# List of Tanzanians

This is a list of notable people from Tanzania.

## 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
* 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
* Timoth Moses Mayala (born 1998), gospel singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, producer
* 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
* 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
* Sandra A. Mushi, interior designer, published author, poet
* Nahida Esmail, writer of short stories and social activist