“Even If I reached my mid-term life goals, life is not easy everyday as the cost of living is getting higher and higher”
Name : Mmadi Khamisi Juma
Gender : Male
DoB : 1981, exact day unknown
City of Birth : Matewme Kigomani, Zanzibar
Status : Married
Family : 3 Children (1 giri & 2 boys)
Hometown : Matewme Kigomani, Zanzibar
Education : Primary school
Job : Watchman and fisherman
Religion : Muslim
Politics : Right Wing
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job? I really wanted to be a teacher when I was a young boy. Destiny, however, decided otherwise… I had to quit school really early because I suddenly had to take care about my family and take the full responsibility of it. I work now as a watchman in a hotel during week days and as a fisherman on week ends for complementary income.
I had to quit school really early because I suddenly had to take care about my family and take the full responsibility of it.
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought you would be living by now? Quite early, I had the ambition to leave my small village of Matemwe, Zanzibar. My goal was to go to the city in order to earn more money. Nevertheless, today, I live in the same village I was born in even if I go every day in another village named Kichangajaku for my job (few kilometers aways, about 1 hour walk).
Mmadi watching the news on a TV screen shared with people from his village.
Matemwe Kigomane, Mmadi’s village located in North East Zanzibar island.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? Right now, what comes to my mind is a funny memory that happened when I was still a child. I was about 4 years old and was climbing to a tree from which I fell from… It hurt me a lot, and I still remember it today!! (smiles).
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? Around 13 years ago, a huge earthquake occurred in Indonesia. I was impressed and a bit scare because we were able to feel here in Zanzibar. We share the same Ocean (Indian Ocean) but it is still more than 9000 km away.
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? My best memories are from the time I went to school. I really enjoyed getting good grades, performing well in test and getting the right answers.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am really proud of my house, it’s bigger compared to other houses in the village and I built it with my own hands, one stone after another.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I had 2 major ambitions. First, I wanted to work in the fishing industry, mainly because it is a juicy market (In Zanzibar, fishing activity is very important, and represents a significant source of revenue). Secondly, I pictured myself as a married man, or at least engaged.
TODAY, the balance between expectations and achievements is quite positive. Even if I don’t have a full time job in the fishing industry, I can get extra revenues from fishing and keep a foot in this industry. On personal ground I an happy husband and even a father. I said « quite » positive, because even If I reached my mid-term life goals, life is not easy everyday as the cost of living is getting higher and higher. Before, we had few money and were able to do many things with it whereas today, even with a lot of money we are able to do very few things (result of inflation over the past years).
Mmadi in front of his house that he built himself, stone after stone.
Mmadi in is kitchen cooking is favorite dish: Coconut rice :))
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? Yes, of course! I see things differently, I am a grown up…
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? I am young, I do exercise everyday and walk 2 hours to go to work (showing his body muscles and smiling).
It did not change a lot for me… It’s not about the age but more about work and experience.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? If I could change just one element, I would like to be a « fishmonga », which is the intermediary between the fisherman and the final customer. It is a really well paid job, I would love to get a job like this. It could be one of my next career step… Why not?
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I hope that within 10 years reach, I will have 5 more kids (Mmadi already has 3) and that my job position will evolve. I would like to stop working as a watchman and dedicate myself to the fishing industry. I hope I can become a fishmonga and rather than a fisherman.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? There is no doubt that the world will change a lot. I think more investors will come to Zanzibar which will enable to increase the pace of development of my country. Within 10 years, I also hope that people will be able to move freely between countries.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid that next 2015 elections in Zanzibar won’t happen peacefully. Even now, there are some tensions between the majority and opponent parties in the country and some fights and demonstrations already happened in Stone Town (the main town, of Zanzibar Island).
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? My dream would be to go to European Union countries… Not especially to work but just to visit. It would mean that I would be very successful in life… Visas are very hard to obtain as African citizen and I dream that one day it could be easier…
