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Jeraj Jiwa |
Shariff Jiwa |
Nazarali Jiwa |
SHARIFF JIWA
In 1899 Shariff Jiwa came to Africa by dhow from his hometown Tithwa which is in Kathiawad. Shariffbhai together with his brother Jerajbhai moved to Tabora in the year 1902 from Bukoba via Biharamulo. In Tabora they worked with Alidina Visram for two years and gained the experience, later they started their own business on small scale. With his experience he moved ahead with wholesale business and opened branches in Bukoba, Mombasa, Mwanza and Ujiji [near Kigoma] which were the main trading centers. One of the branches was in Kondoa and through his and his brother Jerajbhai’s socializing nature they built a very good rapport, with their zeal and personality they became very popular amongst the other wholesale traders.
At one time his brother Nazeralibhai and his son Mohamedali established a soft drink [soda] factory in Tabora.
Shariff Jiwa then moved to Kisumu, in 1926 he established a small business of maize mill and a cooking oil factory in partnership with a Hindu friend. In 1928 his hindu friend separated from the partnership and opened his own business. In 1929 he appointed his elder son Karmali to handle Tabora branch and he moved to Kisumu.
In 1930 Daya Premji joined in the Kisumu branch with his elder son Mohamadali. His other two sons namely Gulamhussein Daya and Abdulhussein Daya were studying there during their young age. Daya Premji decided to leave the job and went to settle in Moshi and has been there since then.
Karmalibhai lived in Kisumu up to 1938, and then left for Mombasa. After Karmalibhai left his paternal uncle, Nazaralibhai together with his son Mohamadali Nazarali continued their business which was picking up gradually, finally they were recognized to be one of the major businessmen in the city.
In 1953 after the death of Jerajbhai Jiwa the business was divided from which Kisumu branch fell under Nazeralibhai’s portion.
Since 1947 to 1953 the two sons of Karmalibhai by the name of Hussein and Kassamalibhai ran the business of Kisumu. After the division of business Nazeralibhai’s son used to handle one or the other business. It is the only family of our community who has survived here.
Lastly they split their business of Bukoba/ Kisumu and Mombasa which was taken by Nazeralibhai’s family and the other business of Moshi was taken by the family of Muhamadali Shariff Jiwa known as Moshi Trading Company Ltd. Also they had leather tannery and the factory for manufacturing many leather items. Also they took over sisal state in Himo which is near Moshi.
The heirs of Late Shariff Jiwa built a masjid in Nairobi for the ithaale thawab of their late father. Brother Muhamadali Shariff Jiwa’s wife had also donated a guest house (musafirkhana) in Moshi.
Translated by: F. Ali.
Extracted from Community Directory 1960
Additional information about the family;
They also had a coffee farm in Bukoba about 6 miles away known as Lamlumba coffee estate which they later sold it to Suleman Jaffer.
The first brick building still stands opposite the masjid in Bukoba built by Sheriff Jiwa Family.
They also owned and built a coffee factory in Bukoba which was managed by a European by the name of Milson Rees. During the independence of Tanganyika they were denied the license of grinding the coffee thus the factory was closed down. The remains of this factory still exist and are used as warehouses by the Cooperative union.
Furthermore they owned a flourmill and trading company as well as a petrol station. The manager was Late Laljibhai Hirji until the company was closed.
MOHAMMADALI SHARIFF JIWA
Mohamadali Shariff Jiwa was born in 1910 in Mombasa and had his Primary education in Mombasa. During those days; he was one of those rare students who had passed London metric exams.
In 1931 Brother Mohamedalibhai came to Moshi to take care of the business and has been residing here since then.
In lieu of his honorary services to the public of Kilimanjaro and Muslim community, the British government honored him by making him a member of British Empire in 1955. He is a director of Moshi Trading Company which was considered one of the biggest exporters of coffee.
Despite of being busy with his business he still served for his community as well as humanity. He is a great contributor towards the Moshi Indian Public School; he served as a president of this school for 18 years. For the last so many years he has served as a president of Muslim Association of Moshi. He also served for quite long as a secretary of the Jamaat but due to the heavy load of work he retired from the post on his own volition. Despite that Moshi Jamaat eagerly elected him as a vice president as well as a trustee of the properties. He is presently the Mayor of Moshi Town. Mohamedalibhai has been serving in quite a number of associations. At the age of 50, his working skills are of such a high caliber that today’s youth cannot be compared.
He has also served as the vice president of Supreme Council twice and the President of Tanganyika Territorial Council as well as Tanganyika Boarding House. He also took great interest in establishing the following Community Companies:
And was appointed the Chairman ,of the following Companies for a long time:
Jamhuri Sisal Estates Ltd- Arusha.
Ithnasheri Investment co Ltd. DSM,
Kibo Match Ltd – Moshi
Due to his ill health he decided to resign from all public and Community commitments hence his resignation was accepted with regret. A big function was held in Moshi to bid him farewell. On behalf of the above companies,The new Chairman of Jamhuri sisal Br. Roshan Fazal honored him by special award which will make him remember his services given to above Companies.
You are requested to recite Sure-e-Fatiha for the Marhum.
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Some of the ruins of Sharif Jiwa Coffee Factory |
One of the old buildings occupied by their staff |