Mzee Abdullah Amur Suleiman was an accomplished journalist and notably the author of a Biographical Article about Siti Binti Saad which appeared in the Kiswahili Research Journal in 1969. (Click here to read Article) I had the honor of speaking with him several times at seminars and workshops in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. One thing I remember is that he spoke with wisdom and authority. He was always greeted with respect and appreciation whenever he was with his peers.
Mzee Suleiman, was born in 1920 in Malindi Jongiani, Zanzibar. His father was a Cashier Assistant at the then Indian Bank in Zanzibar. His mother was a housewife, who died a few days after his birth. The young Suleiman was nursed by a Foster Mother.
In 1924, young Suleiman joined Quraan Madrassa at Maalim Muhammad Kheir Madrass in Malindi. In 1928, he joined the Government Boys Primary School (Now BenBella Secondary School) at Mnazi Mmoja, Zanzibar. He completed his studies there in 1936.
In 1937, he joined Agricultural Training Unit at Kizimbani Experimental Station as a Trainee. He moved on to work as an Agricultural Products Examiner at Zanzibar Wharfage until 1940.
Late in 1940, he joined the Civil Service in Zanzibar in which he'd work until 1953. During his time in the Civil Service he worked as Assistant Overseer at the Waqf Department, Musuem Clerk, Mudirs Scriber, Clerk in the Administrator General Depertment, Immigration Officer and Customs Officer. During this time Mzee Suleiman took a correspondence course in journalism from the School of Journalism in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 1953 he left Government Service and became the Chairman of the Conference of All Zanzibar Associations, and Secretary of the Zanzibar Parents Association.
In 1953 he was also awarded an International Scholarship to study Journalism at Hislop COllege of Journalism, at Nagpur University in Nagpur, India. Upon returning from his studies he started the Independent weekly newspaper 'Mwangaza' and worked as Managing Editor. It was not affiliated with any organization or political group. But, his political life was just starting, he travelled widely in Africa and Asia to attend political forums. Amongst the dignataries that he met were Jawaharlal Nheru, Kwame Nkruma, Sekou Toure, Tafawa Balewa, Joshua Nkomo, BenBella, Jomo Kenyatta, Jamal Abdul Nasser and Mwalimu Nyerere.
In 1957, he convened the Meeting which joined African Association and Shirazi Association to form the Afro-Shirazi Party. In 1958, he became the Secretary of the National Executive Council Meeting of the Afro Shirazi Party (ASP). In 1959, he left the ASP to become Founder Secretary General of the Zanzibar and Pemba People Party (ZPPP). He was overhwhelmingly elected to this position. In 1961, he resigned from ZPPP and returned to the ASP as an ordinary member.
In 1961, he was assigned by ASP to assis in the case facing some party members as the result of June riots.
In his later years, Mzee Suleiman would write for Algerian News Agency, Data Features, African Features, Data International, Daily News (Tanzania), Ngurumo, Drum, African Business, African Events, BBC, African Jorunal, New Africa, Africa Report and Kenya's Daily Nation.
At the time of his death, he was a long term member of the Tanzania Journalists Association (TAJA).
Mzee Suleiman passed away on May 24th, 2004 in Zanzibar and was laid to rest the following day. He is survived by a wife, fourteen children and many grandchildren.
May his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace. AMIN.
(*NOTE - Information for this page was provided by the late Mzee Suleiman's son, Amur Abdullah Amur)
