In the beginning…
Kids of Kusini Secondary School, Makunduchi, Zanzibar, Tanzania. (2021)
// The purpose of life is a life full of purpose //
My journey in Tanzania began in Makunduchi, Zanzibar. It was March 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I arrived at Kusini Secondary School to help African children. By then, I had already visited more than 30 countries worldwide and completed an internship at the United Nations. However, my lucid dreams of changing the world for the better were crushed by bureaucratic realities. That was when I decided to take a different approach—to start not from above, but from the ground up. My starting point was Kusini Secondary School.
I was blessed with a three-month experience working in a government school—interacting with children, teachers, and the community. I taught a lot and learned even more. Interestingly, I came to teach English, but none of my pupils knew the language, and I didn’t know Swahili. The common ground I discovered was drawing and painting. Soon, I realized that art was a powerful tool in education and in shaping young minds—a tool that, unfortunately, was absent from the school curriculum.
This experience made me realize I wanted to stay in Tanzania. My path took me to the tourism industry, where I started managing a resort in Zanzibar. Yet, I never forgot my Makunduchi roots and began plotting ways to continue making an impact.
The resort was on the west coast of Unguja, not far from Stone Town. After a year, I noticed the ocean was becoming increasingly polluted. More and more plastic washed ashore, and monthly beach clean-ups were no longer sufficient. I realized many locals still believed that throwing litter into the ocean would somehow make it disappear. This terrified me. I couldn’t sleep, consumed by one question: “How can I change the mindset of an entire nation and teach them proper waste disposal?” The answer came quickly: “Start with the children.”
I wanted to create something entertaining and educational at the same time. That’s how I came up with the idea of a coloring book and a local hero who could inspire kids to become better human beings.
Thus, Mu The Star was born—a local hero doing great things in Zanzibar. Many people ask about the name. Why Mu? I wanted every child who read the story to see themselves in it. Mu could be Mohammed, Mustafa, Muntazir, Munira—Mu is you, Mu is me, Mu is us.
The first book focused on ocean pollution. Okoa Bahari Yetu (Save Our Ocean) tells the story of Mu saving the ocean with the help of Zanzibari kids. Once the book was complete, I presented it to the Minister of Education of Zanzibar, Hon. Lela Muhamed Mussa. She loved the idea and even encouraged me to create more books.
Four more stories followed:
Karibuni Zanzibar (Welcome to Zanzibar), where Mu introduces the beautiful archipelago.
Tulinde Paka Wetu (Let’s Protect Our Cats), where he advocates for street cats.
Safari ya Kwanza (The First Safari), where he embarks on an adventure to see the Big Five animals.
Shabiki wa Mpira (Football Fan), where he plays the beloved game of football.
After creating the books, a friend from the hotel industry remarked, “Wow! This is a great initiative to promote tourism and represent Zanzibar. Translate them into English—I’d be happy to sell them in our hotel.” In just a few days, the English versions were ready. To ensure accuracy, I asked my former UN colleague and Cambridge alumna, Ms. Milica Apostolovich, to proofread them, and Mrs. Arsheen kindly revised the grammar.
The next step was navigating the rules and regulations of publishing. I registered the copyrights, trademark, and ISBN numbers. Fortunately, when people see a great cause, they help wholeheartedly. I was blessed that this process went smoothly.
Vision for 2025
Now, I am building my vision for the future:
Distribute 3,000 book sets in government schools across Zanzibar.
Sell 3,000 book sets in hotels, shops, and airports in Zanzibar.
Open an art school in the heart of Stone Town.
Build an art center in Kama village that will:
Serve as the foundation’s headquarters.
Host international volunteers.
Provide a platform for artistic workshops and events.
Offer art education to local children.
Dream big, and let your dreams lead you to where you are meant to be.