Conference under the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO). He discussed and translated computer terms at the conference. He has also translated names of war devices into Swahili.
Mzee Akida's other contribution to promotion of Swahili language include his good work and co-operation in writing of Kamusi ya Kiswahili, a Swahili dictionary published by Oxford University Press,1981. Other publications are English-Swahili Dictionary by Taasisi ya Uchunguzi wa Kiswahili (TUKI) University of Dar es Salaam, English-Swahili Pocket Dictionary by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers and Swahili-English Pocket Dictionary by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers based in Dar es Salaam.
84-year old Hamis Akida, presently is proposing to write a Swahili cultural dictionary which, according to him will be a cultural pot-pouri.
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