Haki: US national who changed his name to embrace African culture

By Anganile Mwakyanjala

Dar es Salaam. Close to a decade ago, I got an opportunity to visit the US under the Mandela Washington Fellowship program for young African leaders, popularly known as Yali. While in the US, I got to witness firsthand the archaic and misinformed depiction of Africa.

Today, I get to interview an African American entrepreneur based in Baltimore, Maryland. His Kiswahili name got me curious, and that's where we began. "Your name, Haki, means justice in the Kiswahili language. How did an American like you get that name?" I asked.

His response couldn’t have been any more fascinating. "While serving in the Navy in 1996, I changed my name to Haki Shakur Ammi. I was inspired by Haki Madhubuti, an author and poet," he shares.

He said that during the 1970s, many diaspora blacks living in America were influenced by nationalists, including Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere.

Of late, either for economic reasons or beyond that, many African countries have started marketing to African Americans to tour their nations for various reasons, with Ghana successfully launching the "Year of Return". I was curious why Haki, who has previously been to Tanzania, was keen on returning.

Haki Shakur, the President of the Teaching Artist Institute, hosted the 5th Annual Artizen Conference in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in 2020, one of the very few countries open during the Covid pandemic.

The Teaching Artist Institute came with an international delegation of 12 from the US, one from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Europe. The 2020 US elections were very divisive, and many people promised to move to a different country if their candidate lost. After the election, things seemed to have calmed down a little. However, it was no surprise that the prospect of Trump's reelection could have played a role in Haki's trip to Tanzania.

Haki is a lover of art and culture, and when asked if that was also a factor in his travel to Tanzania, he said that he conducted a "TAI Investment Tour," which was a tour through three countries. In 2020, they held an Art Tank competition in Bagamoyo for artists to compete for a chance to win $2,400, or $200 per month over 12 months. The Magamamoto from Bagamoyo, a drum and dance group, won the competition. The group not only received money and publicity but also had the opportunity to go to South Africa the following year. TAI got their passports for them and paid for their flights, rooms, food, and travel. They also visited the Tanzanian Embassy in South Africa.

In 2021, Magamamoto had the opportunity to travel to Dubai and would travel to New York and Los Angeles in the US on the Royal Tour with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Haki was thrilled. "We were pleased that our investment in our youth was recognized by President Samia Suluhu Hassan," he remarked.

As an American who frequents this region, I asked Haki Shakur his thoughts on East African countries adopting a common currency. "In terms of East Africa and its currency collectively, this is one of the reasons why we are expanding our three-country tour this year. Many African Americans and other Americans have been exposed to West Africa. President Obama, Kenya runners, President Samia’s Royal Tour, and Vice President Kamala Harris's recent trip to Tanzania have made Tanzania and Kenya a top-growing destination for many African Americans," he said.

When asked how Americans educate themselves about Africa, Haki mentioned that he was from Baltimore, the family of Kunta Kente arrived in Annapolis, MD, and that's where the popular film "Roots" came from. Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass both worked and traveled through Baltimore to free slaves that were running north. He learned about the slave trade and subsequently learned about his motherland early in his life.

Haki will be visiting Tanzania again, and this time he will be accompanied by a group of people. From June 19th to July 3rd, he will host the Summer Learning Institute, where he will bring youth to work with three Tanzanian universities: CAC (the Cultural and Arts Center) in Arusha, TaSUBa in Bagamoyo, and Rungwe International College of Business and Entrepreneurship Development in Mbeya.

They are hoping that their delegation will be able to meet some Tanzanian government officials.

Tanzania's embassy in Washington, DC, is aware of these opportunities and has held several diaspora meetings at the Tanzania House.

Haki was among the attendees at a meeting chaired by Ambassador Elsie Kanza, where she guided attendees on investing in Tanzania and highlighted profitable sectors. Haki was very pleased, saying, "Going on safari is good, but we also want to invest so we can employ our Tanzanian brothers and sisters. Many African Americans would like to invest in agriculture, housing, tourism, and education. Many black farmers are indeed interested in farming in Tanzania."

On his Tanzanian adventures, Haki remembers the short boat ride from the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, to the Spice Island of Zanzibar. He recalls how the island's historic Stone Town welcomed him with its aging colonial-era buildings that are part of the World Heritage Site and its delicious Swahili food at Forodhani Gardens as the sun set. "We always have a great time there. Zanzibar is always our last stop to relax and enjoy the beaches. So far, we've only stayed in Stone Town. Seeing all the diverse foods was educational for our tourists," he shared.

Haki is far removed from his navy life, but now he describes himself as a "success scholar." "A success scholar means a person who has studied and mastered many aspects of success," he explained.

"This is from an individual level, family, community, city, state, region, country, and global. In other words, most people desire to achieve wealth, success, and prosperity. Many only desire to do it for themselves, not their city, state, or region.

We need leaders who think globally and act locally. Although we work in eight countries, we cannot ignore the neighbors down the street who need us. It means we have to think and organize wisely to be a leader that the world emulates on these levels."

I took the time to visit his website, www.successscholarhaki.com, where I found a trove of learning materials and self-help books written by him, Les Brown, and Dr. George Fraser, who are motivational speakers.

For generations, Americans have invested in Africa and accumulated great wealth from the continent. Meanwhile, most African billionaires have generated their wealth by primarily investing in Africa as well. But Africa can benefit from investing in the West, and Haki insists that would take developing relationships. "East Africa’s one currency can be crucial, as it is a consolidated effort."

Investment starts with relationships, and as long as these Americans keep coming to Tanzania, either on safari or otherwise, we hope the relationship will lead to opening doors for much more. "This is what trade is about.

No one country has everything, but this is why we must learn what to trade with the US. With one currency, it’s easier for these three countries to sell to the US as a group. We hope to open those conversations in the US," Haki said with a positive outlook.