THE STORY OF A MAN

- JUMA REGINALD SAWAYA MAWALLA -

 Contents

Prologue 7
Foreword 13
Introduction 17
Juma Mawalla the Boy 25
Juma Mawalla the Young Man 35
Juma Mawalla the Lawyer 89
Juma Mawalla the Man 103
Epilogue 147

Narrated by Nyaga Paul Mawalla and Eric Sikujua Ng’maryo,

Compiled and Edited by Vivian Ngowi,
Written by Paul Clingman
Designed by HKLM Group.

© Copyright 2011
PROLOGUE
 - OPENING STATEMENT -

There comes a time in one’s life, when looking forward must

be balanced with looking back. History, and the roots of
one’s heritage are as important as any dreams, hopes and
achievements on which one may set one’s eyes.

The life of Juma Mawalla, so productive, that records his life in pictures, that
so full of accomplishment and recognition, acknowledges the leadership, vision
is for his family, an exemplary one. Not and spirit of a true patriarch.
only does it set a standard and serve as
Juma Mawalla, we thank you for the
a foundation for all those who follow him,
towering example you have been to your
but it embodies and distils the values,
family and to many others beyond it, and
traditions and pioneering spirit of a family
it is with a sense of great honour, humility
that since early times, has made its mark
and privilege that we dedicate this book
on society.
to the lifetime achievements of not only
It is out of reverence and respect, a great man, but a father as well.
admiration and appreciation for the life
of Juma Mawalla, that we, his family,
have embarked on this project, a book

-9-
 - OPENING STATEMENT -

There are women who step forward to lead by example, who

influence those around them, guiding their thought and action,
bringing to bear all the gravity of their spiritual understanding
and practical abilities so that their families may flourish.

There are women who as much in their Just such a woman is Damari Ndowo
silences as in their words, exemplify Mawalla, wife of Sawaya, mother of Juma,
strength, purpose and wisdom, giving and grandmother to Nyaga, beloved
with all their hearts everything they can so of all three. And it is to her, with love,
that those who follow will walk along the respect and appreciation, that this
paths they have walked. There are women book is dedicated.
who with generosity of spirit stand in the
background, as those who are dear to
them map out success and achievement
and make their mark in the world. There
are women, who, even in this company,
stand out for their steadfastness,
determination and character.

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FORWARD
 - FOREWORD -

It is with great pleasure that I have been given the honour to

write the Foreword to this very unique “Story of a Man”. It is an
honour first of all because the work is about a man I have known
for more than fifty years. Secondly, it is the dedication of a son
writing about his father – absolutely fantastic!

I first met Juma Reginald Sawaya Mawalla Nyaga is an extraordinary young man who
in London in 1958. He had come from has done extremely well at a very young
India where he had been pursuing law age. His love for his parents is passionate,
studies and had decided to complete as is evidenced by his idea of writing
those studies in England. I had come about his father. The work itself shows
from Makerere University where I had careful planning over a long period.
completed a degree course in Economics
Just take the pictures of his father
and Political Science and was also in
and family. Assembling the collection
England to pursue studies in law. We
must have taken years of devotion and
became instant friends at our very first
commitment. I understand that while
meeting in London. Whenever we met we
compiling them and doing his research
used to chat for hours on end, something
he never disclosed what he was doing
we still do. Characteristics we share, are
to anyone. This is indeed extraordinary.
a commitment to work and independence
Not many young people in this busy
of thought.
world today would have the interest
Having been called to the English bar, and determination to work on a matter
and prior to that having completed our of this nature. I therefore take my hat
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees at London off to Nyaga.
University, both Juma and I ended as
The collection of pictures shows very
English barristers. Juma subsequently
clearly that Juma Mawalla has led a
returned to Tanzania in 1961 to set up
very colourful life – a life of hard work,
a law office in Moshi, while I returned
rewarded by admirable achievements.
in 1962 and set up a law office in Mwanza.
Hearty congratulations for that.
Nyaga, the author of this work, is
I greatly commend this work to any reader,
a product of the union between Juma
and particularly to other members of the
and Margaret, who both saw to it that
Mawalla family.
Nyaga was brought up as a hard worker
and lover of justice. Mark D. Bomani
At the time of Nyaga’s birth my relations Advocate and former
with Juma were such that I was given the Attorney General of Tanzania.
privilege of giving the child a name. The Dar es Salaam
name I gave him – Nyaga – was the name
of my late mother’s father. Juma was very
excited about this.

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INTRODUCTION
 - INTRODUCTION -
The slopes of Kilimanjaro, fertile and beckoning,
have always welcomed the clans and families
who settled within sight of the mountain.
Before international borders had
crystallised, before the lines marking out
the boundaries of Kenya and Tanzania had
come into being, there were well-defined
territories. To the north-west were the
Maasai. To the north-east, between the
great mountain and the sea, were the
Kamba and the Taita. The slopes of the
majestic mountain, however, belonged
to the Chagga.
In those days the lands surrounding
Kilimanjaro were ruled by kings, princes
and chiefs whose lineages stretched back
into a past kept alive in the memories of
all the Chagga clans. For centuries, they
had looked from their homes towards the
peaks of Kilimanjaro, and had given thanks
for the bounty of the earth surrounding
the great mountain. So rich was the soil,
so benevolent the climate, that by the early
eighteenth century there were around
seven hundred clans well-established
on those generous lands. They spoke no
unified language, although the dialects
were all related to the languages of the
Kamba and the Taita, some of whose
forebears must have been amongst those
people who first settled that fertile region.
And among their descendants had been
a man called Ileti, who around the year
of 1815, had made his home in the small
principality of Mrawu in the Kingdom
of Rombo on the western approaches
of Kilimanjaro.
By 1850, Ileti had solidly established his
dynasty in Rombo. One of his sons,
a capable and strong left-handed warrior,
- 19 -
had grown up, in the tradition of the family,
to be hailed as Msongoru, one who walks
before others and shows them the way,
and a trusted and wise adviser to the
ruler. This left-handed warrior was called
Mawalla, from the Chagga expression
neke walla, one who gives.
Always speaking up for the weak, for
those who could not plead before the
prince, Mawalla one day angered his
sovereign. In defending a man who would
not pay a fine to the ruler for an offence
which he knew he had not committed,
Mawalla understood that the punishment
for his disobedience was death – death
not only to him, but to all his wives
and children too. His lands would be
confiscated, his groves uprooted, his soil
sown with salt so that nothing would grow
there again. He decided to flee.
In the middle of the night, he took his
wives, among whom was Mbuchu, one
of the most beautiful women in Mrawu,
his concubines, his thirty-four children,
and the brothers who were close to him,
together with their families – two hundred
adults in all. With 2 000 head of cattle, he
led his caravan away from Rombo, to the
west, towards the kingdoms of Kiruwa
and Mochiwiye.
In his path, however, lay the Kingdom
of Marangu, a region that was greatly
troubled by the marauding raids of the
Maasai. It is said that when the Wagweno
people, seeking lands on which to settle,
first came to the River Himo and saw
 - INTRODUCTION -
its pleasant sweetness, they called out
Water, a lot of water! and their words
Mora, morangu! under the influence of
European pronunciation, in time became
remembered as Marangu.
In Mawalla’s time, the ruler of Marangu
was Miliari, or Broad Shoulders, whose
name had also been corrupted by the
German colonisers, to Marealle. Amongst
his people was a man well-versed in
medicine and the art of prediction, called
Mangalili. It was Mangalili who came to his
king one day and told him that a fearless
fighter from Rombo would be wanting
to pass through his territory, and, as was
the custom, would offer him a hongo,
or tax for the right to do so. Mangalili
was adamant that no matter how large
the hongo, the man from Rombo should
not be allowed to leave Marangu. As the
able and fearless general that he was,
Mangalili said, this stranger would be the
one to save Marealle’s lands from the
depredations of the Maasai.
Marealle heeded the words of this wise
man and when Mawalla did indeed arrive
with his vast retinue, the king welcomed
him with an open heart. All the caravan
was housed and fed, and Mawalla himself
was welcomed with his wife into the
royal precinct.
During Mawalla’s extended rest in
Marangu, made all the more agreeable
by the liking he and Marealle had taken
to one another, the Maasai made
a foraging raid into the territory. The
resolute and determined Mawalla, with
his famous left-handed fighting and his
- 20 -
conspicuous bravery, helped lead the concluded for himself,
king’s army to an emphatic victory. and he grew wealthy as a
respected and influential
Mawalla and his retinue were embraced
Msongoru in Marangu.
as full citizens of Marangu, and the cattle
The house he built in
lord from Rombo was granted the entire
Moshi stands there to
principality of Samanga on the southern
this day.
frontier with the Maasai. As Mangalili had
predicted, Marangu was never again to Like his grandfather and
be troubled by their warlike neighbours father before him, Sawaya
rampaging through Samanga. took many wives. The
eighth among them was
Despite the fact that Mawalla took more
a woman called Damari.
wives in Marangu, it was the beautiful
After giving birth to a
Mbuchu who gave birth to his first-born
daughter, a son came into
son in 1885. The boy was named Sawaya,
the world. As the second
and he grew up during the time when the
child of the eighth of Sawaya’s
Germans were securing their hold on the
wives, it was not a particularly
country of Tanganyika. Sawaya knew of
noticeable or auspicious birth.
the vicious struggles among the Chagga
that left Marealle the most powerful Little could anyone know at
man in North Tanganyika, and the cruel the time that this son would
punishments, like the hanging of sixteen be the one to grow up not only
Chagga leaders, that were meted out by to continue the great Msongoru
the European colonisers. tradition of the Mawallas, begun
with the left-handed warrior Mawalla,
He would have seen too, the building of
but would far exceed in stature, fame
the railways that were opening up the
and achievements, anything that had
country, and the establishment of the
gone before.
villages that sprang up alongside it. The
town of New Moshi spread out from the
And it is this son of Sawaya,
important station that serviced the line
and as Sawaya grew into manhood, he Juma Reginald Sawaya Mawalla,
quickly grasped and mastered the trading whose story we honour with
opportunities that presented themselves.
this book.
He established a name as a dependable
supplier of donkeys, to carry the loads
of merchandise of the traders who came
from Mombasa to Marangu. In time, there
were to be many business transactions
which he either initiated for others or
- 21 -
 - INTRODUCTION - - INTRODUCTION -

Sawaya Mawalla - Damari Ndowo Mawalla - Mr Juma Mawalla was close to his family, in this picture we see Mzee Joseph Mawalla,
the father of Juma Mawalla the mother of Juma Mawalla Mrs Damari Ndowo Mawalla (Mr Mawalla’s mother), Mai Mambore, Shose Mawalla and
1951. 1951. Mzee Joseph Mawalla’s wife.
1972.

- 22 - - 23 -
JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY -

In Marangu, on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, Juma Mawalla grew

up to the stories of the exploits and reputations of his father
Sawaya, and of Mawalla, his left-handed warrior grandfather.

As the son of Sawaya, Juma well by the British to cater to the sons of chiefs,
understood the weight of his legendary to provide the future intelligentsia and
history, but for the son of Sawaya’s eighth leaders of the tribes of Tanganyika.
wife, schooling was considered by the
Juma lived up to the promise his brilliant
adults more as a duty to him, rather than
schooling had shown until then. His sense
as a response to the natural promise of the
of community and dedication was borne
boy. Simply to keep him out of the trouble
out in his record of excellence in the Boy
into which his elders imagined he might
Scout Movement, which on the 1st of
be tempted, he was sent off to a Christian
October 1952, awarded him the Queen’s
School. This was despite the natural
Badge. He was only the fourth Tanganyikan
sympathy Sawaya had for Islam, and
to be honoured with this medal for
the Islamic echoes in Juma’s name.
conspicuous bravery, the highest honour
The school that provided him with his first the Boy Scouts could bestow. In sports,
basic skills was the Samanga Lutheran he showed his determination, resilience and
Bush School. It was there, in those first physical prowess. But it was in academics
two years, that he learnt his letters and that Juma the boy, growing to young
numbers and to sing Christian songs. adulthood in the Msongoru tradition
of Mawalla and Sawaya, showed his
For Standard One he was enrolled at
continuing brilliance.
the Marangu Native Authority School.
The Germans had long been defeated And it was this brilliance that at the end
in Europe and it was the British whose of his schooling, ensured Juma Mawalla’s
influence had by then so thoroughly selection to the licentiate in Medicine at
been brought to bear. Juma spent the the Makerere College.
next six years of his life at the Marangu
Native Authority School living within, and
absorbing the methods and structures of,
a basic colonial education.
When it came to Standard Seven, however,
it was Juma, along with two Marangu
princes, who was selected to attend the
prestigious Tabora Upper Secondary
School in Tabora. This school was intended

Juma Mawalla his scouts uniform on a visit home from

Old Moshi School. With him are his nephews
1951.

- 27 -
With fellow boy scouts at a jamboree in Northern Rhodesia
1951.
A newspaper clipping with an article about Juma
Mawalla being awarded the Queen’s Badge in
Tabora, Tanganyika. He was the fourth scout in
Tanganyika to be given such a badge
1952.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY - - JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY -

With a fellow scout from England at the
jamboree in Northern Rhodesia
1951.
The certificate awarded to Juma Mawalla for
showing the qualities of a good scout and
participating in the Central African jamboree
held in Nkana, Northern Rhodesia
1951.
In a parade at Tabora Upper School, Tanganyika, during an award ceremony by the Provincial
Commissioner. The Queen’s Badge was awarded to boy scouts who had shown exemplary
bravery in the fraternity
1952.

Among the whole group of boy scouts from East, Central and Southern Africa at the The Provincial Commissioner of the Western Province, Mr. T. C. Clarke, presenting Juma Mawalla
jamboree in Northern Rhodesia with the most highly honoured medal for boy scouts, the Queen’s Badge, for showing exemplary
1951. bravery in the fraternity
Tabora, Tanganyika. 1952.

- 30 - - 31 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY - - JUMA MAWALLA THE BOY -

Juma never forgot his roots. Here he smiles with a friend during a school visit home in Marangu Juma Mawalla was a brilliant science student who kept meticulous notes. These are pages from his
1951. chemistry notebook at Tabora Boys Upper School
1953.

- 32 - - 33 -
JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

With a prospective career in medicine before him, the young

man from Marangu nevertheless saw a wider world beckoning,
a world much wider than the verdant slopes of Kilimanjaro where
Juma Mawalla had grown into his Msongoru heritage.

With Violet, a close friend who went on to Kampala University to become
one of the first female African-educated teachers
Marangu, Tanganyika, 1955.
Britain, exhausted from its life-and-death
struggle against European fascism, could
not hold onto its empire. The country that
had once been the jewel in its imperial
crown, India, had gone through the
convulsions of independence in 1948,
and the echoes of its remarkable struggle
for independence were now being heard
across Africa. In wanting to encourage the
new generation of African leaders, Nehru’s
India was opening study opportunities to
the continent’s most promising students.
Juma Mawalla eagerly grasped the chance
to study economics and political science.
In the august company of a number of
young people who would later go on to
become leading actors on the African
political and legal stage - and in the case
of Indira Gandhi - a major figure in both
the Indian and global arena, he gave
himself to his studies in Delhi.
In India, Juma Mawalla’s intellectual
brilliance shone through everything
he undertook. In the stimulating and
academic environment filled with
the energy and dreams of the young
independent state, he honed his own
diplomatic and negotiating skills, the same
Mawalla skills that in times gone by had
made the family’s illustrious patriarchs
famous and universally respected in their
lands. These were skills that would stand
him in good stead as the path of his
studies led him into the cut and thrust
of the law.
Just before his graduation, the Kilimanjaro
Native Co-operative Union, or KNCU as
it is still known, announced scholarships
for studies in the United Kingdom. Once
again, the direction of his interests
changed. Duly awarded the scholarship he
sought, Juma was ready to begin all over
again. Enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the
University of London, he devoted himself
to the study of the discipline that would
absorb him for the rest of his life – the law.
And it was on the 19th of November 1956
that he was admitted to the Honourable
Society of Lincoln’s Inn, the famous legal
chambers in London.
There followed four more years of legal
study until on the 1st of August 1960 he
was awarded his LLB degree. On the
22nd of November of that same year, he
was called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn as
an Utter Barrister, the first Tanganyikan
ever to have achieved this singular
accomplishment.
By now the winds of change that British
Prime Minister Harold Macmillan had so
clear-sightedly predicted, were indeed
blowing through the African continent.
In Tanganyika Julius Nyerere was leading
the struggle for independence, and Juma
Mawalla, sensing that he had a place and a
role in the nascent country, decided to put
on hold the chance to complete his LLM at
Yale University, and return to the land of
his birth.

- 37 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

The son of Chief Lemunge

Tanganyika, 1955.
Juma Mawalla maintained a very close relationship with the chieftains in Chaggaland.
Here he is standing with his close friend, the son of Chief Lemunge
Old Moshi, Tanganyika, 1955.

- 39 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

With his British teacher who took him in when With the daughter of his British teacher
he fell ill while studying in India. She later India, 1955.
referred him to Mrs. Mabel who was to play
a huge role in his life
India, 1955.

With the family of his British teacher during the time he stayed with her. At the far left is Mr. Karanji Juma Mawalla was an avid debater and participated in many debates regarding the decolonisation
India, 1955. process in commonwealth countries. Here he is appearing before a debating party
India, 1956.

- 40 - - 41 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

At a social gathering of foreign students With Mr. Karanji and two colleagues from Ethiopia at the same social gathering of foreign students
India, 1956. India, 1956.

- 42 - - 43 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

With his teachers at the University of Delhi

India, 1956.

Juma Mawalla as he set out on the path of his career with his studies for a degree in Economics on a K.N.C.U.
Scholarship. With him are Mrs. Indira Gandhi, M. H. Ziva, Ambrose Wol, Kabutu, G. Karani and J. Karanji, all of
whom went on to hold influential posts in their respective countries
Delhi, India 1955 – 1956.

- 44 - - 45 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

The former Head of state of Nigeria meeting with Mrs. Mabel,

Juma Mawalla’s sponsor and mentor, at East Africa House
London, England, 1958.

Juma Mawalla is shaking hands with Nnamdi Azikiwe, the former head of state of Nigeria, With friends during the time he was studying for With his friend in America
at East Africa House a masters degree at Yale University Connecticut, USA, 1958.
London, England, 1958. Connecticut, USA, 1958.

- 46 - - 47 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

On a sight-seeing trip Close friends Florence Josem and her

USA, 1958. husband Milton
Connecticut, USA, 1958.

Juma Mawalla had a great love for children.

Here he is holding a child during his studies in America
USA, 1958.

- 48 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Posing with friends With friends while studying at Yale University

USA, 1958. Boston, USA, 1958.

- 51 -
With friends while travelling in England, Scotland and Ireland
United Kingdom, 1958 - 1959.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Further east on his journey across Europe

Poland, 1958 - 1959.

While still a member of the Communist Party, Juma Mawalla travelled across Europe. With friends in the Eastern Bloc on his journey across Europe
Here he is with friends during that trip Poland, 1958 - 1959.
Germany, 1958 - 1959.

- 54 - - 55 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

With Eastern European friends in a relaxing Another moment with friends while travelling
moment on his journey across Europe
Poland, 1958 - 1959. Poland, 1958 - 1959.

During his travels across Europe Being received in Eastern Europe as a visiting member of the communist party
Germany, 1958 - 1959. 1958 - 1959.

- 57 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

On his journey across Europe In a friendly moment with officials

Poland, 1956 - 1959. Poland, 1958 - 1959.

- 58 - - 59 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Juma Mawalla was always ready to embrace the culture of others. Here he is wearing a Kolpic With a group of Poles during his travels across Europe
Poland, 1958 - 1959. Poland, 1958 - 1959.

- 60 - - 61 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

…and with a group of Germans… Among friends from Europe

Germany, 1958 - 1959. Germany, 1958 - 1959.

- 62 - - 63 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

On the ferry from the United Kingdom to Holland

1958 - 1959.

Planting Peace Trees during his travels across Europe

Germany, 1958 - 1959.

- 64 - - 65 -
With the delegation of communist party representatives in Germany
1958 - 1959.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Smiling on the steps of an imposing facade during his travels in Europe Sharing a moment of friendship with a Polish lady
1958 - 1959. Poland, 1958 - 1959.

- 68 - - 69 -
Among a group of children
Russia, 1959.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Juma Mawalla in London with a classmate In London with a close Nigerian friend
England, 1958. England, 1958.

- 72 - - 73 -
With friends during his time studying to become a lawyer
England, 1958.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Despite his active involvement in the UK Communist Party

Juma Mawalla nevertheless believed in capitalist and market-driven
principles. Here he is on a visit to the Lord Mayor of Canterbury
England, 1959.

Capturing his own memories with his camera in London While in England, Juma Mawalla visited many judges.
England, 1958. Here is his picture of Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls

- 77 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Juma Mawalla and his close friend Renata in London. With Renata among friends in London
England, 1958. England, 1958.

- 78 - - 79 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

With friends at a gathering at East African House in London. Mrs. Mabel, a wealthy Jewish woman living in London, who helped foreign students obtain their
England, 1959. education and return to their countries as skilled professionals. She was both a sponsor and mentor
to Juma Mawalla during his studies in the UK, and had a direct impact on his life since welcoming
him from India in 1956. She died in 1990

- 80 - - 81 -
Juma Mawalla and Mrs. Mabel in London
England, 1960.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Juma Mawalla on the doorstep of his newly-bought apartment Renata outside Juma Mawalla’s apartment in London
in London which he acquired while studying there England, 1955 - 1960.
England, 1956 - 1960.

- 84 - - 85 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE YOUNG MAN -

Mr Juma Mawalla’s exposure to the

U.S Judiciary system is captured
in this article
1959.

- 86 - - 87 -
JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER

Juma Mawalla in London after being called
to the bar as an Utter Barrister
England, 1960.
- JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER -
With the world at his feet in London, the young man Juma Mawalla
had taken on new responsibilities – those of a highly qualified
barrister at one of the most distinguished Inns of Court in England.
The beckoning world of the law at the heart
of the British justice system was not enough,
however, to keep this motivated practitioner
so far away from the majestic landscapes of
the country of his boyhood and youth.
in 1960, with Julius Nyerere’s activism
beginning to bear fruit, and Tanganyikan
independence from Britain already visible on
the horizon, the young and idealistic barrister
turned his eyes towards his homeland, and
made the journey back to Tanganyika. There
he founded his own law firm, Kibo Chambers.
With the certificate of admission of his new
practice having been granted on the 31st
October 1961, and his own admission as an
advocate ratified on the same day by Her
Majesty’s Court of Tanganyika, Juma
Mawalla set out on the distinguished path
that would make him one of the country’s
most respected and admired legal minds.
As his career flourished, the firm he had
established grew into the most prestigious
in the country that in 1964 became known as
Tanzania. His abilities were soon to become
recognised beyond the borders of his own
land, as on the 21st of November 1966, he
signed the Roll of Advocates of the High
Court of Kenya, entitling him now to practise
as an advocate in that country too.
There were to be ideological clashes,
however, and difficult times for Kibo
Chambers, as in 1973 President Nyerere
made public what became inscribed in
Tanzanian history as the Arusha Declaration,
when the by now famous law firm’s building
was nationalised. The Ujamaa policies
that encapsulated the president’s socialist
- 91 -
vision and its Africanist cultural context,
forbade all private ownership. It would not
be until 1995 that the order confiscating Kibo
Chambers building would be rescinded.
In those interim years, however, the name
of Juma Mawalla continued to grow in the
esteem not only of his peers, but also in
the eyes of all who came to know him as
a committed advocate, a fearless adversary,
and a highly respected negotiator. With an
understanding drawn from endless hours
spent waiting in the corridors of litigation,
Juma Mawalla embraced the concept of
making the most productive use of time
as a highly-prized value – one to which
he would adhere throughout his life.
His brilliance in the law was to be matched
by his devotion to its role as an instrument
of peace and of international cooperation.
As early as 1961, his contribution to public
service was recognised by his participation
at the Conference for Africa and the Middle
East on World Peace Through the Rule
of Law. In 1962 he was a delegate at the
International Congress of Lawyers held in
South America. He was elected in 1982 as
one of only forty members worldwide of the
exclusive International Commission of Jurists,
and after serving on this august body for
fifteen years, he was inducted as an honorary
member. Within the continent of Africa, he
served also on the Pan African Union of
Lawyers and the African Bar Association.
The tradition of Msongoru, handed down
through generations of Mawallas before him,
was indeed being kept illustriously alive by
Juma Mawalla.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER -

In London, Juma Mawalla enrolled for further
studies at the University of London and
obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree
England, 1960.
In 1956 Juma Mawalla was admitted to the
Honourable Society at Lincoln’s Inn and was
called as an Utter Barrister in 1960, the first
person in Tanganyika ever to achieve this
England, 1960.

Another portrait of Juma Mawalla in London

after being called to the bar as an Utter Barrister
England, 1960.

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The Certificate of Registration of Kibo Chambers

1961.

Juma Mawalla’s outstanding public service was
recognized with the award of this certificate
in Lagos during the Conference for Africa and
Middle East Lawyers for World Peace through
the Rule of Law
Nigeria, 1961.
The certificate of membership awarded to Juma
Mawalla in Lagos during the Conference for
Africa and Middle East Lawyers for World Peace
through the Rule of Law
Nigeria, 1961.
Juma Mawalla was granted his Certificate of
Admission of Advocate by Her Majesty’s High
Court of Tanganyika
1961.

- 94 - - 95 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER -
It shows the dedication of Juma Mawalla to his
profession and the compassion for people
who could not afford legal services.
1983.
- 96 -
These images named 1960, 1993 and 2000
show the development of the company.
- JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER -
Juma Mawalla a firm believer in human
rights is seen here in this article
defending the rights of Hawa Mohamed,
who was entitled to an equal share of her
husband’s property after their divorce.
Mr Juma Mawalla took legal aid cases (probono) and in this
particular case he was defending one hundred families from
eviction from a thousand acre farm
Mr Juma Mawalla was trained by an Irish lawyer called
Mr Cassidy who used to take on the most controversial cases,
in this case he is advocating the right of bars to stay open.
- 97 -
Juma Mawalla among delegates at
the International Congress of Lawyers
South America, 1962.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER - - JUMA MAWALLA THE LAWYER -

…and socialising after the Congress with fellow lawyers… ...there were many friendly exchanges
South America, 1962. South America, 1962.

- 100 - - 101 -
JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

All the idealism that had brought Juma Mawalla back to his
homeland, together with all the possibilities and hopes that
political independence embraced, were eroded during the
course of the hard years in which the policies of Ujamaa
were relentlessly pursued.

The able lawyer, with his vision of the
centrality of the law in safeguarding the
rights and aspirations of the individual,
saw his ability to function severely
curtailed with the loss of the Kibo
Chambers building he had constructed
in Moshi. It was all the more heartbreaking
to see how the ideal with which he had so
strongly indentified had been turned into
an instrument that blunted the spirit of
entrepreneurship and innovation. Never
a man to bow to the pressures of the
unyielding world, Juma Mawalla, in the
spirit of his enterprising forebears, turned
to other ventures to supplement his
continuing practice of the law.
In partnership with an Englishwoman
whose parents hailed from London, he
entered into a poultry and food processing
business. Kibo Poultry and Kibo Food
Processing, established in 1971, went some
way to replacing the losses that had been
incurred in the legal practice
by nationalisation policies.
Always the upholder of the rights
of the ordinary person, Juma Mawalla
became the pioneer of the first legal
aid clinic in Tanzania. By 1977 he was
established as the most active of all
Juma Mawalla Tanzania’s human rights lawyers, the
great legal presence acting not simply
as a lawyer, but also as a man, out of his
highly principled humanity.
Other public service roles beckoned
as well. He became a distinguished
member of the board of East African
Airways, a position he held for a long
period of time, serving with no less energy
and dedication than he devoted to all his
other pursuits. He was active too on the
East African University Council in Nairobi,
and was mentor and guide to many scores
of young lawyers. It was for all these
commitments and legal achievements
that in the first decade of the new
millennium, Juma Mawalla was honoured
with a lifetime award by the Tanganyika
Law Society.
Living with Margaret Mawalla, and the
father of many children, Juma Mawalla,
the man, like his father and grandfather
before him, was always the inspiring
and proud bearer of the mantle of the
Mawalla clan. It is the obligations and
responsibilities of this mantle of Msongoru,
handed down from the first days of the
enterprising warrior and adviser of kings
who had established the tradition of
leadership, service, ability and success,
that Juma Mawalla has embraced
throughout his life.

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The house at Marangu where Juma Mawalla has lived since 1962 Juma Mawalla in Marangu, playing badminton
Tanganyika. Tanganyika, 1963.

- 106 - - 107 -
- JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Above left: In front of his residence in Moshi

Town upon its completion
Tanzania, 1965.

Above: On the right is Juma Mawalla’s mother,

Ndowo Damari Mawalla. Third from the right is
his sister Mrs. Janet Temu. Juma Mawalla had
a great love and respect for his mother and
sisters
Tanzania.

Left: A close friend of Juma Mawalla’s, who

taught at Ashira Girls’ Secondary School in
Moshi, standing in front of his Moshi Residence
upon its completion.
Tanzania, 1965.

Right: Juma Mawalla was admitted to practise

as an advocate by the High Court of Kenya.
1965.

Mr Juma Mawalla had a deep and profound love for his sisters, in this picture his beloved sister
Joyce Mawalla was marrying Dr. Archibald Marealle
1962.

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 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

This article in 1962 on Gabriel Mawalla

(Juma Mawalla’s step brother) shows
the high standards set by the Mawalla’s
in the 60’s

- 110 - - 111 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Juma Mawalla understood the value of this folk
wisdom, and recreation was always part of his life. Here he is enjoying a break in Manyara
National Park
Tanzania, 1966.

A view of the beautiful Lake Manyara Reading a newspaper in a moment of relaxation

Tanzania, 1966. amidst the natural beauty of Manyara
Tanzania, 1966.

- 112 - - 113 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Mark Bomani, the former Attorney General of Tanzania, at his wedding to Rahma Mwapachu. Juma Mawalla acting as Godfather at the baptism of baby Fisha Nsilo Swai at Machame
Juma Mawalla and Charles Njonjo, the Attorney General of Kenya, both stood as Best Men at the Tanzania, 1967.
ceremony. Mark Bomani and Juma Mawalla remain close friends and share many ideas on social
and economic matters
Tanzania, 1967.

- 114 - - 115 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

The Tanganyika police headquarters in Dar-es-Salaam where Geoffrey Sawaya had his offices Geoffrey Sawaya, Commissioner for Police in Tanganyika, a brother and extremely close friend of
1967. Juma Mawalla
Tanzania, 1967.

Geoffrey Sawaya and Peter Kisumo at Moshi, planting trees during the inauguration of the building Geoffrey Sawaya at CCP Moshi with Juma Mawalla in the black suit
of CCP, whose construction Geoffrey Sawaya also oversaw Tanzania, 1967.
Tanzania, 1967.

- 116 - - 117 -
Juma Mawalla’s Kibo Chambers offices under construction. The building was later nationalised
under the Ujamaa Policies outlined in the Arusha Declaration in 1973 which defined a socialism
in which all private ownership was banned. Under the direction of former President Ali Hassan
Mwinyi, the building was later returned
Tanzania, 1967.
Juma Mawalla was appointed to represent the government of Tanzania as a director of East
African Airways, and was involved in the purchase of many aircraft including the VC 10
1967.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

In Nairobi with Representatives of East African Airways. In the centre

is Mama Ngina Kenyatta, wife of the former President of Kenya
Kenya, 1967.

Juma Mawalla at a joint airline meeting in Nairobi Juma Mawalla in Nairobi with fellow directors of East African Airways
Kenya, 1967. Kenya, 1967.

- 122 - - 123 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Meeting resident representatives of East African Airways in India

1967.

In Washington DC at negotiations for the purchase of aircraft for East African Airways In Washington DC with Chief Abdalla Fundikira, In Washington DC with Chief Abdalla Fundikira,
USA, 1967. negotiating the purchase of the new DC 10 with concluding the purchase of the new DC 10 with
McDonnell Douglas representatives McDonnell Douglas representatives
1967. 1967.

- 124 - - 125 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

A close friend of Juma Mawalla, Shol Wade, a prominent Nigerian lawyer

who was also a magistrate for a short time in Tanzania
1967.

Juma Mawalla with a magistrate, reviewing a crime scene during Shol Wade and his family in Nigeria. Even after completion of his duties
one of the numerous trials in which he appeared as an advocate in Tanzania he still kept up his close friendship with Juma Mawalla
Tanzania, 1967.

- 126 - - 127 -
Juma Mawalla at a board meeting of the East African Airways
Corporation at the Hong Kong Hilton Hotel. Seated at the far end of the
table is the chairman Abdalla Fundikira. The secretary was F B Mahatane
Hong Kong, 1969.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Juma Mawalla enjoying the cuisine and embracing the culture of Hong Kong Enjoying a meal with representatives of the East African Airways Corporation
1969. Hong Kong, 1969.

- 130 - - 131 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

With the East African Airways Resident Representative With colleagues during the East African Airways meeting in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, 1969. 1969.

- 132 - - 133 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Always an avid litigator, Juma Mawalla in Tanga meeting with the public prosecutor before an Juma Mawalla in Tanga with the public prosecutor after finalising an important trial
important trial Tanzania, 1969.
Tanzania, 1969.

- 134 - - 135 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Juma Mawalla loved his mother very much and often invited her to various trials he Two of Juma and Margret Mawalla’s children. Juma Mawalla Junior
conducted in the country. Here he is with her outside the court house in Tanga is reading a newspaper and Ndowo Mawalla lying down
Tanzania, 1967. 1973.

- 136 - - 137 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

In Nairobi with a friend In Nairobi

Kenya, 1977. Kenya, 1977.

- 138 - - 139 -
Juma Mawalla in Nairobi showing his great affection for children
Kenya, 1977.
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

Juma Mawalla in Geneva at a meeting of the International Commission of Jurists

Switzerland, 1988.

A newspaper article reporting the election of In Bangalore at the Triennial Meeting and Conference on Economic, Social and
Juma Mawalla as a member of the International Cultural Rights and The Role of Lawyers for the International Commission Of Jurists
Commission of Jurists (ICJ) India, 1995.
1985.

- 142 - - 143 -
 - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN - - JUMA MAWALLA THE MAN -

The Presiding Judge Manetho at Juma Mawalla’s Judge Manetho in Marangu shaking hands with
Moshi home in Marangu during a short function Mrs. Margaret Juma Mawalla at the Moshi home
held in honour of his visit Tanzania, 2005.
Tanzania, 2005.

Juma Mawalla relaxing in his Marangu Residence Juma Mawalla as we know him today, Juma Mawalla and Judge Manetho
2009. enjoying a meal during the function at the function
Tanzania, 2005. Tanzania, 2005.

- 144 - - 145 -
EPILOGUE
- EPILOGUE - - EPILOGUE -

When the resourceful Ileti, who first came to Mrawu in the

Kingdom of Rombo, to establish himself there as a capable
and strong man, a confidant of the ruler, he could scarcely
have imagined the heights to which his descendants would rise.

Mawalla, his son, was the fearsome left-
handed warrior and adviser to kings
and princes who moved away under
duress to found a flourishing home in
Marangu. There he bequeathed his name
to the family, and added the weight of
his achievements to the already proud
tradition. And it was in Marangu that his
son Sawaya built upon his legacy to create
a prosperous trading dynasty that firmly
established the family in its position of
leadership and accomplishment.
But it was to be a boy, the second child
of an eighth wife to Sawaya, who was to
prove to be the equal of all those who
came before. It was to be Juma Mawalla
who would take the strength, ability and
determination that had been handed down
through the Mawalla generations and take
them into new vistas of possibility beyond
the horizons of his homeland and into the
wide world beyond it.
His vision would take him from the
academic halls of India to the corridors
of universities in England and even as far
as the united States. His abilities would see
him admitted to Inns of Court in England,
where he followed his vocation in the law
to become the first of his countrymen
ever to be called to the bar.
A jovial, charismatic and powerful
personality, his love of debate, his
determination to understand cultures
other than his own, his fluent abilities in
Chagga, the language of his ancestors, as
well as in English and Swahili have always
endeared him to a wide and diverse circle
of friends.
His exposure in his travels to the thoughts
and practices of others only served to
broaden his views, and to strengthen his
own ideals of the rights of individuals
to make their own ways in the world.
And it was his dedication to this ideal of
independence that brought him back
to his homeland, just as it too was
throwing off the shackles of colonial rule.
His commitment to justice would see him
recognised internationally in some of
the most august and prestigious of legal
bodies, and it was this same dedication to
justice that made him a pioneer in helping
to establish and provide access to the law
for those who would not otherwise have
had any redress. His commercial success
ensured that his legacy in the practise
of the law could continue in the spirit of
entrepreneurship and enterprise that he
always prized so highly.
More than all this, however, Juma Mawalla,
the boy, the young man, the lawyer, the
man, also became a father who served

- 148 - - 149 -
 - EPILOGUE -
as an example to his family, as much
as he was a mentor and guide to the
many whom he encouraged, taught and
supported in their own legal careers.
A strict disciplinarian, he has always
expected those around him to be as
devoted to hard work as he has been
throughout his life. Holding himself to
the highest of standards, he has never
easily tolerated failure. His family and
close associates have learnt from him the
value of routine, the value of physical, as
much as mental, discipline, as well as the
honesty and focus that have contributed
to his sheer brilliance as a trial lawyer.
A certain reluctance to compromise,
and an unwillingness to bend once his
opinions have been formed, while they
have made him a rich man, have not made
him a wealthy one. However, these traits
too have proven a lesson to those close
to him because in observing them, they
have come to understand the affirming
importance of flexibility. His resolute
character, his unwavering determination
- 150 -
- EPILOGUE -
to follow the clarity of his thought
with unambiguous action, have been
fundamental in moulding the perceptions
of both family and colleagues. Strictness
in diet, combined with great prudence
with alcohol, have given him the restraint
and authority to deliver on all his goals
– something he decisively expects from
those around him.
Admired and acknowledged for his
achievements by his peers, Juma Mawalla,
in his own lifetime, has built upon the great
traditions of his heritage, outshining them,
redefining them, so that in time, when the
deeds of the Mawallas are recounted in
newer generations, he will be remembered
as truly as his ancestors had been, as the
quintessential Msongoru, the one who
walks in front.
- 151 -