Zanzibar's Second Vice President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, announced the death of Mama Fatma Karume on September 21, 2026. She passed away at her home in Mbweni on the night of September 21, 2026. According to Mr. Hemed, her funeral was held on Tuesday at 4 pm at the family cemetery in Mbweni. The announcement was made as the nation mourned the loss of a prominent figure in Zanzibar's history.
Mama Karume was born on February 2, 1929, in Bumbwini Misufini, North Unguja Region. She was the daughter of Gulamhussein Ismail and Mwanasha Mbwana Ramadhani, both natives of Bumbwini. She received her primary education at Bumbwini School and married a year after completing her studies. Her upbringing in an environment shaped by religious values and Zanzibari culture influenced her principles and wisdom.
Mama Karume married Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, a senior leader of the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), who became Zanzibar's first President following the 1964 Revolution. As Zanzibar's First Lady, she supported her husband during a period of significant change, including the establishment of the new government and the formation of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The couple had children who later held senior public positions.
Following Sheikh Karume's assassination on April 7, 1972, Mama Karume endured a difficult period but continued her life as the widow of Zanzibar's first President. She was among the living witnesses to the 1964 Revolution and later recalled the challenges her family faced after her husband's death. The family received comfort from Mwalimu Julius Nyerere during that time.
Throughout the years, Mama Karume remained a prominent figure in Zanzibar, regarded as a symbol of unity and stability. In her later years, she faced health challenges associated with advanced age and received treatment at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam and Lumumba Hospital in Zanzibar. Several national leaders visited her during her illness, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Mama Karume was widely recognised as the Mother of Zanzibar and remained a respected figure in the country's public life. Until her death, she was regarded as a figure of wisdom and an adviser to senior leaders. Her death marks the passing of a woman whose life was closely connected to some of the defining moments in Zanzibar's modern political history.
Mama Karume is survived by her children and other family members, including Amani Abeid Karume, who became Zanzibar's sixth President, and Ali Karume, who served as a diplomat and ambassador. The government had previously assured that it would continue caring for widows of retired leaders as part of honouring their contribution to nation-building.
Key points
- Mama Fatma Karume, widow of Zanzibar's first President, has died aged 97.
- She was a prominent figure in Zanzibar's history, closely connected to the 1964 Revolution and the establishment of the post-revolution government.
- Mama Karume was widely recognised as the Mother of Zanzibar and remained a respected figure in the country's public life until her death.
