Meet Jeff Msangi, a Tanzanian pioneer blogger, author and communication specialist residing in Canada

The era of legacy media dominance was to be forever altered and Jeff Msangi was one of the early disruptors who took advantage of the digital age.

Jeff, a Tanzanian who moved to Canada in the early 2000s, has been writing for over a decade, previously writing for Tanzania Daima, a Kiswahili tabloid.

In his column, he would write about topical news in Canada and about Canadian lifestyles.

He would compare Tanzanian lifestyles to what the outcome would be if we adopted Canadian practices.

“I was trying to show Tanzanians that not all of our cultural norms are bad and we do not need to copy whatever the West is doing,” he said.

His unique perspectives on life in Canada garnered him a huge readership.

Amidst the advent of blog sites in Tanzania, newspaper sales dwindled, and Jeff’s years of writing for Tanzania Daima ended.

Jeff had been introduced to blogging by Ndesanjo Macha.

Together, they formed a group, which he described as a citizen journalism movement.

They would later meet at Harvard University in the US, where they participated in the strategy session ahead of the launch of the Kiswahili version of Wikipedia.

“The University of California, Berkeley, was also involved. We felt it would be a disservice if we did not have a Kiswahili Wikipedia, since the language is growing fast and taught in many prestigious universities in the West,” he said.

One of his fondest memories as a blogger and Kiswahili Wikipedia digital journalist was his interview with Alex Nyirenda, the hero who hoisted the Tanzanian flag on top of Mt Kilimanjaro on Independence Day on December 9, 1961.

“In most of these stories, we did our part in preserving Tanzanian history for future generations,” he pointed out.

Later, the popularity of blog sites declined with the explosion of social media. Most bloggers would also move to social media.

However, the bloggers got less creative in their writing, and modern blogs evolved into websites and mobile apps.

Jeff didn’t put down his pen but concentrated on being an author and released his new book, Painted in Love.

The book title suggests a love story, but it diverges from that expectation.

It speaks of Tanzanian traditions and culture, from marriage rituals to family dynamics.

In the same book, he introduces the reader to Tanzania, from the tourist attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro to the popular landmarks like the Kariakoo market in Dar es Salaam.

“People who have read the book and have never been to Tanzania are now curious to go and see the places I describe in the book. Some want to go as tourists to the places I mentioned and some want to go and recreate a wedding ceremony I wrote about in the book.”

His other book, Life and Death of an Emperor, is in the pipeline. It is a book that will tackle Tanzania’s political history and look at what proudly unites us as a nation.

Nowadays, writers have more platforms to reach their audience, and social media has played a huge role in that, Jeff says.

But he is wary of the toxic culture and how young people in Tanzania deliver their grievances.

“The language young people use on social media is alarming. There are ways you can deliver your point of view and remain civil,” he remarks.

He further advises leaders to explore more effective means of communicating with the younger generation, recognising the fact that they are better educated than youth in previous generations.

It’s crucial to approach their concerns, particularly regarding unemployment, with caution and understanding.

“The recent Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report that revealed public finance mismanagement created a lot of chatter on social media, but no one has been arrested. Imagine you are an educated youth but jobless, living with your brother-in-law. That is the foundation of hate for leaders that spews into social media rants,” he said.

Jeff believes that the media should remain steadfast as the fourth estate and not be affiliated with any political party.

He warns journalists against excessively praising politicians, as this can lead to a loss of objectivity and impartial reporting.

He emphasises that a writer should consistently address people’s struggles, from issues like water scarcity to broader social challenges.

It’s imperative to hold the government accountable and ensure they remain vigilant in serving the best interests of the populace.

“I’ve observed numerous media outlets engaging in self-censorship, which undermines the progress of the profession,” he said.

During his tenure in Tanzania, Jeff would often gather with friends at their cherished spots to engage in discussions about daily life and share stories.

He notes that social media has now become akin to those street corners where people would convene, facilitating a plethora of discussions and interactions.

The potential of those discussions on social media to become positive is there if the Tanzanian youth decide to.

“I have seen so many positive engagements on social media that have turned beneficial for young people, but there is also a lot of irrational anger that young people have,” he mentioned.

There is a way one can organise his delivery while keeping his emotions in check and that is what makes a good writer.

The book Painted in Love was released in December last year in Canada on paperback and soft copies. It will be available in Tanzania later this year and he expects to donate some books to educational institutions to encourage the reading culture in Tanzania.

“The best way to preserve our history is through books and my book is in paperback and digital format, and soon there will be an audio version,” he concluded.