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About Tanzania Tanzania is a young and vibrant nation in East Africa. Home to over 120 diverse ethnic groups, it has produced an array of remarkable talents, from world-renowned musicians and filmmakers to visionary artists, writers, and scientists.
For the past 10 years, the Altezza Travel team has been organizing tours to Africa's national parks and guiding travelers eager to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. We know firsthand how many talented people live in Tanzania. In our latest article, read about the most remarkable Tanzanians who have gained worldwide fame.
Short Summary:
1. Freddie Mercury was a rock singer, composer, and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Queen.
2. Nasib Abdul Juma, also known as Diamond Platnumz, is a contemporary singer, musician, composer, and producer popular in the Bongo Flava genre.
3. Hasheem Thabeet is the first basketball player from Tanzania to make it to the NBA.
4. Miriam Odemba is a renowned model who has won the title of Miss Earth - Air.
5. Abdulrazak Gurnah is a writer, scholar, and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature in 2021.
6. Vanessa Mdee is the first Tanzanian singer to sign with a global music label and become a popular MTV VJ.
7. David Adjaye is the first Tanzanian architect to receive the Royal Gold Medal from RIBA.
8. Ali Kiba is a Bongo Flava and Afropop performer who has gained widespread global fame and recognition.
9. George Lilanga is a Tanzanian artist and sculptor who inspired graffiti artists in New York City.
10. Harold Mujahid O'Neil is a composer, pianist, and actor whose life partially inspired the main character's story in the Oscar-winning animated film "Soul."
Freddie Mercury
- Profession: Musician, performer
- Year of birth: 1946
- Place of birth: Stone Town, Zanzibar
Freddie Mercury, the legendary lead vocalist and frontman of the British band Queen, is one of Tanzania's most remarkable figures. Born Farrokh Bulsara, he earned an impressive 58th spot on the BBC's 2002 list of the "100 Greatest Britons." In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 18th on their "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" list.
Farrokh lived in Zanzibar until he was 8, when he went to India to get his education. There, he first started calling himself Freddie and later developed a serious interest in rock and roll. At the age of 16, he returned to Zanzibar without having passed his final school exam. A couple of years later, in 1964, the Zanzibar Revolution erupted. Amid widespread unrest, the Bulsara family decided to leave the country and move to the United Kingdom, where young Farrokh would embark on a dazzling musical career.
Freddie Mercury became a key figure in global rock music history, and his iconic singles are still widely recognized today.
Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack (Diamond Platnumz)
- Profession: Songwriter and performer in the Bongo Flava genre, producer
- Year of birth: 1989
- Place of birth: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, better known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is another Tanzanian artist who has gained international fame in the music industry. He is a singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. Naseeb has released numerous hits in the genre and has become one of its most influential global ambassadors. In 2024, he secured five awards at the Tanzania Music Awards, including Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Male Performer of the Year.
Naseeb Abdul Juma is hugely popular across East and Central Africa. He founded the WCB Wasafi Record Label, Wasafi Bet, and Wasafi Media and even signed a contract with the world's biggest media conglomerate, Universal Music Group. Diamond Platnumz also made history as the first African artist to reach 900 million views on YouTube. In 2014, he was nominated for the in the "Best International Act: Africa" category.
Hasheem Thabeet
- Profession: Basketball player
- Year of birth: 1987
- Place of birth: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Hasheem Thabeet is arguably the most famous Tanzanian athlete. He was the first Tanzanian basketball player to make it to the NBA. This young and promising athlete represented his home country in the American League, significantly boosting interest in basketball among young people across Africa.
Hasheem started his sports career at the age of 15. Around this time, while still a teenager, he became interested in watching the Tanzanian national teams' matches. Initially, he played basketball at a secondary school in Dar es Salaam. Later, however, sports agents brought him to the United States. At that point, Thabeet only spoke Swahili and initially struggled to communicate in English. Nevertheless, he played at Cypress Christian School in Houston, Texas, until his graduation.
In the 2000s, Thabeet ranked fifth in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) standings and later became one of the tallest players in the NBA, securing the 15th spot.
Miriam Odemba
- Profession: Fashion model
- Year of birth: 1974
- Place of birth: Arusha, Tanzania
Miriam Odemba, who hails from Arusha, has made a remarkable ascent in the international modeling industry. Her journey to success began in 1997 when she was crowned Miss Temeke. Just a year later, at 23, she competed in the Miss East Africa pageant and the M-Net Face of Africa modeling contest, securing an honorable second place.
By 2008, Miriam had become an experienced model and was crowned 'Miss Earth - Air' during the international Miss Earth competition. The prestigious event occurred in the Philippines, with 85 in contestants from different countries. The competition was broadcast live worldwide on the ABS-CBN network.
Throughout her active modeling career, the Tanzanian beauty has represented her country during international fashion shows and worked closely with elite global brands.
Abdulrazak Gurnah
- Profession: Writer and scholar, Nobel Prize laureate in Literature 2021
- Year of birth: 1948
- Place of birth:
Abdulrazak Gurnah, the writer, scholar, and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, brought fame to Tanzania through his novels, which explore themes of migration and colonialism in East Africa. Like Freddie Mercury, he left Zanzibar at a young age during the Zanzibar Revolution and moved to the United Kingdom. Given Gurnah's Arab heritage (his family hailed from Yemen), it was unsafe for him to remain in the country during the turmoil.
Since then, Gurnah has never returned to his homeland. However, the majority of his literary works have focused on the lives of Tanzanians, and many of his main characters are from Zanzibar.
In 2021, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his honest and compassionate portrayal of colonialism's consequences and the lives of refugees. He currently teaches English and post-colonial literature at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.
Vanessa Mdee
- Profession: Singer, TV and radio host
- Year of birth: 1988
- Place of birth: Arusha, Tanzania
Vanessa Mdee stands out among the most famous people from Tanzania as the first Tanzanian singer to sign with a major international label. This milestone catapulted the young pop diva to the top of East Africa's music scene. Additionally, Mdee made history as the first Tanzanian native to secure a position as a VJ on MTV.
However, Vanessa's peak success came with releasing her first solo single, "Closer." Within just one week, it was downloaded over 30,000 times, setting an absolute record for all Tanzanian artists at the time. The song remained in the music charts for more than 13 consecutive weeks.
In 2018, Mdee signed with Universal Music Group, which helped propel her further into the international music spotlight. However, in 2020, during an appearance on the 'Deep Dive with Vanessa Mdee' podcast, the singer shocked fans by announcing her decision to step away from the music industry.
David Frank Adjaye
- Profession: Ghanaian-British architect
- Year of birth: 1966
- Place of birth: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
David Adjaye is another iconic name in our top-10 list. A true legend in the architectural world, he was born in Dar es Salaam and later moved to the United Kingdom. His extensive portfolio includes the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, and the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo.
In 2021, Adjaye was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by RIBA, one of the most prestigious architectural awards, presented annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects. David became the first person of African descent to receive this high honor and its youngest-ever laureate.
Ali Kiba (Alikiba)
- Profession: Musician and songwriter
- Year of birth: 1986
- Place of birth: Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Ali Kiba is a Tanzanian musician and songwriter renowned for his contributions to both Bongo Flava and Afropop. In 2008, he worked with the famous American rapper R. Kelly, and in 2014, after a three-year break, he released the hit "Mwana," which won five awards at the Tanzania Music Awards 2015.
A year later, Ali Kiba signed a contract with Sony Music and became the first East African artist to perform under this label. By 2021, he founded his own label, Kings Music, which currently helps promote talented musicians, composers, and performers from Tanzania.
In the spring of 2024, Ali Kiba launched his radio station, Crown FM 92.1, which broadcasts in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, and Pwani.
George Lilanga
- Profession: Artist, sculptor
- Year of birth: 1934
- Place of birth: Kikweta village, Masasi district, Mtwara region, Tanzania
The talented Tanzanian artist and sculptor from people spent much of his life in Dar es Salaam. Active from the late 1970s to the early 21st century, George Lilanga is still considered one of the most famous East African artists in the world.
His works were displayed at numerous art exhibitions in Africa and Europe, the United States, India, and Japan. In the late 1970s, he moved to New York for a while, where his paintings often graced the most prestigious exhibitions. He was compared to , and his colorful paintings inspired local graffiti artists.
Many of Lilanga's paintings incorporate elements of traditional Makonde art. For example, almost every one of his works features mythical creatures called shetani, spirits from East African folklore.
Harold Mujahid O'Neal
- Profession: producer and musician
- Year of birth: 1981
- Place of birth: Arusha, Tanzania
American composer, pianist, and actor Harold Mujahid O'Neil is widely recognized in professional music and film circles. He has recorded music and performed with many global stars, including U2, Busta Rhymes, and Jay Z. Many regard Harold as one of the greatest pianists and composers of his generation.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts, an honor previously awarded to luminaries like Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, and Stephen Hawking. More recently, O'Neil worked as a creative expert with Pixar on the development of the animated film "Soul," which went on to win at the 93rd Academy Awards in the categories of "Best Original Score" and "Best Animated Feature." The film was released in 2020. Notably, the film's main character, Joe Gardner, is partially inspired by Harold O'Neil's life story.
Honorable mentions
Politics and members of the African Union
- President Julius Nyerere — Widely regarded as Tanzania’s most influential political figure, Nyerere was a visionary leader and a strong advocate for African socialism. He led the Tanganyika African National Union, became Tanganyika’s first Prime Minister, and later became the first President of Tanzania in 1962 after the country transitioned to a democratic republic.
- Salim Ahmed Salim — A key player on the African political stage, Salim served as the 7th Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union), leaving a lasting impact on continental diplomacy.
- Augustine Philip Mahiga — A respected Tanzanian politician who played a crucial role in stabilizing Somalia as the Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia.
- Yusuf Makamba — A seasoned Tanzanian CCM politician, Makamba has represented the Bumbuli constituency in Parliament since 2010.
- Maria Sarungi Tsehai — A fearless human rights activist and media strategist. She founded the #ChangeTanzania movement, a citizen-led digital initiative advocating for democracy, good governance, and civil rights.
Sportsmen
- John Stephen Akhwari — a Tanzanian former marathon runner best remembered for his perseverance at the 1968 Olympics. He finished the race despite a severe injury, embodying the true Olympic spirit.
- Mrisho Khalfani Juma Ngasa — A Tanzanian professional footballer, Ngasa holds the title of the Tanzania national team’s most-capped player and all-time top goalscorer.
Animation and Feature Film Creators
- Ian Iqbal Rashid — A Tanzanian-born screenwriter, film director, and poet who became an indie success story. His first feature film, Touch of Pink, premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival to widespread acclaim, leading to a deal with Sony Pictures Classics. He followed up in 2007 with How She Move, solidifying his place in the film industry.
- Ngaira Mandara — A talented Tanzanian-born illustrator known for his innovative storytelling and artistic vision.
- Ekwa Msangi — A rising filmmaker whose feature film Farewell Amor premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to critical praise, showcasing her talent on the global stage.
Writers
- Shaaban Robert — A literary icon of Tanzania, Robert was a poet, author, and essayist who dedicated his career to preserving Tanzanian verse traditions. He remains one of East Africa’s most celebrated thinkers and writers.
- Muhammed Said Abdulla — Often hailed as the "father of Swahili literature," Abdulla played a pivotal role in popularizing Swahili novels and bringing them to mainstream audiences.
Religious figures
- Laurean Rugambwa — A groundbreaking figure in the Catholic Church, Rugambwa became the first modern native African cardinal, marking a historic milestone in religious leadership.
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