Why the 'misuse' of mama's name must be controlled
What you need to know:
- Sometimes, legacy is louder when it whispers.
We love Mama. Truly. She’s got grace, grit, and that rare ability to speak softly while shaking things up.
From The Royal Tour to her no-drama leadership style, she’s the cool aunt every country wishes it had. But here’s the question that keeps me up at night... Must every project in Tanzania be named after her?
No, really, let’s talk. We’ve got the Mama Cup (sports), Mama Serengeti Festival (music), Mama Kalam Awards (journalism), and now the Tanzania ya Mama (tourism).
If someone announces Mama Samosa Week or Mama Swag Sundays, I won’t even be shocked.
Don’t get me wrong... credit is due. Mama’s actually been showing up, supporting creatives, attending events, and investing in youth.
She’s not just the “cut-the-ribbon-and-disappear” type. She’s present, and she’s making an impact. No arguments there.
But this trend is turning into a naming Olympics.
It’s like if your event doesn’t start with “Mama”, it won’t get sponsors, airtime, or even a Facebook post. It’s giving, “If it’s not branded, it’s not blessed.” Meanwhile, our beautiful Swahili names... Swahili Sounds, Ngoma Zetu, Bongo Bash are out here jobless, just waiting for a chance.
Also, Tanzanians remember everything. We still refer to “Maji ya Kandoro” like it’s a company name. Mama’s impact will be felt and remembered, with or without a branding spree.
Even if an event is named Kisima Carnival, we’ll know who gave it life.
And let’s not forget the real chaos... what happens when the next president rolls in? Will we have to rename everything to fit the new administration? Fatma Fiesta? Tanzania ya Nyasa?
It’s giving expensive rebranding drama, and our budgets are already crying.
So let’s show Mama love, absolutely. Let her name shine, but maybe not on every t-shirt, festival, and football trophy.
Let projects earn their own clout. Let names come from creativity, not just courtesy.
Because Mama? She’s already flying high. She doesn’t need every event carrying her name like a handbag.
Sometimes, legacy is louder when it whispers.
