A GREENER FUTURE FOR TANZANIA

Green Innovation in Tanzania: Abdul and Athumani Pioneer Bioplastics for a Sustainable Future

In the vibrant city of Dar-Es-Salaam, two visionary young entrepreneurs, Abdul Mabada and Athumani Kinyomi, both fresh graduates from a local college, are poised to revolutionize the business landscape with their innovative approach to plastic waste management. Their journey not only holds the promise of environmental sustainability but also opens up exciting opportunities for savvy business investors and aspiring entrepreneurs.

A Dual Endeavor for a Circular Tomorrow

Abdul and Athumani, driven by a shared passion for sustainability, embarked on a mission to address the pressing issue of plastic waste that plagues their city and the entire nation of Tanzania. These enterprising minds, hailing from the same college, are now collaborating to bring their innovative solutions to life.

Abdul’s PLA

Green Innovation in Tanzania: Abdul and Athumani Pioneer Bioplastics for a Sustainable Future

In the vibrant city of Dar-Es-Salaam, two visionary young entrepreneurs, Abdul Mabada and Athumani Kinyomi, both fresh graduates from a local college, are poised to revolutionize the business landscape with their innovative approach to plastic waste management. Their journey not only holds the promise of environmental sustainability but also opens up exciting opportunities for savvy business investors and aspiring entrepreneurs.

A Dual Endeavor for a Circular Tomorrow

Abdul and Athumani, driven by a shared passion for sustainability, embarked on a mission to address the pressing issue of plastic waste that plagues their city and the entire nation of Tanzania. These enterprising minds, hailing from the same college, are now collaborating to bring their innovative solutions to life.

Abdul’s PLA Bioplastic Revolution

Abdul, with his pioneering spirit, set out to explore the potential of Polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastics. He recognized that Tanzania possesses a wealth of starch-based food waste, including cassava and maize, which often goes unused. This waste, when converted into PLA bioplastic, not only offers a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics but also opens doors for profitable ventures. PLA, being biodegradable and carbon-neutral, aligns perfectly with the global push for eco-friendly products.

Athumani’s Vision with PHA Bioplastic

Athumani, Abdul’s innovative partner, brings another dimension to their venture. Inspired by Abdul’s work, he delved into the world of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) bioplastics, which are produced from microorganisms. Athumani sees the potential to transform solid human waste and water waste into valuable resources, paving the way for innovative and regenerative use cases.

Navigating Challenges with Entrepreneurial Grit

The entrepreneurial journey is not without its challenges, and Abdul and Athumani face them head-on. The duo grapples with the need for advanced technology and infrastructure to produce bioplastics at scale. To realize their vision of creating clearer, more efficient bioplastic products, they require substantial investment in machinery and a dedicated production facility.

Investment Opportunities for Business Pioneers

For business-minded individuals and entrepreneurs, Abdul and Athumani’s venture offers an enticing opportunity. Their innovation aligns perfectly with the global trend towards sustainable and eco-friendly products. Investing in this green revolution not only supports a worthy cause but also has the potential for significant returns.

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Production

Both Abdul and Athumani emphasize the importance of renewable energy sources for powering their production facility. This commitment to sustainability not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances the project’s appeal to socially responsible investors.

A Sustainable Solution with Profound Impact

The impact of Abdul and Athumani’s initiative extends beyond the balance sheet. With Tanzania facing critical waste management challenges and overflowing landfills, their innovation could be the catalyst for transforming waste into a valuable resource. By supporting their project, investors have the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the Tanzanian community.

In conclusion, Abdul and Athumani, the dynamic duo from Dar-es-Salaam, represent the future of green innovation in Tanzania. Their entrepreneurial spirit, combined with their commitment to sustainability, presents an exciting proposition for investors and business pioneers looking to make a positive impact on both the environment and the bottom line. As they forge ahead with their journey, Abdul and Athumani are not just transforming waste into bioplastics; they are paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.

Written by Simalike W. Musika

A CREATOR ABODE: PULCHRA MEDIA

There are not many platforms that are available for micro and nano influencers, creators or artists in general. Platforms that encourage, support and celebrate creativity in Africa. Our artists aspire and work tirelessly to be acknowledged and celebrated in foreign lands, which should not be the case, not when we have the resources in our backyard. Pulchra Media is a small scale website and movement that was created to remedy just that. A problem that the Pulchra team realized exists, and quite frankly, could be easily solved.

 Introducing Pulchra Media…A Creator’s Abode

 PULCHRA is a black owned media company and platform that intends to produce content celebrating young, innovative artists and visionaries on a digital platform. This media company fully utilizes this generations favourite tool; social media, to show case brilliance that has been captured and is yet to be captured on a global scale. More than anything, the aim is to invoke healthy and meaningful conversations surrounding the beauty and uniqueness of art that is created by niche and micro creators who are not celebrated enough. 

 The Pulchra team is spearheaded by 4 individuals from all around the continent. 

 All the way from Zambia, Bupe Mwange is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Pulchra platform. Bupe has proven to be passionate about fashion, which plays an enormous role for the  Pulchra entity.

 Tanzanian photographer , Filly, plays the role of Graphics Consultant. Filly has a very successful photography portfolio having shot festivals, events and cultural embodiments of art. Having such a diverse portfolio is crucial for Pulchra.

 Also Tanzanian , is Ibrahim, the entity’s PR Consultant, based all the way in Maryland, USA. With a vast amount of connections, Ibrahim is solely in charge of client networking and brand growth for the platform.

 Also part of the team, is Co-Founder and Editor, Neenah Molapo, all the way from Lesotho. Over the years, she developed a passion for art and digital media and saw to it that a project that embodies all these aspects must be established.

With a clear vision behind Pulchra , they say they hope to take every single one of the members of their audience on a journey of giving every creator their flowers while they can still receive them. “It is more than a promotional activity, but more of a convenient resource and platform that users can turn to for information, education and familiarization of any kind.”

The name PULCHRA has been derived from the word pulchritudinous, which directly means beautiful. Every piece of art, every creation, every item that will be shared on the platform represents just that-beauty. Beauty with substance, beauty that educates, beauty that encourages interactions and beauty that merges and brings us together.

Written By Diile Neenah Molapo

Top 5 Date Night Spots in Dar es Salaam

February is the appointed month of love and we love love over here at The Tanzanian Times. Date nights are a great way for couples to reconnect and strengthen their relationship. Personally, I find that date nights serve as a fantastic route to spicing things up in relationships. Here are my top 5 date night spots in the city that never sleeps, Dar es Salaam.

  1. Kalypso Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Oysterbay

Located within Colosseum Hotel in Oysterbay, Kalypso is home to the best sushi in Dar es Salaam. They are forever updating their already perfect Japanese/Spanish menu which makes every visit to Kalypso worthwhile. The restaurant boasts a classy outdoor and indoor seating area, complete with a bar for when you and bae want to share a few laughs over drinks before ordering dinner.

dining in dar es salaam

IG: @kalypso_tz

2. Hamu Restaurant, Masaki

If you’re in the mood for traditional Italian cuisine, then look no further than Hamu restaurant. The cocktails at Hamu taste like they were made by absolute professionals… maybe because the bartenders are fully qualified to quench you and your significant other’s thirst. Hamu is one of the most aesthetically pleasing locations In Dar es Salaam, and you’ll just have to see it for yourself.

IG: @hamurestaurant

Hamu Restaurant

3. Mamboz Grill, Masaki

Located in the vibrant Masaki streets, Mamboz Grill caters to meat lovers and the like. With a

diverse menu, you and bae will be sure to enjoy what the restaurant has to offer. Don’t let the

location scare you, Mamboz is extremely easy on the pockets. What it lacks in aesthetics, it more

than makes up for in taste. Add it to your must visit list for date night!

mamboz grill

IG: @mambozmasaki

4. Levant, Masaki

Lebanese cuisine is one of the best in the world and Levant does an amazing job of showcasing this

in their menu. Walking into Levant almost feels like an alternate universe. You and your significant

other will be transported right into a middle eastern setting, complete with Lebanese cuisine to

fulfill the faux mirage. I recommend the outdoor seating area by the waterfall for the most

immersive experience. Thank me later.

levant masaki

IG: @levanttz

5. Cape Town Fish Market, Msasani

This is one of my favourite spots in the city because the views are to die for! The bar at CTFM is

situated next to the most fantastic view of the ocean. Couples frequent this place and its not a

mystery why. Refreshing sundowners and the freshest seafood menu go together hand in hand.

Please make sure to try the sushi when you visit. They even have a shisha corner for those that

partake in such.

cape town fish market

IG: @ctfmtz

By Anne Tendwa

Usher, Pheelz – Ruin

Usher, Pheelz – Ruin

Music Video Credits: 

Directed by: Dave meyers

Production company: freenjoy

Director rep: lark creative

Produced by: Nathan Scherrer

Label producer: Alexa Dedlow

Director of photography: Scott Cunningham

Production designer: Nucalifornia

Choreographer: Galen hooks

Prod manager: Paul Lee

Editor: Carlos font clos at cabin edit

Edit producer: Whitcomb johnson

Color: Stefan Sonnenfeld at company3 color

Producer: blake rice vfx

Supervisors: Przemek Drosik & Christophe-Olivier Dupuis vfx

Producers: Gosia herman & Phlippe Lépine vfx by foreign xchange & buf montreal

Artwork by: REWA, Emily Manwaring, and Ikechukwa Amos Christian Janaina Tschäpe Artwork courtesy of the artist & Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Natural Home Remedies

Nothing beats taking charge of your own health and healing by discovering how to achieve total health of the mind, body, and spirit. There is a variety of methods including diet, hydrotherapy, positive attitude, relaxation, yoga, chiropractic, natural remedies and more to achieve total health. Today, let us focus on natural remedies .

It is fascinating how there is natural healing powers in herbs plants. And in Tanzania, we are lucky to have been surrounded by an abundance of it . Here are some natural remedies that I have put together for you . Enjoy.

First of , TURMERIC :

This spice has been super hyped as having the option to assist with different circumstances from joint inflammation to greasy liver. There is an early examination to help this. Different cases, for example, recuperating ulcers and assisting with skin rashes after radiation are inadequate with regards to verification. Assuming that you attempt it, don’t go overboard: High dosages can lead to stomach related issues.

Turmeric is also an excellent source of: Manganese,Iron,Potassium, Omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.

For better results, turmeric should be taken with black pepper, heat , healthy fats or Quercetin (this is a purple plant pigment found in berries, onions, and grapes)

The standard dosage of turmeric is two teaspoons a day . You can either mix it with your warm milk and drink or even mix it in your smoothie.

Next Up , GINGER:

Ginger has been used for thousands of years in Asian medicine to treat stomachaches, diarrhea, and nausea, and studies show that it works for nausea and vomiting.

One teaspoon of raw ginger contains 0.1 milligrams (mg)

of vitamin C. It

also contains small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. It contains nutrients and bioactive compounds that may have a range of benefits for your body and brain.

You can use ginger fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice. It features in many recipes as well as processed foods, home remedies, and cosmetics.

Third on the list today , HONEY:

Raw honey has been utilized as a cure since the beginning of time and has an assortment of medical advantages and clinical purposes. It’s even utilized in certain emergency clinics as a treatment for wounds.

Honey offers several potential health benefits thanks to the beneficial compounds it contains, such as antioxidants and propolis.

Also, know that children under 1 year shouldn’t eat honey, as it’s associated with a risk of botulism.

These 3 natural remedies are common ingredients in our homes and very useful . An amazing way to heal yourself at home but always remember to contact your health care provider.

By Laila Mohammad

Best Tanzanian Oldies Of All Times

Whenever anyone feels happy, sad, angry and lonely, we always turn to music to express ourselves. The feeling we get from music makes the world be a better and cheerful

Whenever anyone feels happy, sad, angry and lonely, we always turn to music to express ourselves. The feeling we get from music makes the world be a better and cheerful place that it makes everything else fade away. To think that we only used to listen to music only from radios, it doesn’t seem like it in today’s world. If we look back to the early 2000’s, many Tanzanian musician gave us many hits that kept us entertained even though they didn’t have the best equipments to record and produce music. All those things didn’t matter then since all you had to have was your voice and a nice band to back you up. With that, here are some of the best oldies that still make you wanna dance. 


10. Zeze by TID

This song was the jam back in 2015. Whenever you went out you were sure to hear this song playing somewhere whether it’s a bar or a kiosk. TID is a Bongo Flava musician who does R&B and made his solo debut at the age of 21. Although Zeze was not his first single, it sure made him more famous. For those who don’t know what zeze means, it’s an African music instrument that looks like a banjo but its not. It has no official English name that I know of but if it does well my bad. Anyway, this song which is all about romance was the hit back then that it was included in the Global soul. 


9. Cinderella by Ali Kiba

You may think the song is about a fairytale story like Cinderella’s. It isn’t but whatever the case no one cared and I don’t think many even knew. It’s the flow of the music that got to me and many others that we could not stop our selves from singing along whenever it came on the television and radio. This song gave Ali Kiba the recognition that he needed and well he is now a very successful musician in Tanzania and he gave us more and more music that he got nicknamed King Kiba. Well how about that. 


8. Zali la mentali by Professor Jay.

Although he is very engaged with politics nowadays, Prof. Jay gave us a gem known as Zali la mentali. This hip-hop song was very and I mean very well written and produced that it isn’t forgotten to this day. If you haven’t listened to it yet, well you should and watch the video too because its more entertaining that way. The message portrayed in this song is that it doesn’t matter what financial status you have to fall in love. Juma nature was featured in this song and made it more hardcore. 


7. Starehe by Ferooz

Ferooz featured Professor Jay in this song and it was a hit. This R&B and hip-hop song smashed the records. It has a great tune that got stuck in your head for hours. But what really made this song become famous was the message in it. This guy managed to educate a lot of people about how its easy to get AIDS when you just have fun without protection. With one song he portrayed a lot of what it’s like to not care for oneself while AIDS is still at large. This was when this virus was a bigger problem to the nation. At least he was able to educate and gives us a banger at the same time.


6. Hakuna Kulala by Juma Nature.

Sir Nature as many call him, gave us a lot of bangers back in 2000’s and he still brings heat in his songs till today. One of the many songs that got a lot of good responses is Hakuna Kulala. It means no sleeping. The song is about having fun dancing and clubbing that sleeping is not allowed even though you are hungry. He literally said so in this song. It became a big hit in clubs, parties and any place that dancing is needed. This song brought people together of all ages. Am sure many local clubs and bars still play this song to give the people a little bit of the best of bongo flava there is. 


5. Siku hazigandi by Lady Jay Dee.

With everything that happens in our world, everyone tends to need something to hold on and give them the push they need. This song was it to so many people back in 2007.  

This is one of the greatest songs produced in Tanzania. It has everything needed in a work of art that many artists don’t work on. Lady Jay Dee wrote this song for a particular audience that is women mostly but the message portrayed can be for anyone. The song title translates to days don’t stay stagnant and with those words alone, you get the reason this song became a hit.


4. Mama yangu by Banana Zoro.

Even though we didn’t get a lot of songs from him, Mr. Zoro did give us one of the best songs in the history of bongo flava. The song mama yangu means my mother, of course. He talked about his mother how she is the light and shield in his life. He showed the importance of mothers to all of us and that we should truly appreciate them and show them love and respect they need. The lyrics of this song added with the beat, made this one of the best songs between 2007 and 2010. 


3. Uko wapi by Ray C.

Another bongo flava that was a major hit during the 2000’s. Ray C was one of the queens of bongo flava in Tanzania. She gave us great songs that were played a lot on the radio and the television. This song was about finding her love all over the world. The video was even taken in a western country. Apart from singing, she was also known for belly dancing. It increased her fame and in that case her songs also got a lot of attention. 


2. Usijaribu by Ay.

Well, when it comes to Hip-hop in Tanzania, this mastermind is said to be the first musicians to commercialize it and be successful at that. With this song, AY was able to win two awards in 2007 from different award shows. This song captured a lot of attention since it was very hard to miss and it entertained all genders and ages despite being hardcore. I say this because when I was growing up, I was surrounded with women who didn’t prefer hip hop but since AY also sings bongo flava, his hardcore songs were also appreciated by all. Anyway, this song was among the many hits back then.


1. Ingekuwa vipi by Mwana FA.

This is the song that introduced Mwana FA as a solo artist and made him among the best bongo flava and hip-hop artists in Tanzania. He sang this song asking what if different things happened in a different way like if Dully Sykes (another Tanzanian musician) sang hardcore or would RnB be if not for Lady jay dee. I mean the whole song makes one think of different scenarios that could happen if it happened differently. Although some of the things said where obviously jokes but it still became a hit. With that said, if you do want to listen to old songs this should be in the list.


The songs today may have more flair and pizzazz but they can never take the greatness given by these oldies which by the way will still keep rocking as long as there are people who still keep listening to them.

The Culprit Behind Adults Pain

I am 73 and never in my life did I have the audacity to be myself. Sometimes in the middle of night I feel like I am suffocating and think that this is all for me…I have wasted my life essentially lived as per what society suggested. I have no one to blame and I feel sad’ lamented Alice when asked what regret does she feel after becoming older! 
‘If you don’t touch it, it won’t harm you’ 

may not be a very well-known saying but it certainly is a lifestyle that many of us are living with and might be the very reason to why we do not talk about death…Wait!! Don’t skip this page let us all face this reality for once because obviously death is simply passing away where every part of the body becomes deceased but there is another type of death where the body is active but the heart and minds become dead, I would call it loneliness. 

Believe it or not; loneliness is one of the most unspoken issues among the African communities especially in Africa and across the Globe because many people refer to it as an indication of strength while considering it a régime to mask their troubles. Unfortunately there is a significant figures of the victims who are secretly suffering from unimaginable number of pains and are willing to spend millions of pennies on several culprits to protect their suffering. Today, this magazine will discourse about this common culprit for adults’ pain which has left incurable effects to the societies.

What is the pain?

Unquestionably; in a world full of vast devices to keep the minds busy from worrying about our prescribed lifespan; both youngsters, adults, wives, strangers, patients, doctors and every normal human being all share a common fear of loneliness. Loneliness is the state of feeling emptiness inside someone’s mind, soul, body or heart, (regardless how much a person may be owning); where as the results, it leads to an individual’s unwise decisions which may also yields to unhealthy preoccupations such as an obsession of the body image.

The 90% of those whose focus has been invested on image obsession has either performed plastic surgeries or at least considered anti-aging prescriptions because they thought the problem is more physical than mental. On many exclusive researches conducted to find out why themajority of adults spend quite mercilessly on anti-aging products, it was finally discovered that the main cause to the act is the fear of beingempty, lonely and eventually becoming invisible to their loved ones and society in general.  

At least every year the World spends about $ 274 billion on the anti-aging products while the media has tirelessly encouraged all ages on how important it is for them to look younger on a daily basis. Although on the outside the entire anti-aging campaign may look like it is about the beauty but it seems to be a completely different agenda on the inside because when a group of adults asked why are they scared to look or get older; the top answers were all pressed back to the fear of pain, poverty, becoming vulnerable and abused. Who will take care of me? What will happen when I get ill? The fear of getting treated with humiliations in the hands of those who may not even be related to them and the costs that may be used for instance in the West to take care of elders; altogether spice up this pain. The good news is there is still hope for a better change as far as people are willing to share and learn.

What is Tanzanians’ acuity on the matter?

On the other hand; the courage of whether or not to communicate and implement about this pain seems to differ and have taken a unalike approach at least for the participants of this survey whom I believe are representatives to the majority of the country because many of them felt uncomfortable to address this. Some of them seem to have believed that loneliness is a part of faith hence no one should rise a concern about it, while others are uncertain if this is a problem or not.

Apparently when both youths and adults of 21-75 years old interviewed, they admitted to have experienced on the feeling and urge that it is unavoidable circumstance unless one chooses to live a useful life.

 ‘I celebrated a lovely 25 years’ old birthday last week with family and friends and felt so happy but I assure you on the inside I was somehow worried on becoming older because I can relate how different this birthday celebration is from a 19 years old one. The people’s engagement, the mindset, the dependence…all these were seem to be freely accessible but the more I aged; the desperate I become’’. Said Sylvia a fourth year Medical Student at Muhimbili, adding that her hard work has been a motive to worry less.

There has been an incredible rise of beauty shops in Dar es Salaam region alone which is the business city where 7 of 10 people you meet have somehow tried to mask their loneliness through the beauty concept.

By Khadija Amri