Bibi Titi Mohammed: The Woman Who Gave Women a Voice in Tanzania

Early Life: A Girl with Big Dreams Bibi Titi Mohammed was born in June 1926 in Dar es Salaam, during a time when girls were rarely sent to school. Her father, a traditional Matumbi Muslim, believed that education would lead her away from her faith. But after he passed away, her mother made a life-changing decision—she enrolled young Titi in school. That choice gave Bibi Titi the foundation to dream big, fight for women’s rights, and play a key role in Tanzania’s independence. Marriage and Motherhood At just 14 years old, Bibi Titi was married to a much older man. The marriage didn't last long, ending shortly after the birth of her daughter, Halima. As a mother, she was determined that her daughter would finish school before thinking of marriage, something she herself never got the chance to do. Later, she remarried twice, but both marriages ended in divorce. Her ideals, strength, and growing involvement in politics made it difficult for her to stay within the boundaries society exp...