THE LIFE & TIMES OF THE LATE SOPHIA MUSTAFA:- A TOWERING FIGURE IN OUR COUNTRY'S POLITICAL HISTORY
1. Introduction
Many Bongolanders, particularly the Dot. Com generation, have never heard of this extraordinary Iron Lady who was one of our country's First Female Trailblazers.
Ms SOPHIA was an Indian who, against all odds, refused to join the Asian Association in pre-independence Tanganyika and instead, in the 1958 General elections, vigorously campaigned in remote areas in Arusha and was consequently elected member of LEGCO via TANU. Ms SOPHIA was, subsequently, bumper to bumper with Mwalimu JK NYERERE and others in fighting for our independence. For that, Ms SOPHIA has her well-earned place in our country's history.
It is against this backdrop that today this ATIKALI chronicles the life & times of this extraordinary woman.
2. Ms SOPHIA's Birth Date & Place
Ms SOPHIA was born SOPHIA BUTT in 1922 in India.
3. Ms SOPHIA's Parents Relocate to Kenya
Immediately after she was born, MS SOPHIA's parents relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Ms SOPHIA'S EDUCATION
Ms SOPHIA was, consequently, raised and educated in Kenya.
5. MS SOPHIA TIES THE KNOT
While in Nairobi, Kenya Ms SOPHIA met and thereafter married a fellow Indian, Mr. ABDULA MUSTAFA who was a famous advocate in Nairobi.
6. Ms SOPHIA & HER HUSBAND RELOCATE TO ARUSHA
In 1948, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Advocate ABDULLAH MUSTAFA, relocated to Arusha, Tanganyika.
7. Ms SOPHIA Elected LEGCO MEMBER
General elections were held in Tanganyika in September 1958 and February 1959. These elections were held in 5 constituencies on 8.9.1958 and in the other five on 9.2.1959. The colonial Government introduced tripartite voting inwhich an eligible voter was required to vote for a White, Asian and African candidate for the same constituency. 99% of TANU candidates were male and Ms SOPHIA was one of the very few TANU female candidates.
Ms SOPHIA decided to support TANU due to a number of reasons as she narrates-
"I had great sympathy with the Africans and the way they were treated. They were even worse off than we were".
Furthermore, SOPHIA refused to join the Asian Association on the grounds that it was run on racial lines and instead she became a TANU candidate after having defeated 6 TANU male candidates. She visited remote areas in Arusha where she campaigned vigorously.
TANU won 28 of the 30 elected seats in LEGCO and Ms SOPHIA was among those who emerged victorious.
Thereafter, Ms SOPHIA worked hand in glove with Mwalimu JK NYERERE and others in fighting for independence and solving people's problems.
8. Ms SOPHIA Becomes a Tanganyikan citizen
Immediately after independence on 9.12.1961, Ms SOPHIA became a Tanganyikan citizen and also officially became a member of TANU.
In 1963, Ms SOPHIA was a nominated Member of Parliament.
9. Ms SOPHIA's HUSBAND Appointed JUDGE
In 1965, Mr. ABDULLA MUSTAFA who was a famous advocate in Arusha was appointed by H.E President JK NYERERE as High court Judge.
10. Ms SOPHIA RETIRES FROM POLITICS
After that appointment, Ms. SOPHIA decided to retire from politics in 1965.
11. Ms SOPHIA & HON. MUSTAFA RELOCATE TO DSM
After the said appointment, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Hon. Judge ABDULLAH MUSTAFA relocated to Dsm.
12. Hon. MUSTAFA APPOINTED COURT OF APPEAL JUDGE
Hon. MUSTAFA was thereafter appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal for Eastern African. When the original East African Community was abolished in 1977, so too was the court.
13. MS SOPHIA & HER HUSBAND RELOCATE TO CANADA
In 2002, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Mr. Justice MUSTAFA relocated to Canada.
14. MS SOPHIA DIES
Ms SOPHIA bid adieu to the world on 1.9.2005 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Her funeral was held on 3.9.2005 and she was buried close to her husband, Mr. Justice MUSTAFA, who had passed on in 2003.
Ms SOPHIA was survived by her three children namely Ms REHANA of New Jersey, US, Ms FAWZIA of New York, US and Mr KEMAL of Nairobi, Kenya as well as two grandchildren namely KANEEZ and DASHIEL and one great-grandson, KHAHIL.
15. CONCLUSION
Ms SOPHIA BUTT MUSTAFA was a politician of South Asian origin and one of the First Female Members of Parliament in our country. She insisted repeatedly that she considered herself Tanganyikan rather than a member of the Asian community. She was, indeed, an iconic figure whose husband was to go on to have a long and distinguished career as a Judge in East Africa.
Ms SOPHIA's entry into national politics in Tanganyika was precipitated by the colonial Government's decision to have tripartite elections in 1958 for membership in LEGCO. She was supported by JK NYERERE'S TANU party as their Asian candidate for the Nothern province and her victory in the election was achieved with an overwhelming majority.
KUDOS TO YOU-
Hon. SOPHIA BUTT MUSTAFA, YOU DESERVE A MASSIVE PAT ON THE BACK!!!
BY MZEE WA _ATIKALI ✍️✍️✍️
Many Bongolanders, particularly the Dot. Com generation, have never heard of this extraordinary Iron Lady who was one of our country's First Female Trailblazers.
Ms SOPHIA was an Indian who, against all odds, refused to join the Asian Association in pre-independence Tanganyika and instead, in the 1958 General elections, vigorously campaigned in remote areas in Arusha and was consequently elected member of LEGCO via TANU. Ms SOPHIA was, subsequently, bumper to bumper with Mwalimu JK NYERERE and others in fighting for our independence. For that, Ms SOPHIA has her well-earned place in our country's history.
It is against this backdrop that today this ATIKALI chronicles the life & times of this extraordinary woman.
2. Ms SOPHIA's Birth Date & Place
Ms SOPHIA was born SOPHIA BUTT in 1922 in India.
3. Ms SOPHIA's Parents Relocate to Kenya
Immediately after she was born, MS SOPHIA's parents relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Ms SOPHIA'S EDUCATION
Ms SOPHIA was, consequently, raised and educated in Kenya.
5. MS SOPHIA TIES THE KNOT
While in Nairobi, Kenya Ms SOPHIA met and thereafter married a fellow Indian, Mr. ABDULA MUSTAFA who was a famous advocate in Nairobi.
6. Ms SOPHIA & HER HUSBAND RELOCATE TO ARUSHA
In 1948, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Advocate ABDULLAH MUSTAFA, relocated to Arusha, Tanganyika.
7. Ms SOPHIA Elected LEGCO MEMBER
General elections were held in Tanganyika in September 1958 and February 1959. These elections were held in 5 constituencies on 8.9.1958 and in the other five on 9.2.1959. The colonial Government introduced tripartite voting inwhich an eligible voter was required to vote for a White, Asian and African candidate for the same constituency. 99% of TANU candidates were male and Ms SOPHIA was one of the very few TANU female candidates.
Ms SOPHIA decided to support TANU due to a number of reasons as she narrates-
"I had great sympathy with the Africans and the way they were treated. They were even worse off than we were".
Furthermore, SOPHIA refused to join the Asian Association on the grounds that it was run on racial lines and instead she became a TANU candidate after having defeated 6 TANU male candidates. She visited remote areas in Arusha where she campaigned vigorously.
TANU won 28 of the 30 elected seats in LEGCO and Ms SOPHIA was among those who emerged victorious.
Thereafter, Ms SOPHIA worked hand in glove with Mwalimu JK NYERERE and others in fighting for independence and solving people's problems.
8. Ms SOPHIA Becomes a Tanganyikan citizen
Immediately after independence on 9.12.1961, Ms SOPHIA became a Tanganyikan citizen and also officially became a member of TANU.
In 1963, Ms SOPHIA was a nominated Member of Parliament.
9. Ms SOPHIA's HUSBAND Appointed JUDGE
In 1965, Mr. ABDULLA MUSTAFA who was a famous advocate in Arusha was appointed by H.E President JK NYERERE as High court Judge.
10. Ms SOPHIA RETIRES FROM POLITICS
After that appointment, Ms. SOPHIA decided to retire from politics in 1965.
11. Ms SOPHIA & HON. MUSTAFA RELOCATE TO DSM
After the said appointment, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Hon. Judge ABDULLAH MUSTAFA relocated to Dsm.
12. Hon. MUSTAFA APPOINTED COURT OF APPEAL JUDGE
Hon. MUSTAFA was thereafter appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal for Eastern African. When the original East African Community was abolished in 1977, so too was the court.
13. MS SOPHIA & HER HUSBAND RELOCATE TO CANADA
In 2002, Ms SOPHIA and her husband, Mr. Justice MUSTAFA relocated to Canada.
14. MS SOPHIA DIES
Ms SOPHIA bid adieu to the world on 1.9.2005 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Her funeral was held on 3.9.2005 and she was buried close to her husband, Mr. Justice MUSTAFA, who had passed on in 2003.
Ms SOPHIA was survived by her three children namely Ms REHANA of New Jersey, US, Ms FAWZIA of New York, US and Mr KEMAL of Nairobi, Kenya as well as two grandchildren namely KANEEZ and DASHIEL and one great-grandson, KHAHIL.
15. CONCLUSION
Ms SOPHIA BUTT MUSTAFA was a politician of South Asian origin and one of the First Female Members of Parliament in our country. She insisted repeatedly that she considered herself Tanganyikan rather than a member of the Asian community. She was, indeed, an iconic figure whose husband was to go on to have a long and distinguished career as a Judge in East Africa.
Ms SOPHIA's entry into national politics in Tanganyika was precipitated by the colonial Government's decision to have tripartite elections in 1958 for membership in LEGCO. She was supported by JK NYERERE'S TANU party as their Asian candidate for the Nothern province and her victory in the election was achieved with an overwhelming majority.
KUDOS TO YOU-
Hon. SOPHIA BUTT MUSTAFA, YOU DESERVE A MASSIVE PAT ON THE BACK!!!
BY MZEE WA _ATIKALI ✍️✍️✍️
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