Murabbi Karimbhai Rehmtullah (Asgarali’s father) served as President of Khoja Shia Ithna’asheri Jamaat of Kigoma in 1950’s. His mother Fatemabai was the daughter of Alhaj Suleman Ramji who was one of the first Khoja to settle in Arusha in the late 1890’s.  Karimbhai and Fatemabai had ten children - seven sons named Rafiq, Asgarali, Hassan, Hussein, Haider, Mohammed,...

During the reign of Sultan Bargash and prior to the arrival of the Khojas, Shias of Zanzibar felt the necessity of having a place of worship, where they could perform the 'Azadari of Imam Hussein (a.s)'. The need for a place of worship became rather crucial as more and more Shias from Bahrain, Muscat and Iran decided to...

Kaniz-e-Zehrabai Gulamhussein Chandoo (popularly known as Kanizbai/Baiji of Tanga) Kanizbai was born in Zanzibar in November 1927. She was the eldest of five children, of Late Fazal Meghji and Fatmabai Alibhai. She was initially brought up in the house of her grandfather, Marhum Alibhai Dhanji, but had to return to her father’s house upon the demise of her...

TANGA JAMAAT REMEMBERS THE TRAGIC LOSS OF A DEDICATED SOCIAL WORKER Alhaj Shaukatali Mohamedhussein Dhirani was born on 7th June 1948 at Pangani, Tanga. His parents, Alhaj Mohamedhussein Fazal Dhirani and Fatma bai lived in Pangani and later moved to Tanga.  Shaukatali completed his primary and secondary education in Karimjee Primary School and in Karimjee Secondary School in...

75 years ago, in November 1945, the preliminary conference to establish Africa Federation was held. This is a story of how it all started.  A discussion for creation of Federation - or Conference - as it was then called - was started by some of our brothers in Mombasa in 1927. Due to lack of support from the...

Alhaj Husseinali Nurmohammad Ladha was born in Bukoba on 13th June 1942. He was the fourth son in the family of Alhaj Nurmohammad Ladha. He started school in 1951 in Government Indian Public School and passed his senior Cambridge examination in 1962. At School he was friendly to all his fellow students of his age group and even...

Mohamedraza Gulamhussein Kara was born on 30th April, 1941 in Lindi, he completed his Primary and O’ Level examinations in Dar es Salaam and studied Stores and Material Management. He holds a Mins. P. & S., M.A.S.M.C., A.M.I.M.H. qualification and worked as the Managing Director of Teena Garments Manufactures and Jaffery Industries Limited in Dar es Salaam.  In...

In the 50 years history of the Africa Federation, this was the first delegation ever to tour across almost the entire India from west to south and then to east, north and back to Bombay in the west in the year 1995. This was the first time ever for a regional Federation to undertake such an extensive tour...

Marhum Gulamali Damji was a prominent businessman and one of the oustanding personalities in Tanganyika during Colonial time. He was among the few educated businessmen and was a leading exporter and importer of various commodities. He was an agent of the leading shippers of London “Kay Brothers”.  During the Colonial time “Congo Bank” was very popular and Marhum...

Jafferbhai Rashid Alidina was born on 12th June 1924 in Lindi to Rashidbhai and Sherbanubai Alidina. He was brought up in Lindi and did his schooling there. He was the last born amongst 3 siblings.Jafferbhai began his career as a clerk working for Salehbhai Versi and would commute between Songea and Lindi. Due to his good literacy skills...