On Monday, March 3rd, Mohammed Iqbal Dar, the man who coined the name “Tanzania,” passed away in his sleep at the age of 80 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, after a long illness.
Born on August 8, 1944, in Tanga, Tanzania, Dar was the son of Dr. Tufail Ahmad Dar, a respected physician. He attended H.H. The Aga Khan School before continuing his education at Mzumbe Secondary School.
As a student, Dar responded to a public competition in 1964 to name the newly united Tanganyika and Zanzibar. His submission, “Tanzania,” combined “TAN” from Tanganyika, “ZAN” from Zanzibar, and additional letters reflecting his name and faith. His entry won, earning him a cash prize and a medal from then-Minister for Information Sheikh Idrisa Abdul Wakil.
Dar moved to the United Kingdom in 1965 but maintained ties to Tanzania through visits and humanitarian efforts. He was also an active member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
His role in shaping Tanzania’s national identity remains his enduring legacy.
