It is with deep sadness that I received the news of Chaiba Kombo’s passing. Having known her for many years, there is no doubt that she was a dedicated writer who was very committed to developing her craft. In Tanzania today, where there is so much hype and excitement about a film industry, it is probably worth reflecting on why an individual like Chaiba, dedicated to education and professional development in her chosen field, found so little opportunity or support for her work.
Chaiba Kombo was born in Kigoma in the western region of Tanzania on 31st August 1966. She grew up in Mombasa, Kenya with her father who was a surveyor and a game warden. There, particularly during the school holidays between 1970 and 1985, she learned much about the forest and wildlife in the Shimba Hills and Tsavo National Park. She attended school at Kinango Full Primary [1974-1980] and Matuga Girls High School [1981-1982].
Chaiba’s talent for performing arts and writing emerged in 1981. As a participant in the national competition her play became the second award winner of that year. Following high school, she took secretarial studies at the Institute of Sales Promotion and was awarded certificates in English, Telephone Operating and typing in 1983. She later worked as a secretary and a telephone operator at the Flamingo Trading Company [1983 – 1986], and the Vatican City Hotel [1987-1989].
Between 1990 and 1993, while working with an American PhD candidate as the research assistant for her work on the history of Kigoma, Chaiiba began writing a novel ‘about my history’. She also began writing for newspapers including Nipashe and Lete Raha. In 1998 she joined the CTN Cable Vision as a producer of a TV play Mahari. This also opened new opportunities to become involved with filmmaking. These included participating in workshops at ZIFF in Zanzibar which she attended regularly, and other similar events across East Africa.
Since then, and inspired by the ZIFF programmes, Chaiba has produced radio plays, including the popular Angalia for Radio Tanzania, funded by DFID and Care International; and a ten-minute TV play Youth and AIDS in 1999 which won a UNAID Award in 2000. Chaiba was also a regular participant in Tanzania Screenwriters Forum and a member of Tanzania Independent Producers Association [TAIPA].
She produced a new version of Mahari in 2001 for DTV and continued to write stories and develop screenplays. Two of her original stories were produced for the African Tales short film series: The Prisoner became Siku ya Kustaafu/Retirement Day [2008] directed by James Gayo; and The Will became Wosia [2005] directed by Neema Kambona. She also co-wrote the screenplay for another film in the series, Mawazo [2008] directed by Nina Mnaya; and was an Assistant Director on Beatrix Mugishagwe’s award winning feature film Tumaini [2005].
Chaiba Kombo was not necessarily concerned with ‘red carpets’ or making newspaper headlines. She wanted to be a writer of the highest professional standard. She also wanted to tell her ‘Kigoma story’. She always said that the passion which drove her to write was her belief that Tanzania had too many untold stories and a rich history that was unknown to most of the population. She wanted to tell those stories and to see them in the cinema.
On behalf of Tanzania Independent Producers Association [TAIPA]
Imruh Bakari
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