Shaaban Robert's grand-daughter, Amina Wazir, collects award for her genius grand-dad from Mr Frederick Sumaye. On the right, seated is His Excellency High Commissioner of Tanzania, Hon. Peter Kallaghe.
Pic by Jestina George
The writer Shaaban Robert, who died aged 53,
in June 1962 was a very “popular read”
during the 1960s and early 1970s. Somewhere along the line, he was almost
forgotten. Early 1990s, the newly launched Mkuki na Nyota revived this eminent
Kiswahili genius, and thanks to the hard work of its founder Walter Bgoya, many
of Shaaban Robert’s masterpieces are readily available in bookshops across East
Africa today. For those unfamiliar with
the author, I would recommend “Maisha Yangu Na Baada ya Miaka Hamsini” (My Life
After 50). The book sums most of the
Tanga born thinker’s qualities: essays,
personal recollections, poetry, thoughts on life, racism in Tanganyika of the
1930s and 1940s, TANU and Nyerere, duty to society, role of writers, etc.
Kusadikika, his most famous novel which is said to have partially inspired late President Nyerere's Ujamaa policies.
