Tanzanians Urged to Embrace Bibi Titi’s Legacy

Tanzanians have been urged to honour the legacy of the late Bibi Titi Mohamed a national heroine, political trailblazer, and tireless advocate for women’s rights whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for female and youth leadership in the country.

The appeal was made during the National Dialogue on Civic Engagement through Storytelling and Emerging Technologies, held midweek in Morogoro. The event brought together civic actors, government representatives, young leaders, and gender advocates to reflect on the role of narrative in shaping inclusive democratic societies.

Organised by local civil society organisation YOGE (Youth Environmental Justice and Gender Equality) in collaboration with ONAStories, the event emphasized how storytelling, when paired with emerging technologies such as podcasts, digital video, and social media, can empower underrepresented groups and elevate civic participation.

Speaking during the event, YOGE Executive Director Advocate Philomena Mwalongo described Bibi Titi as a fearless and strategic leader who broke gender barriers at a time when few women had a public voice.

“Her courage gave women and youth across Tanzania a path to leadership and decision-making,” said Mwalongo. “Her work was about more than politics — it was about building a fair and inclusive society.”

Bibi Titi Mohamed was a key figure in Tanzania’s independence movement. She helped mobilise thousands of women in support of Julius Nyerere and the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in the 1950s, playing a vital role in the push to end colonial rule.

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After independence, she served as Minister without Portfolio and was a key voice in national efforts toward gender equality and civic education.

At the event, participants explored the transformative power of digital tools in driving engagement. Discussions included:

Preserving oral history through podcasting
Using social media for civic mobilisation
Promoting youth leadership
Addressing barriers to women in politics

“With digital storytelling, we can reclaim our past and reimagine our future,” said one youth activist. “Our voices matter, and tech allows us to amplify them.”

The dialogue encouraged young people to embrace Bibi Titi’s legacy not just as history, but as a call to action — to lead with courage, build inclusive institutions, and speak out against inequality.

As Tanzania continues to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) — leaders called for more investment in civic education and technology access.

Participants proposed integrating Bibi Titi’s story into school curricula, building more platforms for civic storytelling, and protecting space for women and youth to contribute to public life.