List of Tanzanians

This is a list of notable people from Tanzania.

Artists

 * George Lilanga (1934–2005), Makonde artist
 * Simon Rieber (born 1994), Visual artist

Business people

 * Jayantilal Chande (1928–2017), businessman and philanthropist
 * Reginald Mengi (c.1943–2019)
 * Ali Mufuruki (1959–2019)
 * Mohammed Dewji (born 1975)

Fashion

 * Mustafa Hassanali (born 1980), fashion designer
 * Nancy Sumari (born 1986), Miss Tanzania 2005
 * Flaviana Matata (born 1987), fashion

Human rights

 * Kinjikitile Ngwale (died 1905), medium and leader of the Maji Maji Rebellion
 * John Okello (1937–1971), revolutionary
 * Anna Tibaijuka (born 1950), Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
 * Frederick Werema (born 1954), former attorney general of Tanzania
 * Salma Kikwete (born 1963), wife of President Jakaya Kikwete
 * Rakesh Rajani (born 1966), world civil society leader
 * Geline Fuko (born c.1980), lawyer and human rights activist
 * Maria Sarungi Tsehai, activist

Media

 * Benjamin Fernandes (born 1992), TV presenter and public speaker
 * Sajjad Fazel, (born 1991), health researcher and columnist

Musicians

 * Siti binti Saad (1880–1950), Taarab singer
 * Bi Kidude (c. 1910s–2013), Zanzibari Taarab singer
 * Hukwe Zawose (1938–2003), singer
 * Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), lead singer of Queen
 * George Kinyonga (died 1992), Kenyan/Tanzanian musician
 * Daniel Owino Misiani (1940–2006), Kenyan/Tanzanian benga musician
 * Cool James (1970–2002), rapper
 * Joseph Mbilinyi (Mr. II) (born 1972), rapper
 * Imani Sanga (born 1972), composer and ethnomusicologist
 * Joseph Haule (Professor Jay) (born 1975), rapper
 * Rose Mhando (born 1976), gospel singer
 * Saida Karoli (born 1976), singer
 * Lady Jaydee (born 1979), pop singer
 * Dully Sykes (born 1981), rapper
 * Tumi Molekane (born 1981), South African/Tanzanian rapper
 * Ray C (born 1982), artist, singer-songwriter
 * Nakaaya Sumari (born 1982), model and singer
 * Baby Madaha (born 1988), singer
 * Diamond Platnumz (born 1989), artist, songwriter and dancer
 * Bill Nass (born 1993), rapper
 * Ali Kiba (born 1980), artist, singer-songwriter, dancer and actor
 * Nahreel (born 1989), producer, artist in Navy Kenzo Duo group
 * Harmonize (born 1991), musician
 * Jay Moe (born 1978), rapper
 * Mimi Mars (born 1992), singer and actress
 * Lava Lava (born 1993), singer
 * Aslay (born 1995), singer
 * Barnaba Classic, singer-songwriter
 * Lucas Mkenda, singer
 * Darassa, rapper
 * Albert Mangwea, rapper
 * Abby Chams, singer and social activist
 * RJ The DJ, (born 1988), DJ, singer and actor
 * Gigy Money, (born 1998), singer and socialite

Politicians

 * Paul Bomani (1925–2005), ambassador
 * Bibi Titi Mohammed (1926–1963), founding member of the Tanganyika African National Union
 * Anna Abdallah (born 1940), Member of Parliament
 * Gertrude Mongella (born 1945), president of the Pan-African Parliament
 * Juma Jamaldin Akukweti (1947–2007), Member of Parliament
 * William F. Shija (1947–2014), member of the National Assembly of Tanzania from 1990 to 2005
 * Ali Tarab Ali (born 1947), Member of Parliament
 * Ali Haji Ali (born 1948), Member of Parliament
 * Jakaya Kikwete (born 1950), President of Tanzania from 2005 to 2015
 * Fatma Ali (born 1950), Member of Parliament
 * Mohamed Rished Abdallah (born 1952), Member of Parliament
 * Mohammed Abdi Abdulaziz (born 1958), Member of Parliament
 * Khadija Salum Ally Al-Qassmy (born 1958), Member of Parliament
 * Freeman Mbowe (born 14 September 1961), leader of CHADEMA
 * Ameir Ali Ameir (born 1961), Member of Parliament
 * Ame Pandu Ame (born 1963), Member of Parliament
 * Bahati Ali Abeid (born 1967), Member of Parliament
 * Joseph Kakunda (born 1968), Minister of Trade, MP
 * Maida Abdallah (born 1970), Member of Parliament
 * Bahati Ndingo (born 1985), Member of Parliament
 * Aziza Sleyum Ally, Member of Parliament
 * Remidus E. Kissassi, member of the African Union's Pan-African Parliament
 * Tatu Mussa Ntimizi, Member of Parliament 1990–2010
 * Patrick Chokala, ambassador to Russia
 * Rashid Abdalla Rashid (born 1973), Member of Parliament

Religion

 * Laurean Rugambwa (1912–1997), cardinal, archbishop of Dar es Salaam
 * Polycarp Pengo (born 1944), cardinal, archbishop of Dar es Salaam
 * Kumayl Alloo, Tanzanian-American Qari

Royalty

 * Mirambo (1840–1884), Nyamwezi royal
 * Emily Ruete (Sayyida Salme) (1844–1924), Princess of Zanzibar
 * Chief Mkwawa (1855–1898), Hehe chief
 * Mangi Meli, Chagga royal who was executed by German colonialists in 1900
 * Ngalami, Chagga royal who was executed by Germans in 1900
 * Abdullah bin Khalifa of Zanzibar (1910–1963), tenth Sultan of Zanzibar
 * Thomas Marealle (1915–2007), Paramount Chief of the Chagga people
 * Rengua, Chagga royal of Machame
 * Kimweri, King of the Shambaa

Scientists

 * Myles Turner (1921–1984), warden of the Serengeti National Park
 * Adelaida K. Semesi (1951–2001), marine scientist and mangrove ecologist
 * Joyce Kinabo (born 1955), food scientist and researcher

Sportspeople

 * Hasheem Thabeet (born 1986), basketball player
 * Martin Kolikoli (born 1989), basketball player
 * Feisal Salum (born 1998), footballer
 * Mbwana Ally Samatta (born 1993), football player
 * Erasto Nyoni (born 2000), football player

Writers

 * Shaaban bin Robert (1909–1962), poet, author, essayist
 * Mathias E. Mnyampala (1917–1969), lawyer, writer, and poet
 * Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), politician, writer, philosopher
 * Muhammed Said Abdulla (1918–1991), journalist and novelist
 * Justinian Rweyemamu (1942–1982), economist, mathematician and writer
 * Euphrase Kezilahabi (1944–2020), novelist and poet
 * Amandina Lihamba (born 1944), playwright
 * Leonard Shayo (born 1948), writer, mathematician, columnist
 * Godfrey Mwakikagile (born 1949), writer, scholar and specialist in Africa Studies
 * Richard Mabala (born 1949), writer of short stories, columnist and poet
 * Julius Nyang'oro (born 1954), writer, political scientist and legal scholar
 * Josiah Kibira (1960-2021), writer, director and businessman
 * Christopher Mwashinga (born 1965), writer and poet
 * Fadhy Mtanga (born 1981), writer, poet, photographer and blogger
 * Joseph Marwa (born 1999), novelist, poet and actor
 * Sandra A. Mushi, interior designer, published author, poet
 * Nahida Esmail, writer of short stories and social activist