Edwin Semzaba

Edwin Semzaba was a Tanzanian novelist, playwright, actor and director.

Biography

He wrote his works mainly in Swahili. He taught in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he taught, among other courses, creative writing and acting.
He won the first award of East African Writers awarded by the Institute of Swahili Research for his novel Funke Bugebuge and the "grandchildren's adventure book writing competition" awarded by the Swedish Embassy in Tanzania.
Semzaba died on 17 January 2016.

Novels

Marimba ya Majaliwa, E & D Vision Publishing, 2008Funke Bugebuge, Dar es Salaam University Press, 1999Tausi wa Alfajiri, HEKO Publishers, 1996Tamaa ya Boimandaa, Dar es Salaam University Press, 2002

"The Adventures of Tunda and Zamaradi", Exodia Publishers LTD., 2016

Plays

Kinyamkera, Exodia Publishers, 2014Joseph na Josephine, Exodia Publishers, 2014Ngoswe, Dar es Salaam University Press, 1996Mkokoteni, Exodia Publishers, 2014Tendehogo, Tanzania Publishing House, 1982Sofia wa Gongolambotoa, Benedictine Publications, Ndanda, 1985

Awards and honors

First Prize Winner Western Zone Sabasaba Writing /Reciting Poetry competition at Kigoma 1967.
Best Actor Award at Mkwawa High School – 1971–1972
First Prize Winner Playwriting Competition Literature Dept 1975
First Prize Winner, Novel Writing Competition East African Literature Bureau and TUKI 1976.
First Prize Winner SIDA Children Adventure Book Competition,2007.
First Winner of the Round Six Burt Award for African Literature Writing Competition, 2016