▪︎ "Nilipewa jina Titi, kwa Waswahili khaswa inamaanisha 'Mama' ▪︎ "Mie Mmatumbi, nimekulia Mtaa wa Gerezani. Wakati huo, utotoni, hapo ndipo palikuwa Uswahilini" ▪︎ "baada ya kuchezwa mkole, nikaolewa, nikafungua binti yangu Halima. Ndoa haikudumu, nikaachika. Nikarudi kwa wazee wangu Mtaa wa Gerezani, nikapanga vyumba karibu na kwetu. Mama alimlea sana Halima (mwanangu)" ▪︎ nikaanza kuimba taarab na...
Tamu ya sukari, tamu ya sukari, Ulinipa wewe Ulinipa nyingi, kusudi nilewe; Haya ni mahaba, haya ni mahaba, yaleta kiwewe Wala hayana mjuzi, Kwa yule na wewe; Mahbuba wangu, mahbuba wangu Kanipa ruyya penyewe, Namuona yeye, pasipo mwinginewe
Ingekuwaje iwapo TAMWA tusingemtoa Bibi Titi Mohamed arudi kwenye medani ya uanaharakati? NAKUMBUKA mwaka 1992, Da Maria Shaba (Da Ma) aliponiambia "twende kumwamkua Bibi Titi Mohamed". Nilibaki mdomo wazi. "Bibi Titi Mohamed, Da Ma?" "Ndiyo huyo" akajibu Da Ma. Hapo ndipo nilipokwenda nyumbani kwa Bibi Titi Mohamed, Upanga, Dar es Salaam na kuanza urafiki naye. Nikimwita 'shosti'. Baadaye, wana TAMWA akina • Mama...
▪︎ "Nilikwenda Zanzibar mwaka 1942, kwa meli. Alinichukua mume wangu wa pili, Bwana Mahmoud. Sijawahi kuona ukarimu aina hiyo. Nilikaribishwa nyumbani kwa Bi Jokha Steiner, alikuwa mke wa Seyyid Sood, lakini alitoka huku Bara, Tanganyika. Alialika mabibiye chai ya usiku. Ma sha Allah, ukiingia, unapokewa baibui; unapewa kanga za kujitanda. Unafushwa udi, unapakwa uttur kwenye mikono. Chini pametandikwa matiffe...
THE YEAR 2020 shall go down in the annals of history as a year of confusion and of the WHO failing the world. It shall also be remembered as a year of total fragmentation in the approach and, perception, of a disease of which, the world was unprepared. Totally caught us unaware. A disease which became a peg...
TUNAPOZONGWA na mawazo hadi kuleta hali ambayo mitaani wanaita vyuma vimekaza au umepata mkazo ni jambo na hisia tunaichukulia kama 'kawaida', kwenye maisha yetu. Takriban mara chache sana, huwa tunaanisha uwepo wa hiyo hali kwenye maisha yetu, hadi kuathiri afya zetu za mwili, na, za hisia. Stress ni 'rafiki' ambaye hatumhitaji, wala hatumtaki, kwenye maisha yetu, lakini,...
WATU wenye ulemavu wanayo haki ya: ■ Kuishi ■ Kusoma ■ Kupata ulinzi ■ Afya ■ Kuwa na ajira au biashara inayoleta ujira ■ Kuwa na mpenzi ■ Kufanya mapenzi ■ Kuoa au kuolewa ■ Kupata watoto- wa kutoka kwenye mwili wake, au watoto wa kulea/adopted/fostered ■ Kushiriki kwenye maisha ya kijamii ■ Kushiriki kwenye nyanja ya siasa ■ Kumiliki ardhi na/au mali ■ Kupewa ajira, iwapo wanao...
TUANZE kwa kuweka msisitizo kuwa wanawake Waswahili wakati wa mishe mishe za kupigania Uhuru hawakuwa: washamba mbumbumbu wasioweza kusoma wala kuandika waliokuwa nyuma kimaendeleo Ukweli ni huu: Waswahili tokea makarne 7-9 nyuma, walishakuwa watanashati; jamii yenye utamaduni ulioendelea; na hawakuwa washamba, asilan wanawake Waswahili walikuwa SIYO mbumbumbu, kwa sababu wakisoma na kuandika kwa ABJAD ya kiarabu. Kutokufahamu...
TOKEA dakhari zamani, mwanamke anachukuliwa kuwa ni- Kiumbe Dhalili Hana Haki Ya Melki Juu Ya Mwili Wake Hana Haki Ya Kusema Kwa Mwanaume Anaelazimisha Ngono "Hapana. Sitaki Mahusiano ya Kimwili Na Wewe" Sijakupenda, Na Sitakupenda, Hivyo, Kaa Mbali Na Mimi Sitaki Kushikwa Shikwa Mwili Wangu Bila Ridhaa Yangu Acha Kunifanyia Shambulio La Aibu, Maamuzi Juu...
WANAWAKE wamekuwa wakiuawa duniani, kwa mikono ya wanaume, hususan, waume ndani ya ndoa; au wanauliwa na 'wapenzi wao' 🥺 japokuwa sisi watetezi wa ulinzi wa wanawake hatuwezi kuwaita 'wapenzi'. Ni wauaji wa kikatili, wanaotumia mabavu; vitisho; silaha walizokuwa nazo kama panga; magongo; au bastola, kuua wanawake kama njia ya kudhalilisha; kukomoa 'jeuri' ya wanawake; na kuonesha...
THIRTY ONE years after the sad demise of Levina Mukasa, a student of the University of Dar es Salaam, who committed suicide because of sexual harassment, Tanzania has made the Decision to have Gender Desks in institutions of middle, and higher learning. Levina died because she didn't have the support needed for survivors of gender...
BIBI TITI MOHAMED, Simba Jike, is trending as 'the flavour of the time. Time was, when it was considered not only bad form to even mention the dreaded name 'Bibi Titi Mohamed', but it was considered treason, albeit by the tongue and vocals, to talk about Bibi Titi Mohamed. Even in the context of her most private...
NILIPOKUA mtoto, nikipewa orodha ya vitabu vya kusoma, ili niweze kujifunza kusoma, wakati huo, pia najifunza lugha ya Kingereza na Kiarabu. Nilianza kufundishwa ABJAD ya Kilatini na ABJAD ya Kiarabu kuanzia umri wa miaka 2. Ilikua kwa sababu niweze kusoma Kiswahili na Kingereza, na pia niweze kusoma Qura'an Majeed kwa lugha ya Kiarabu. Nawashukuru wazazi wangu na walimu...
Picha kwa hisani ya Chama cha Wanasheria Wanawake Tanzania TAWLA KILA mwaka ifikapo Novemba 25, wanaharakati na wadau, tunaanza kuadhimisha Siku 16 za Kupiga Vita ili Kutokomeza Ukatili wa Kijinsia. Mwaka huu 2021, tutakuwa tumetimiza miaka 30, tangu 1991, ambapo wanaharakati na wadau ulimwenguni, tulianza kupaza sauti dhidi ya ukatili wa kijinsia, na umuhimu wa kutokomeza ukatili...
Siri, si siri, inapofanywa dhahiri, juu ya uzushi mahiri, bila ya kufikiri wala tafakuri, mwishoe, kugundulika uongo taswiri. Tenzi ya bint Sheikh HAPO dakhari zamani, palikuwa na Zumbe huko Tongoni, Tanga, ambaye akivaa kofia ya baragashia, ndiyo alama ya uzumbe. Zumbe Mwinyi Mkuu alikuwa na kinyozi, ambaye kila alkhamis, huenda qilla (fort/ikulu), kumnyoa Zumbe nywele; kumpunguza ndevu; na...
WHEN I was growing up, my ethnic and cultural description; prescription; and antecedents; those of the Waswahili, was among the most 'popular' way of deriding a person. One would hear "Acha Uswahili wako.."; or "Huyo Mswahili tu..." These definitions carried deeply entrenched deriding undertones of the identity and culture of the Waswahili peoples. Unfortunately, most Waswahili 'accepted' the...
VANGUARD FORUM : Discussions to eliminate trafficking of humans in Tanzania Summary of the conversation which took place on August 16, 2017 1. How do we as a nation intervene and eliminate human trafficking? HUMAN trafficking and sexual exploitation is the acquisition and exploitation of people, through means such as force; fraud; or deception. The practice ensnares millions...
IS sexual harassment an economic crime? Yes, sexual harassment is, an economic crime, in the context of: The impact of sexual harassment in the income of the victims/survivor The impact on the health of the victim/survivor, to the detriment of their earning capacity The loss of trained and skilled workforce to the nation The invasion of and destruction of the...
Salma Said (Above), Star Journalist with Deutsche Welle, is a Survivor of COVID 19. She went public about her COVID 19 status, which gave hope to patients of COVID 19 WE WATCHED ASKANCE as most nations around the globe went on total lock down, and, a spree of daily updates on the death toll of people...
In the last two years, we have heard a new terminology in our country, one that seeks to define sexual coercion as sexual corruption. Sexual coercion, when a person woman or man is being forced to engage in unwanted sexual acts is a form of corruption; however, encapsulating sex coercion in sex corruption limits the definition...
By Sabra Mustafa Kambona Teen pregnancy is a problem which has begun to spread at an alarming rate in Tanzania and is evident with adolescent girls around the world. Africa south of the Sahara has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy (Source: UNICEF) which made me interested to find out more on the...
In the photo (foreground) Gender Justice Activist Professor Ruth Meena of the TGNP makes a point against GBV Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights says “Every individual must be entitled to equal protection of the law.” Tanzania has inherited the English legal system though it sometimes works parallel to customary law. ...
In the photo, TAMWA members accompanied by the daughter of an activist in Dodoma during the lobby of the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act SOSPA 1998 1. Issues of Concern Lack of legal literacy and Human Rights awareness has been a major constraint in building a culture...
THE MAINSTREAM often has this image of feminists as a bunch of mustachioed; shouting until hoarse; man hating women. However, the reality is far from this stereotype. Most of the feminists I know, Yours Truly included, are ordinary, feminine women, with ordinary, feminine characteristics. We wear make up; fall in love with that macho man...
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a grave reality in the lives of many women in Tanzania. It results from gender norms and social and economic inequities that give privilege to men over women. There is a mounting recognition in Tanzania of gender discrimination and gender equity in different facets of life. This awakening includes a growing...
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met on February 26, 2016, in Geneva and considered the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Tanzania on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW. Presenting the reports, Modest J. Mero, Permanent Representative...
UNYAGO, or puberty rites, was brought to the coast of Tanzania by Ngindo; Manyema; and Nyasa; migrant ethnic groups in the early 19th century but as a practice, was confined to African peoples until the late 19th century when it was adopted by the Swahili coastal community and incorporated in Swahili culture as an important...
It is 4 a.m. early morning. I have to start frying vitumbua, the rice cakes. Now it is 5.30 a.m. and I have to carry the vitumbua to the space near the bus stand and start selling vituambua to people who are going to work. I sell one kitumbua for 150 TZS. On good days...
DOMESTIC WORKERS are the least respected and least exposed working group of women though their contribution to the economy is substantial. Though they are in the periphery as a labor force, they enable professional women to have the time to engage in practical pursuits to further their careers. They are the ones who spend more...
The Social Welfare Department in the Kinondoni District Commissioner’s office receives an average of 120 domestic violence cases per month. Over 45 per cent are new cases while the rest are ongoing cases. BAKWATA, the National Muslim Council of Tanzania, receives an average of 11 new domestic violence cases per month. The Tanzania Assemblies of God...
BISMILLAHI RAHMAAN, RAHIM In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful MANY issues are brought to light of the atrocities committed against Muslim women on the mistaken belief that it is an Islamic prescription. This is in contrast to the fact that the Koran strongly condemns all forms of oppression and...
Domestic Violence is a violation of Human Rights. Violence directed against women by their intimate partners which is known as Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an epidemic of global proportions with devastating physical; emotional; financial; and social effects; on women, children, families, and communities around the world. The definition of Domestic Violence needs to encompass...
SONG AND DANCE are two mediums of communication that women have used the world over as a way of expression. Indeed, the poetry of movement; the lyrics; the lilting melodies of many of our songs have been perfect vehicles for putting together our thoughts; aspirations; triumphs; sadness; displeasure; and love. Through song and dance, women...
HE IS CONSUMED by a passionate fire which has engulfed his entire life; his entire being. He is faithful. In fact, he has always been in love with one person. He spends hours gazing at that person, never getting tired. He admires the person’s wit; the person’s charm; the person’s savoir faire. When he and...
THERE IS NOTHING women dread most than to hear their husbands announce “I’m getting myself a second wife”. Polygamy though tolerated in many ethnic groups in Tanzania, is the stuff that nightmares are made of for the women, not only for the first wife, but the subsequent ones as well! However, there is a lighter...
Surviving HIV I AM A SURVIVOR. This story is about life, not about death. My name is Sikudhani. I’m 48 years of age. I’m a person living with HIV (PLHIV). I have been living with HIV/AIDS, by living I mean I have been living with the HIV Virus, for the last 25 years. Most people...
MY NAME IS TUMAINI. My mother called me Tumaini, Hope, thinking that my birth would improve her lot in life. It did not! All members of my family are beggars. My two aunts; my cousin Wema; my little brother Nyau; and all our friends here in Dar es Salaam are beggars. We survive by begging...
CHILD abuse takes place in our communities all the time. It takes the form of physical assault by parents and/or other adult family members; emotional abuse; deprivation of basic necessities like food, shelter, education, health care, and time to play; and the most frightening of all forms of abuse but the least discussed in our...
Childcare has been invariably defined as a process which requires proper manipulation of the child’s environment and needs before birth, early childhood, pre-school age, school-age and teenage. This is essential for the physical, mental, psychological and social development of the child. It is a dynamic process of physical, emotional, intellectual and social growth and maturation...
Anecdotal evidence as well as formal research seems to show that the practice of trafficking in women and girls is increasing in Tanzania, and thus we should no longer hide our heads in the sand and pretend this constituency does not exist. Current interventions among women and girls who engage in the sex trade, target...
SEXUAL and Reproductive Health encompasses health and well-being in matters related to sexual health; sexual relations; pregnancies and birthing Rights. It deals with the most intimate and private aspects of people’s lives, which can be difficult to write about and discuss publicly. As a result, the public misunderstands many sexual and reproductive health matters. In...
Having the best of both worlds is what all married women who work strive for. A successful, well paid career on the one hand and a happy marriage with a well-oiled home and healthy children on the other hand. “However, since most of us are not ‘Super-women’, we fail to attain the dream and all...
“Women have the inner power to accomplish anything we set out to do. It is patriarchy which prevents women from reaching our full potential. Isn’t it time that we dismantle patriarchy and put in place a gender responsive culture” Amina Mama, Feminist Activist “Eti ngwinji atambe! Atambie kitu gain?” Siti Khadija Kopa, Diva...
TANZANIA has been ‘living with HIV/AIDS for 34 years’! There is an entire generation of young people who were born in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and this generation has not experienced a world without HIV/AIDS. To them, the two words- HIV and AIDS are a fact of life which they have had to...
Women want the complete eradication of Poverty in Tanzania! As a nation, we need to analyze poverty in the context of economic; and psychosocial; and physical well being. Poverty is not only the absence or lack of money/ finances. Poverty is a lack of Vision which blinds us from seeing the resources and opportunities we...
The Mtwara Files were compiled by this writer after conducting research in Mtwara Urban in 2009-2010 on the Impact of Intimate Partner Violence IPV on household incomes, for REPOA which was coordinated by Alice Nkhoma and Mary Rusimbi, both strong feminists and research coordination specialists Sexual Harassment and Rape From the files perused at the...
Domestic Violence is a pattern of coercive behavior which can include physical, sexual, economic, emotional and/or psychological abuse exerted by one family member over another with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control. It is a fact that as many as 4 out of ten women have experienced spousal violence by being beaten;...
Findings in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam The Social Welfare Department in the Kinondoni District Commissioner’s office receive an average of 200 domestic violence cases per month. Over 45 per cent are new cases while the rest are ongoing cases. The National Muslim Council of Tanzania, BAKWATA receives an average of 16 new domestic violence cases...
Ever thought of starting your own business? Working for yourself is an attractive proposition – you decide what to do and when, and you can work in a field of your interest and in which you excel! It also means saying goodbye to a structured routine and a regular income; moreover, you’ll find yourself working...
Every year, an undisclosed number of women die of a disease that is totally preventable, and in its early stages, totally curable. Deaths from this disease in women below the age of 45 have doubled in the past 10 years. Well before the disease takes hold, doctors know how to identify those women who are...
