Hello and welcome to the October edition of A-Choices Magazine where we celebrate everything Africa.
This month we bring you the beautiful Agness Kahamba, a Tanzanian social reformer and an education champion who has campaigned against child labour in Tanzania and advocated the universal rights to education. She is also a musician, actress and a motivational speaker.
In this interview with A-CHOICES, she outlined some of her career milestones that defined her incredible journey, and what the future holds for her. You will find her interview an interesting read.
A-CHOICES: Hi, Agness, Thank you for granting the interview.Your career is soaring and we’re excited to speak with you about it.Growing up in Tanzania,what was it like? Please give a concise autobiography of yourself and your educational background?
AGNESS: Agness Suleiman Kahamba is Tanzanian, Musician, Actress, fashion designer and activist. A founder of Tupaze Sauti Foundation who was appointed as a country ambassador for Child Abuse Preventation Programme from 2018 to date.Agness was awarded a certificate of appreciation from Road To Success Initiative for being a champion and to the lives she has impacted on important areas such as Gender Equality, Child Abuse, Education, Health, Women Empowerment, Human Rights and Community Development Programmes.2023,Agness receive an award in category of not for profit ceo/ ceo of the year in Tanzania
In 2024 Agness listed among 100 most notable women in Africa held in Nigeria and receive an award for being champion in community development.In 2024 Agness
listed among 100 most notable women in Africa held in Nigeria and receive an award for being champion in community development.2024 Agness also receive a special recognition award of Excellence in community development in Lagos Nigeria.Agness was also ranked 16th in the list of the Top 50 Most Influential Young Tanzanians 2018 spearheaded by Avance Media in ghana in category of Social Enterprise & Philanthropy.She works with different leaders and other Tanzanian MPs on facilitation and enhancing provision of reliable services to citizens.
She has been regularly invited to attend and participate in various Corporate Events, National/ International Meetings and Conferences such as AFMAS, 5th Annual Tanzania Health Summit 2018, SADC industrialization week and exhibition (5th – 9th August 2019, Dar es salaam Tanzania), as well as the Ongoza Njia Campaign 2020 nk
A-CHOICES: Tell me a little about your organisation called Tupaze Sauti Foundation NGO.
AGNESS: -Tupaze Sauti Foundation (TSF) Is a non-governmental organization based in the provision of services in community development, child welfare, health care disease, and education in all fields related in community development. TSF Founded in 2018
A-CHOICES: You have dedicated your life to child rights. Kindly give us the motivation behind such a great personal commitment.
AGNESS: -I am a victim who lived in a difficult situation, who fought against many obstacles to get a better education, through the life I lived led me to set goals to help children and women to achieve their goals without going through challenges that can destroy their dreams
A-CHOICES: Moving on to another key dimension, what are some of the challenges that children face in your community and its surrounding?
AGNESS: -The challenges that children face in my community are:
EARLY MARRIAGE:early marriage is a challenge faced by many female children, especially they live in rural areas, the reason for the misconception of a fema…
FEMALE GENITAL MATILATION:Female genital mutilation is a big epidemic affecting my community for both male and female, leading to dangerous diseases and even loss of life
SEX ABUSEMENT:this is a big problem in the society through sexual abuse at a young age ex, rape, sexual harrasment etc. leading young people to lose direction in life and others to lose their lives.
POVERTY:Poor life leads to many children not getting good education and good health.
A-CHOICES: According to research child labour continues to persist in Tanzania, and Africa as a whole how will you advocate for it to be eradicated?
AGNESS: In order to eradicate child labor in Tanzania and the whole of Africa, it is to ensure that we provide quality education to children to know the effects of being used at a young age and not having the right to get a good education and to know their legal rights that will protect them where they are forced against their will
A-CHOICES: What motivates you to help those in out-of-home and in-home care? A What are five traits you consider necessary for a child protection officer?
A-CHOICES: The Achievers Awards International 2024 in Nigeria, how do you feel being a recipient?
AGNESS: I feel happy to be selected for this award in the aspect of helping the community because this award has given me the moral to work hard because my voice to support children’s rights has made me reach far internationally.I am also proud to have the honor of being the only Tanzanian in this award
A-CHOICES: You are also a fashion designer,So when you make clothes for your clients,what inspires you?
AGNESS:Fashion honestly inspired me because I can fully express myself with what I actually want to have on my body. It’s when you feel like you need to have a confident booster and what not more inspiring than selecting a good outfit. You can be unique and invent your own style, you can follow in others and imitate their fashion sense. The fashion industry is a really large and growing industry what at first started as only loincloths has turned into jewelry, pants, jackets, shoes, belts, wallets, bags, and other accessories you deeply want to try on.
A-CHOICES: Apart from designing,what else do you enjoy doing?
AGNESS: Apart from designing I enjoy singing and acting
A-CHOICES: Which African designer you would like to work with? AGNESS: I would like to work with fashion designer Deola Segoe from Nigeria
A-CHOICES: Looking back,what has been the greatest challenge in your career so far?
AGNESS: Greatest challenge in my country is poor transport and communication due to poor infrastructure, poor government support, lack of education and knowledge and lack of capital
A-CHOICES: Do you have a mentor or role model who is helping you along the way in your career?
AGNESS: My role model is My President ..Hon Samia Suluhu hassan, she inspire me on how she handle different challenges faces our country in order to eradicate poverty and also she fight against early marriage,sexual abusement , human dignity and she is the first female president in our country.
A-CHOICES: For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
AGNESS: In my life , I feel greatful to be among 100 most notable women in Africa 2024 who raised voice and fight for women rights and children rights in my community. The activist is a matter of dedication and where we give ourselves to help them then we also ask for solidarity and unity to ensure they find peace and happiness.
A-CHOICES: If you were granted three wishes right now,what would you ask for?
AGNESS: I wish I could leave an icon for what I did on my movement to defend the rights of the child in society and throughout Africa
I wish to become a great leader in the world who fights for the interests of women in sexual violence and to establish equality between women and men I wish to see my songs liberating many women, youth and children in liberating them from mental health problems, intellectual liberation and let it be the catalyst for them to achieve their goals.
A-CHOICES: What are your favourite beauty products?
AGNESS: My best beauty product is O’real for my hair care and perfume.MAC for my makeup kit
A-CHOICES: What would you say are your major achievements?
AGNESS: My major achievement Is to be able to fulfill people’s dreams and to bring happiness back to families who have lost hope also ,I have been able to be trusted by my government in the process of helping the community.
A-CHOICES: What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
AGNESS: Apart from music , designing, councilling and activist people will be suprised to know I have a talent to act and soon I will be on a Tv series
A-CHOICES: What motivates you to help those in out-of-home and in home care?
AGNESS: The activist is a matter of dedication and where we give ourselves to help them then we also ask for solidarity and unity to ensure they find peace and happiness.
A-CHOICES: Do you get recognised much in public and what sort of reaction do you normally get from people?
AGNESS: Many people praise me for what I am doing to my community change their lives and mindset through music and motivations.
A-CHOICES: How would you like to be remembered?
AGNESS: I would like to be remembered for my efforts to fight for justice and gender equality in my community
Author: Gbenga Teejay Okunlola
London, UK
teejayok@gmail.com
