This is a list of notable people from Tanzania.

Contents

• Actors
• Artists
• Business people
• Fashion
• Human rights
• Media
• Musicians
• Politicians
• Religion
• Royalty
• Scientists
• Sportspeople
• Writers
• References

Actors

Artists

• George Lilanga (1934–2005), Makonde artist

Business people

• Jayantilal Chande (1928–2017), businessman and philanthropist
• Reginald Mengi (c.1943–2019)
• Ali Mufuruki (1959–2019)
• Mohammed Dewji (born 1975)

Fashion

• Mustafa Hassanali (born 1980), fashion designer
• Nancy Sumari (born 1986), Miss Tanzania 2005
• Flaviana Matata (born 1987), fashion

Human rights

• Kinjikitile Ngwale (died 1905), medium and leader of the Maji Maji Rebellion
• John Okello (1937–1971), revolutionary
• Anna Tibaijuka (born 1950), Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Frederick Werema (born 1954), former attorney general of Tanzania
• Salma Kikwete (born 1963), wife of President Jakaya Kikwete
• Rakesh Rajani (born 1966), world civil society leader
• Geline Fuko (born c.1980), lawyer and human rights activist
• Maria Sarungi Tsehai, activist

Media

• Benjamin Fernandes (born 1992), TV presenter and public speaker
• Sajjad Fazel, (born 1991), health researcher and columnist

Musicians

• Siti binti Saad (1880–1950), Taarab singer
• Bi Kidude (c. 1910s–2013), Zanzibari Taarab singer
• Hukwe Zawose (1938–2003), singer
• Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), lead singer of Queen
• George Kinyonga (died 1992), Kenyan/Tanzanian musician
• Bakar (born 1992), singer
• Daniel Owino Misiani (1940–2006), Kenyan/Tanzanian benga musician
• Cool James (1970–2002), rapper
• Joseph Mbilinyi (Mr. II) (born 1972), rapper
• Imani Sanga (born 1972), composer and ethnomusicologist
• Joseph Haule (Professor Jay) (born 1975), rapper
• Rose Mhando (born 1976), gospel singer
• Saida Karoli (born 1976), singer
• Lady Jaydee (born 1979), pop singer
• Dully Sykes (born 1981), rapper
• Tumi Molekane (born 1981), South African/Tanzanian rapper
• Ray C (born 1982), artist, singer-songwriter
• Nakaaya Sumari (born 1982), model and singer
• Baby Madaha (born 1988), singer
• Diamond Platnumz (born 1989), artist, songwriter and dancer
• Bill Nass (born 1993), rapper
• Ali Kiba (born 1980), artist, singer-songwriter, dancer and actor
• Nahreel (born 1989), producer, artist in Navy Kenzo Duo group
• Harmonize (born 1991), musician
• Mimi Mars (born 1992), singer and actress
• Lava Lava (born 1993), singer
• Aslay (born 1995), singer
• Barnaba Classic, singer-songwriter
• Lucas Mkenda, singer
• Darassa, rapper
• Albert Mangwea, rapper
• Abby Chams, singer and social activist
• RJ The DJ, (born 1988), DJ, singer and actor
• Gigy Money, (born 1998), singer and socialite

Politicians

• Anna Abdallah (born 1940), Member of Parliament
• Maida Abdallah (born 1970), Member of Parliament
• Aziza Sleyum Ally, Member of Parliament
• Ameir Ali Ameir (born 1961), Member of Parliament
• Ame Pandu Ame (born 1963), Member of Parliament
• Bahati Ali Abeid (born 1967), Member of Parliament
• Thobias Andengenye (living), regional commissioner
• Mohamed Rished Abdallah (born 1952), Member of Parliament
• Mohammed Abdi Abdulaziz (born 1958), Member of Parliament
• Khadija Salum Ally Al-Qassmy (born 1958), Member of Parliament
• Juma Jamaldin Akukweti (1947–2007), Member of Parliament
• Ali Tarab Ali (born 1947), Member of Parliament
• Ali Haji Ali (born 1948), Member of Parliament
• Fatma Ali (born 1950), Member of Parliament
• Naimi Sweetie Hamza Aziz, ambassador
• Paul Bomani (1925–2005), ambassador
• Patrick Chokala, ambassador to Russia
• Remidus E. Kissassi, member of the African Union's Pan-African Parliament
• Jakaya Kikwete (born 1950), President of Tanzania from 2005 to 2015
• Freeman Mbowe (born 14 September 1961), leader of CHADEMA
• Bibi Titi Mohammed (1926–1963), founding member of the Tanganyika African National Union
• Gertrude Mongella (born 1945), president of the Pan-African Parliament
• William F. Shija (1947–2014), member of the National Assembly of Tanzania from 1990 to 2005
• Joseph Kakunda (born 1968), Minister of Trade, MP
• Bahati Ndingo (born 1985), Member of Parliament
• Tatu Mussa Ntimizi, Member of Parliament 1990–2010
• Rashid Abdalla Rashid (born 1973), Member of Parliament
• Mateo Qares, former cabinet minister

Religion

• Laurean Rugambwa (1912–1997), cardinal, archbishop of Dar es Salaam
• Polycarp Pengo (born 1944), cardinal, archbishop of Dar es Salaam

Royalty

• Mirambo (1840–1884), Nyamwezi royal
• Emily Ruete (Sayyida Salme) (1844–1924), Princess of Zanzibar
• Chief Mkwawa (1855–1898), Hehe chief
• Mangi Meli, Chagga royal who was executed by German colonialists in 1900
• Ngalami, Chagga royal who was executed by Germans in 1900
• Abdullah bin Khalifa of Zanzibar (1910–1963), tenth Sultan of Zanzibar
• Thomas Marealle (1915–2007), Paramount Chief of the Chagga people
• Rengua, Chagga royal of Machame
• Kimweri, King of the Shambaa
• Oswin Norbert John

Scientists

• Myles Turner (1921–1984), warden of the Serengeti National Park
• Adelaida K. Semesi (1951–2001), marine scientist and mangrove ecologist
• Joyce Kinabo (born 1955), food scientist and researcher

Sportspeople

• Hasheem Thabeet (born 1986), basketball player
• Martin Kolikoli (born 1989), basketball player
• Feisal Salum (born 1998), footballer
• Mbwana Ally Samatta (born 1993), football player
• Erasto Nyoni (born 2000), football player

Writers

• Shaaban bin Robert (1909–1962), poet, author, essayist
• Mathias E. Mnyampala (1917–1969), lawyer, writer, and poet
• Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), politician, writer, philosopher
• Muhammed Said Abdulla (1918–1991), journalist and novelist
• Justinian Rweyemamu (1942–1982), economist, mathematician and writer
• Euphrase Kezilahabi (1944–2020), novelist and poet
• Amandina Lihamba (born 1944), playwright
• Leonard Shayo (born 1948), writer, mathematician, columnist
• Godfrey Mwakikagile (born 1949), writer, scholar and specialist in Africa Studies
• Richard Mabala (born 1949), writer of short stories, columnist and poet ^[1]
• Julius Nyang'oro (born 1954), writer, political scientist and legal scholar
• Josiah Kibira (1960-2021), writer, director and businessman
• Christopher Mwashinga (born 1965), writer and poet
• Fadhy Mtanga (born 1981), writer, poet, photographer and blogger
• Joseph Marwa (born 1999), novelist, poet and actor ^[2]
• Sandra A. Mushi, interior designer, published author, poet
• Nahida Esmail, writer of short stories and social activist ^[3]
• Simon Rieber (born 1994), writer, visual artist, filmmaker

References