The man behind the creation of the name ‘Tanzania,’ Mr Mohammed Iqbal Dar, has passed away at the age of 80 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, where he had lived since relocating from Tanzania in 1965.
His death follows a long battle with illness that lasted nearly 10 years, during which he was confined to his home, unable to walk.
In earlier interviews with journalists, Iqbal shared the story of how then aged 18 years, he came up with the name ‘Tanzania.’ He explained that, with God’s guidance, the process was simple. He combined the first three letters of Tanganyika (TAN) and Zanzibar (ZAN), and then added an “I” from his own name, Iqbal, and his faith in Islam.
Finally, remembering his affiliation with the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect, he added an “A” to honour the sect, forming the name ‘Tanzania.’
History shows that 80 citizens participated in the competition, and Iqbal was declared winner.
Throughout his life, Iqbal maintained a deep love for his homeland, and the name he gave to the country remains a lasting legacy of his contribution to Tanzania’s history.
Born on August 8, 1944, in Tanga, Iqbal was the son of Dr Tufail Ahmad Dar, a well-known doctor who served in the Tanga and Morogoro regions of Tanzania.
Iqbal received his education at H.H. The Aga Khan School for his primary and secondary schooling and later attended Mzumbe Secondary School in 1964.
While studying at Mzumbe, he came across an advertisement in The Standard newspaper, calling for people to submit ideas for a new name for the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
In a remarkable turn of events, Iqbal’s submission was selected as the winning idea, earning him a Tsh200 award and a medal, which was presented by the then Minister for Information, Sheikh Idrisa Abdul Wakil.
Though he moved to the United Kingdom, Iqbal never lost his connection to Tanzania. He made several visits back to the country, contributing to various humanitarian efforts, irrespective of religious backgrounds.
He was also a regular attendee of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jalsa Salana, an annual event held in Tanzania.