Meet Athuman “Babu” Msangi (8:01) A mini-documentary about Kwala Secondary School teacher and NTC advisor Athuman Msangi (Babu), who has been teaching in Tanzania for over 35 years.

Mr. Athuman Msangi, 57 year-old Kwala Secondary School English and Kiswahili teacher and NTC Tanzania coordinator, has been teaching in Tanzania for 37 years. Born in Kigare of the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, Mr. Msangi has been assigned to teach in many different regions of the country.

After teaching and spending time as a headmaster at the primary school level, he graduated from “A” level secondary education in 1990 and received his teaching degree in 1995. He passed both levels while studying at home so he could continue teaching and providing for his family. Mr. Msangi has been teaching secondary school since 1995, and has been teaching at Kwala since its creation in 2005, where he is fondly known as “Babu” (grandfather) by students and fellow teaching staff.

He is, in all respects, a teacher and student for life, having just completed his undergraduate study (also from home) at the Open University of Tanzania in 2008. His kind spirit, passion to teach and learn, and desire to improve the lives of children through education embodies the spirit of a true “Mwalimu,” the highly respected Swahili word for teacher applied to Tanzania’s first and most beloved president, Julius Nyerere.

In October 2007, Mr. Msangi left Tanzania for the first time, coming to Newton, Massachusetts on an NTC exchange trip to celebrate the founding of the organization. The same spirit that makes him so revered in Tanzania held true in Newton, as he engaged and delighted students and teachers from both Newton North and Newton South High Schools, Oak Hill Middle School, and Cabot Elementary School with stories of Tanzanian culture and his strong desire to learn about America.

Mr. Msangi’s role as NTC Tanzania coordinator has been critical in the formation and well-being of the organization. Not only has he engaged both Americans and Tanzanians in NTC projects, he provides a critical aspect of accountability for the organization on the ground in Tanzania. Mr. Msangi lives in the village of Kwala with his wife Mwanamisi and has four children.

Mr. Msangi can be reached at asmsangi@newtontanzania.org.

Click here to see a photo book of Mr. Msangi’s trip to America