Ebrahim Hussein facts for kids

Ebrahim Hussein is a famous writer from Tanzania, born in 1943 in Lindi, a town in what was then Tanganyika Territory. He is known for writing plays and poems. His first play, Kinjeketile (1969), was written in the Swahili language. It tells the story of Kinjikitile Ngwale, a leader of the Maji Maji Rebellion. This play is seen as a very important moment in Tanzanian theatre.

Hussein's writing is part of a special tradition that uses Swahili, the national language of Tanzania. This tradition grew after Tanzania became independent from the United Kingdom in 1961. Most of his works, except for Kinjeketile and one other play, have not been translated into other languages. Because of this, his work is not very well known outside of East Africa.

The Amazing Plays of Ebrahim Hussein

Ebrahim Hussein was born in 1943 in Lindi, a town on the Swahili coast by the Indian Ocean. He went to school in Dar es Salaam and then studied French literature and theatre at the University College Dar es Salaam. His plays became important after Tanzania gained independence from Great Britain in 1961. In 1964, Swahili was chosen as Tanzania's national language. This helped new plays to be written that mixed old Swahili traditions with European theatre styles.

Early Plays and New Ideas

While still a student in 1967, Hussein wrote his first short plays: Wakati Ukuta (meaning Time is a Wall) and Alikiona (meaning Consequences). These plays explored the differences between older and younger generations. They also looked at social problems caused by colonialism, which is when one country takes control of another.

Hussein used some ideas from European theatre, like the "picture-frame stage" (a stage that looks like a picture frame). But he was also very interested in traditional African theatre and what local audiences expected. Some of his plays, like Alikiona, included kichekesho, which are funny parts often found in taarab music shows. In other plays, Hussein used traditional Swahili storytelling called hadithi.

Kinjeketile: A National Story

In 1969, Hussein wrote his first full-length play, Kinjeketile. It was based on the life of Kinjikitile Ngwale, a key figure in the Maji Maji uprising against German colonial rule. A professor from East Germany, Joachim Fiebach, directed the play. Kinjeketile became a great example for new theatre in East Africa.

Hussein used ideas from epic theatre, a style developed by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Over the years, Kinjeketile became like a national epic for Tanzania. It was one of the first plays in East Africa to show pride against colonial rule. More than 20,000 copies of the play were sold, and it was even used as a textbook in schools in the 1970s. Hussein himself translated Kinjeketile into English, making it known in other countries.

Later Works and Poetry

In the early 1970s, Hussein studied in East Berlin. He wrote his PhD about the history of theatre in East Africa. Other plays he wrote include Mashetani (1971), which was a very political play. Jogoo Kijijini (1976) was an experiment in how plays could be performed. Arusi (1980) showed his main character feeling disappointed with Tanzania's socialist ideas, known as ujamaa.

Hussein also wrote poetry in free verse, which was a new style for Swahili literature. His poems were also widely read in schools and universities. His works, written in a modern and poetic style, became a guide for Tanzania's cultural policies. Even though his heroes sometimes had doubts, his writing was seen as a model.

In 1975, he started teaching theatre at the University of Dar es Salaam. He also led their theatre group for a while. He taught as a professor until 1986. Since then, he has lived a quiet life in his home.

Ebrahim Hussein's Plays

The Story of Ngao ya Jadi

Hussein's play Ngao ya Judi is a play for one actor. It tells the story of a giant snake named Sesota that scares a village. A young farmer is called to defeat Sesota. The farmer succeeds, and the village celebrates. But over time, the bad things the snake brought back start to grow again, making the village worse. Eventually, Sesota returns, and no one is left to fight him.

This play is a new version of an old Swahili folk story. In Hussein's play, Sesota represents colonialism, which the farmer tries hard to fight. Hussein shows how the effects of colonialism can still remain. He suggests that too much Western influence on African culture can bring back bad things. The story also shows that the world isn't always about "good versus evil," but can be more complicated.

One interesting part is when the village celebrates after Sesota's defeat. The play lists names of famous African writers and artists. Here, Hussein seems to be saying that artists sometimes only create during happy times, instead of using their art to fight against unfairness.

Awards and Fellowships Honoring Ebrahim Hussein

Ebrahim Hussein's work has inspired others to create awards and fellowships in his name.

Ebrahim Hussein Poetry Prize

The Ebrahim Hussein Poetry Prize is an award given every year since 2014. It goes to the winner of a poetry contest. This contest was started by Safarani Seushi, following the wish of a Canadian filmmaker named Gerald Belkin (1940–2012). Belkin wanted to create this award, named after his friend Professor Ebrahim Hussein, to help Swahili writers grow their careers. The winning poems were published in a book called Diwani ya tunzo ya ushairi ya Ebrahim Hussein in 2017.

Ebrahim Hussein Fellowship

The Ebrahim Hussein Endowment is a special fund for research about African cultures. It was set up in 2003 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States. This was made possible by Robert M. Philipson, a former student. Each year, the university gives up to $7,500 to graduate students. This money helps them do research on African cultures and historical records outside of the United States. One of the winners of this fellowship is Vincent Ogoti, a playwright from Kenya.