Man who named Tanzania dies at 80

By admin | Saturday, March 22, 2025
Man who named Tanzania dies at 80
Mohammed Iqbal Dar - the man who coined Tanzania
Mr Dar took the first three letters of "Tanganyika" (TAN) and "Zanzibar" (ZAN). He then added an "I" from his own name, Iqbal, and an "A" to represent his connection to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community

Mohammed Iqbal Dar, the man who came up with the name "Tanzania," has died at the age of 80.

He passed away in Birmingham, United Kingdom, where he had been living since 1965. He had been unwell for nearly 10 years and was unable to walk in his final years.

Mr Dar was born on August 8, 1944, in Tanga, Tanzania. His father, Dr Tufail Ahmad Dar, was a well-known doctor who worked in different parts of the country.

Mr Dar went to school in Tanzania, studying at The Aga Khan School and later at Mzumbe Secondary School.

Topics You Might Like

Top Stories Man who named Tanzania dies at 80 News

In 1964, while still a student, he saw an advertisement in a newspaper asking people to suggest a name for the newly formed union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

He decided to take part and sent in his idea. His suggestion, "Tanzania," was chosen as the winning name.

He was awarded a Sh200 prize (about $280 in 1964) and a medal, which was given to him by the Minister for Information at the time, Sheikh Idrisa Abdul Wakil.

He later explained how he created the name.

According to him, he took the first three letters of "Tanganyika" (TAN) and "Zanzibar" (ZAN). He then added an "I" from his own name, Iqbal, and an "A" to represent his connection to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

This formed the name "Tanzania."

Even after moving to the UK, Mr Dar remained closely connected to Tanzania. He visited the country many times and supported humanitarian projects, helping people from all backgrounds.

He also regularly attended religious events in Tanzania.

Agencies/Global South World

What’s your take on this story?

Help others stay updated, share this now

Get Ahead of the News.
Stay in the know with real-time breaking news alerts, exclusive reports, and updates that matter to you.

Tap ‘Yes, Keep Me Updated’ and never miss what’s happening in Uganda and beyond—first and fast from NilePost.