Shaaban Robert
Paying homage at Shaaban Robert's grave at Machui village in TangaNdugu Michuzi,
Ningeomba uanzishe safu ya "Tanzanian of the Day" kwenye globu, ili tuwaenzi na kuwakumbuka watanzania mashuhuri kwani nchi yetu kwa kweli hatuwakumbuki wana wa Tanzania waliofanya mambo makubwa katika historia ya nchi yetu. Ningeomba wadau tujikumbushe mwanafasihi mashuhuri kutoka Tanga, Ndugu Shaaban Robert.
nashukuru,
ndimi,
Mfaume.
SHAABAN ROBERT,
Ningeomba uanzishe safu ya "Tanzanian of the Day" kwenye globu, ili tuwaenzi na kuwakumbuka watanzania mashuhuri kwani nchi yetu kwa kweli hatuwakumbuki wana wa Tanzania waliofanya mambo makubwa katika historia ya nchi yetu. Ningeomba wadau tujikumbushe mwanafasihi mashuhuri kutoka Tanga, Ndugu Shaaban Robert.
nashukuru,
ndimi,
Mfaume.
SHAABAN ROBERT,
TANGA'S FORGOTTEN HERO
Kiswahili literature, without Mzee Shaaban Robert, is unimaginable. The contribution to Kiswahili language and literature by this prolific writer has been of great value. His many works have taken the language to newer depths and added to its richness. Every school-going Tanzanian, past and present, has read his works. His name is familiar throughout the country, and indeed, among the Kiswahili speaking diaspora.
Shaaban Robert was born at Vibambani village near Machui, 10 km south of Tanga town, on New Year’s day of the year 1909. His parents were of the Mganga clan of the Wayao tribe from southern parts of the country.
He, however, never considered himself a Yao preferring to simply be one among the Waswahili. There is confusion on how he obtained the name Robert, a European Christian name, completely alien to his African Islamic background. One past record indicates that it was the name of his father while another states that it was not his father’s name.
He received his education at Msimbazi School in Dar es Salaam between 1922 and 1926. He did well in school and was awarded the School Leaving Certificate. He started work with the Colonial Civil Service as a clerk at the customs department in Pangani in 1926.
He remained at this department for eighteen years till 1944. During this time he produced many of his literary works. For two years, from 1944 to 1946, he worked with the wildlife department, and from 1946 to 1952, he was at the Tanga Provincial Commisionar’s Office. He moved to the Tanga Planning Office in 1952.
During the course of his life, he was also a member of the East Africa Swahili Committee, the East Africa Literature Bureau, the Tanganyika Languages Board and the Tanga Township Authority (later, the Town Council).
As recognition of his contribution to Kiswahili literature, he was awarded the Margaret Wrong Memorial Prize, a literary prize and was given the title, Member of the British Empire, MBE, by Her Royal Highness the Queen of England.
In total, Shaaban Robert wrote 22 books of prose, essays and poems. Some of his works have become standard material in Kiswahili literature classes. His books have been translated into English, Russian and Chinese.
He died on the 22nd of June 1962 and was buried at Machui, near his birthplace. He was married thrice and had ten children.
Sadly, today, his grave lies in a state of deterioration, unmarked and without easy access. It is completely unfitting for a person who has made such a significant contribution to our national language and holds a high place in the annals of our history.
At present, there are no indications from the authorities concerned of any plans to maintain the grave and the surrounding areas or to establish a memorial in Tanga.
Kwa zaidi bofya:
http://www.urithitanga.org/
http://www.urithitanga.org/
Unsung hero! RIP Shaban Robert
ReplyDeleteMdau maoni yako ni mazuri kuhusu kuwakumbuka watanzania waliofanya kitu fulani katika nchi yao,mfano marehemu shaaban Robart. tatizo umearibu pale unapoanza kutumia lugha ya kiingereza katika maelezo, hapo nafikili umekosea sana. marehemu shaban Robart alikuwa gwiji la kiswahili hivyo ni vema basi kama tuna mkumbuka , tumkumbuke kwa lugha aliyotumia sana, ambayo ni kiswahili.
ReplyDeleteNaunga mkono maoni ya Anony namba 2 kwa 100%.
ReplyDeleteBongo! hata siamini.....
ReplyDeleteHivi ndugu zake au watoto wake wako wapi? Hata wajukuu kama wapo wanafanya nini kwa sasa? Hawa ndiyo wangepaswa kuchukua hatu ya kumuenzi huyu nyota wa Tanzania. Mimi nilisoma primary miaka ya 60 hadi 1965 nilipomaliza darasa la 8. Kitabu cha KUSADIKIKA wakati ule nikiwa na umri mdogo baada ya kukisoma ilinipa taabu sana kuelewa maana yake. Mwaka jana nikakisoma tena ndipo nikatambua kuwa kile kitabu ni kizuri na muhimu sana. Mle ndani utasoma habari za viongozi wa kisiasa na kiserikali na hila na ghiliba zao. Ni kitabu kizuri hata kwa watu wazima. Kwa sababu kina relevance na mazingira yetu ya kisiasa. Mle ndani unaweza ukadiriki hata kufahamu nani anafanana na nani katika siasa zetu za leo nchini Tanzania.
ReplyDeleteasante mdau na ndugu Michuzi kwa kutuwekea hii safu. Tuwakumbuke hawa watu muhimu. Kizazi cha sasa hakiwafahamu wakongwe hawa kwa undani.
ReplyDeleteits ironic that tributes to a swahili literature man, Shaaban Robert, could not have been written in kiswahili. It certainly makes me question the true motives of this mdau.
ReplyDeleteAnd YES I put it to him in his own mother tongue, English.
Ni sawa kabisa na kubandika ilani ya "USIVUTE SIGARA HAPA" wakati huohuo sigara inafuka moshi mdomoni mwa huyo mbandikaji.
Ni jambo zuri sana ulilolileta mezani ila umekosea kitu kimoja. Umetumia lugha ya kitumwa(Kiinglish) kuwasilisha ujumbe wa mtu muhim aliyefanya lugha yetu (Kiswahili) kutamba! Tuache utumwa jamani...ndo yale yale ya kupeleka watoto shule za kufundisha kiingereza huku tukiamini ndo kwenye elimu bora!!!! Yapo mengi na wengi wa kuwaenzi/kuyaenzi kwa fahari yetu na ili kuyafanikisha ni lazima tuwe "wafuauji"..Ankal naunga mkono hoja.
ReplyDeleteIsiwe nongwa:
ReplyDeleteShaaban Robert alikuwa mshairi na mwandishi wa riwaya. Mchango wake katika lugha ya Kiswahili ni mkubwa kwani kazi zake zinaheshimika katika fasihi ya Kiswahili na pia zinatumika mashuleni.
Shaaban Robert alizaliwa 1 Januari, 1909 kijiji cha Vibambani jirani na Machui kilomita 10 kusini mwa mji wa Tanga, alipata elimu yake katika shule ya Msimbazi, jijini Dar-es-salaam kati ya miaka 1922 na 1926 alifaulu na kupata cheti.
Akaajiriwa na serikali ya kikoloni akawa karani katika idara ya forodha huko Pangani mwaka 1926 – 1944. Bila shaka kukaa kwake miaka mingi hivi katika mji wa kihistoria uliokuwa mahali pa utamaduni wa Kiswahili tena mahali patulivu kumesaidia maendeleo yake Shaaban kama mwandishi wa Kiswahili.
Tangu 1944 alihamia ofisi nyingine ya Hifadhi ya Wanyama, baadaye ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Tanga.
Mbali na maandio yake alikuwa na athari kubwa katika maendeleo ya lugha ya Kiswahili akiwa mjumbe wa kamati za East Africa Swahili Committee, East Africa Literature Bureau na Tanganyika Languages Board.
Kwa ujumla Mzee Shaaban Robert aliandika vitabu ishirini na mbili. Baadhi ya vitabu hivi ni: Adili na Nduguze, Kusadikika, Kufikirika, Wasifu wa Siti Binti Saad, Baada ya Miaka Hamsini, na Maisha Yangu. Vitabu vyake vimetafsiriwa katika lugha za Kichina, Kiingereza na Kirusi. Alifariki dunia tarere 22 Juni, 1962 na kuzikwa Machui. Aliacha wake watatu na watoto kumi.
Sheikh Shaaban Bin Robert Wazazi wake wote wawili walikuwa wa ukoo wa Mganga wa kabila la Kiyao. Hatujui sana habari za wazazi wake, lakini twajua kwamba jina la baba yake halikuwa Robert. Jina hili ama latokana na matamshi mabaya ya jina lake hasa au yawezekana kuwa ni jina alilopewa alipokuwa skuli Msimbazi. Kwa muda mfupi yeye mwenyewe aliandika jina lake ‘Roberts’, lakini baadaye aliacha kuliandika hivyo. Alizaliwa Vibambani, ambacho ni kijiji kilicho kusini ya Machui, yapata maili sita kusini ya Tanga, tarehe mosi January mwaka wa 1909. Hakujiita Myao kabisa, bali alikuwa mmojawapo wa wachache ambao daima walijiita Waswahili.
Alielemishwa Dar es Salaam toka mwaka wa 1922 mpaka mwaka wa 1926, akawa mtu wa pili katika wanafunzi kumi na mmoja waliofaulu mitihani yao na kupewa shahada ya kutoka chuoni, yaani School Leaving Certificate. Alioa mara tatu: mke wa kwanza alikuwa Mdigo. Alikuwa na watoto kumi. Alipofariki aliacha watoto watano. Pia aliacha dada yake (wa baba mmoja) Mwana Saumu, na Mama Yake.
Kazi alizofanya alipokuwa Karani wa Serikali: Forodhani Pangani na mahali pengine tokea mwaka 1926 mpaka 1944 Idara ya Wanyama tokea mwaka 1944 hata 1946 Afisi ya Mkuu wa Jimbo Tanga tokea mwaka 1946 hata 1952 Afisi ya Kupima Nchi Tanga tokea mwaka 1952 hata 1960. Alipandishwa cheo kuwa Grade III Higher Division mwaka 1929, na katika mwaka wa 1944 akapandishwa tena kuwa Grade II Local Service Alikuwa mwanachama wa East African Swahili Committee, East African Literature Bureau, Tanganyika Languages, Tanga Township Authority.
Marehemu akafariki Tanga tarehe ya 22 Juni, 1962, akazikwa Machui.
Alitunza kwa zawadi ya waandishi inayoitwa ‘Margaret Wrong Memorial Prize’; pia alikuwa ametunzwa nishani ya M.B.E.
wikipedia.org
Ankal Michu naomba niwasihi wasomaji wako wasimjie juu Mdau aliyeletwa mada hii uwanjani. Tumshukuru kwa kutukumbusha kitu muhimu kwamba Shaaban Robert hatujamuenzi kama inavyotakiwa. Gwiji hili la Kiswahili liliheshimiwa hata na wakoloni kiasi cha kupewa MBE, si kitu kidogo!
ReplyDeleteMimi nadhani hiyo habari liyowekwa hapa na mwenzetu ameileta kama ilivyotolewa kwenye vyanzo vyake bila kuitafsiri. Ukiisoma hii habari utagundua kwamba imetoka kwenye moja ya nyeraka za kumbukumbu kama vile encyclopea au weekpedia. Nadhani amefanya vizuri kwa kuileta ilivyo.
Kama kweli hili ni kaburi la Ndugu Shaabani Robert ndio maana kiswahili kinaangamia!! Ni picha ya kweli??
ReplyDeleteSikubaliani na wanaoita kiingereza au lugha yoyote ya nje kama lugha ya kitumwa. Ni lugha tu za mawasiliano. Tujivunie lugha yetu bila kubeza lugha za watu. Huo ndio ukomavu wa fikra!!
Kwa kiswahili ili kukikuza tunatakiwa kukipenda (na kuwakumbuka na kuwaenzi watu kama Shaabani Robert), halafu na kutafuta nguvu za kiuchumi. Tusiwe ombaomba.
Tutaifanya lugha ya kiswahili kuwa lugha ya utambulisho wa watu wenye ngozi yenye "melanin" nyingi (weusi).
Wadau, hivi hiyo picha ya pili ni kweli?? Where is Bakita and associates??
ReplyDeletePeople get on feet and do something, I think he deserves something more that.
Shocked!!
HILO NI TATIZO SUGU KWA SERIKALI YETU,MWAKA JANA TUKIWA KIDATO CHA SITA MWALIMU WETU ALITUPA HISTORIA YA MASHUJAA WA MAJIMAJI,MAJUZI HAPA MATOGOLO TULIKUWA TUNAZUNGUMZIA TATIZO KAMA HILI,ALIE VUMBUA KABURI LA PAMOJA LA MACHIFU WA KINGONI WALIO NYONGWA NA WAJERUMANI,AKIWA MKUU WA MKOA WA RUVUMA NA KUWAJENGEA UZIO NA KUWAHIFADHI KWENYE KUMBUKUMBU YA MASHUJAA WA MAJIMAJI TUMEONA KAZIKWA MBALI NA KABULI LAKE HALINA HATA MSALABA TUNAMBIWA KILA NDUGUZAKE WAKIWEKA MSALABA WEZI WA VYUMA CHAKAVU WA NANG'OA,MAREHEMU SHABANI ROBETI NI MUHUMU SANA KATIKA HISTORIA YA NCHI YETU,NI JUKUMU LA SERIKARI KULINDA NA ENZI HISTORIA YA NCHI YETU LAKINI WAPI HAKUNA VIONGOZI WA NAMNA HIYO TENA,
ReplyDeletenjii hii !!!! sina hamu nayo loooo !!!
ReplyDeleteAIBU KUBWA !
ReplyDeleteAhsante mdau ulioleta mada hii. Kama sikosei, kuna idara au ukurugenzi wa mambo ya kale katika Wizara ya Utamaduni, ambayo inasimamia utunzaji na uendelazaji wa vielelezo vya historia ndefu ya nchi yetu, vikiwemo makumbusho (museums) kumbukumbu (monuments), sehemu za kiarkeolojia (Olduvai, Kilwa, Kondoa, majengo yenye umuhimu wa kihistoria n.k.) Inaelekea kuwa Idara hiyo haina uwezo wa kutekeleza majukumu yake. Idara hiyo lazima iwezeshwe. Hapa DAR kuna majengo kadha ya kihistoria yamekwishavunjwa ili magorofa ya kisasa yajengwe. Je City Council imeishirikisha Wizara ya Utamaduni? Mwezi Disemba nilkwenda Arusha nikashangaa kuona mnara maarufu wa clock tower umepachikwa mascreen ya runinga inayoonyesha kanda za mbuga za wanyama. Lazima tuhifadhi maeneo yetu yenye vielezo vya utamaduni wetu na ishara (symbols) zetu. Pia tuenzi kumbukumbu za mashujaa waliochangia maendeleo yetu kama taifa, akiwemo marehemu Shaban Robert. Ni aibu kubwa kwetu sisi kutotunza kumbukumbu ya Shaban Robert wakati hata wakoloni walitambua mchango wake katika fasihi na kumtunikia OBE!!! Mwalimu Peter M.
ReplyDeleteNakushukuru sana ndugu uliyeleta habari hii hapa-ni habari nzuri sana hii, hasa katika kizazi hiki maana watoto wetu hawamjui kabisa huyu gwiji wa Kiswahili. Changamoto yangu ni kwa wakazi wa Machui (pamoja na familia yake) ni kuanza kumwenzi marehemu Shaabani Robert-safisheni kaburi lake, ikiwezekana kusanyeni maandiko yake na kufungua makumbusho. Hiyo itakuwa ni hatua nzuri hata mkiomba msaada serikalini itakuwa rahisi kuwasikiliza.
ReplyDeleteTanzania tuna mila ya kusahau watu kama Shabaan Robert, Siti binti Saad nk.
ReplyDeleteKuna picha ambayo Shabaan Robert alipiga na Siti Binti Saad. Alikuwa amekwenda Zanzibar kwa ajili ya kumhoji Siti juu ya maisha yake. Michuzi, hiyo picha unaweza kuipata?
Haya ni matokeo ya viongozi wa nchi hii kujifanya nchi hii ni yao peke yao wakati hawana uwezo wa kushughulikia kila kitu. Tunatumia muda mwingi uonevu ikiwa ni pamoja na kujinasua kwenye kesi za kubambikiwa kama vile Jerry Muro.Serikali ni kama adui wa wananchi wake wenyewe. Ni pale ambapo watatuheshimu wananchi wa kawaida kama "wenye nchi pia" ndipo tutaweza kusaidia kuchangia hata kama ni kwa kujitolea tu kuenzi wenzetu wenye vipaji kama Hayati Shaaban Robert. Hali ya hilo kaburi inasikitisha sana!
ReplyDeleteVitabu 22 sio mchezo kwa kiwango cho chote kile.
ReplyDeleteMimi nimesoma vitabu vyake vingi na mpaka leo nikiviona navinunua ili niwe navyo nyumbani. Ukiwa mdogo ni kweli vitabu vyake vinakuwa vigumu kuvielewa lakini baadae unaweza kutambua kwamba Marehemu Shaaban Robert alikuwa ni mtu wa kuona mbali sana. Angekuwa sasa tungemwita Mtabiri.
Mungu aendelee kuilaza pemba roho ya Marehemu Shaaban Robert
KULIPIGA SOAP SOAP KABURI HILO HATA LAKI HAIFIKI, LAKINI KWA PARTY ZA MAMILIONI SERIKALI YAWEZA, MFUKO HUO HUO WA PARTY MNAWEZA MKACHOTA KA LAKI MKAPIGIA KIJISOAP MZEE WA WATU JAMANI
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Ukumbusho-wa-Shaaban-Robert/96448138700?v=info
ReplyDeleteJiunge kwenye fan page yake ndani ya Facebook
Inasikitisha sana! Labda tusiilaumu serikali kuu (ie central government) pekee kwani nayo ina majukumu mengi ya kufanya. Kuna halmashauri ya jiji la Tanga (ie local government)na hapa kuna mtu anaitwa " afisa utamaduni wa jiji" ambaye angetosha kabisa kuhakikisha eneo hilo alilozikwa shujaa Shaaban Robert linatunzwa vema. Tatizo utakuta huyo afisa utamaduni haoni kama hilo ni eneo lake la kazi. Mimi nilibahatika kutembelea eneo ambalo Wiliam Shakespeare alizaliwa hapa Uingereza katika mji unaitwa Stratford. Waingereza wanalienzi eneo hili vizuri sana.Wakati wa summer watu wa mataifa mbalimbali huja kutembelea kwa malipo. Jiji la Tanga lingeweza kutumia sehemu aliyozikwa Shaaban Robert kama kivutio na chanzo cha mapato. Tatizo viongozi wetu si wabunifu.
ReplyDeleteRIP.
ReplyDeleteUmenikumbusha mbali sana, Adili na Nduguze. Hasidi na Mwivu walimtosa Adili kutoka chomboni kama kitu kisichofaa. Kisa kilikuwa ni kile kile cha enzi na enzi, Mwelekevu. Mdau ambaye hujaelewa kinachoendelea hapa katafute kitabu hicho ukisome.
Mtoa maoni tar 4 sa 14: sio encyclopea ni encyclopedia na sio weekpedia ni wikipedia
ReplyDeleteKatika moja ya vitabu vya Marehemu Shaaban Robert, *Kitabu cha KUFIKIRIKA(alielezea mabo ya Ujamaa.
ReplyDeleteDhana ya Ujamaa kwa Tanganyika haikuanzishwa na Marehemu Baba wa Taifa, J. K. Nyerere
Ni dhana ya siku nyingi mwana zuoni huyu
Siyo siri naye alikuwa na vipaji vya kifalsafa, ushairi nk.
kwa sheria za hati miliki vitabu vinalindwa kwa kipindi cha maisha ya mwandishi na kwa miaka hamsini baada ya kifo cha mwandishi. sasa sijui marehemu na warithi wake wamefaidikaje na kazi zake kwani vitabu 22 si mchezo ati.
ReplyDelete