Young prodigy Georgina champions Tanzanian culture through inspiring book-writing talent

Dar es Salaam .Georgina Magesa (10), a student at Hodari Primary School in Dar es Salaam, has embarked on a journey to fulfill her life’s dream by writing five books, stating that her goal is to promote Tanzanian culture abroad.

Georgina, whose fifth book was launched today, February 27, 2025, by the French Ambassador to Tanzania, Anne Sophie, titled "Georgina in Zanzibar," stated that the book highlights Tanzanian culture, written in the French language.

"I wrote the book in French to share my experience of Tanzania's culture and its environment, and I believe other children will be inspired by this book to visit Tanzania," she said.

Georgina mentioned that other books she has written at different times include Georgina and the Environment, written in Braille to enable visually impaired readers to read fluently.

Other books are My Journey to Meet the President, I Am a Grateful Lioness, and the latest one, Georgina at the Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

During the launch of the book, Ambassador Anne stated that it is a significant achievement for a 10-year-old to write a book in French, emphasizing the importance of promoting the language as it opens up many opportunities for those who are proficient in it.

She added that anything that can bring Tanzanians and the French together, whether through music, dance, or writing, is important.

"We have many countries that speak French, and if a person is proficient in the language, they will open up many opportunities for themselves. However, regardless of the situation, being multilingual paves the way for success," she said.

On her part, the Headteacher of Hodari Christian School, Julieth Mugishangwe, stated the school focuses on nurturing children's talents.

"For students from grades one to three, we have a reading and interpretation program, alongside fostering curiosity in various subjects. We also have an excellent library that encourages children to read, and these programs are regularly updated," she said.

The owner of Hodari Christian School, Raheli Mugishangwe, explained that the methods they use to nurture talent at the school involve providing students with various writing and hands-on programs.

"We assign tasks such as researching the history of a particular country, marine life, and writing short reports. This is something students start doing as early as grade one. By engaging in these activities at a young age, they develop writing skills while being guided until grade six," she said.

She further mentioned that the school offers an enriched curriculum that enables children to learn practical skills such as cooking, poultry farming, and tree planting.

Raheli mentioned that last year, the students raised 400 chickens at the school and sold them to parents, who purchased them, and the children were involved in the slaughtering process.

The Chairman of the school's board, Jacob Kahemele, stated that children are capable of doing things that in the past, parents believed could only be done when they were adults.

"Georgina has written a book, not only in French but also in Braille. What does this mean? One doesn’t need to be of a certain age to begin contributing to society. Therefore, it is important for parents to create an environment that allows children to pursue their dreams," he said.

Meanwhile, the child's mother, Mary Deodatus, mentioned that her daughter loves reading books and always ensures she has books written in French, hinting that her daughter has big dreams for the family.