THE most successful Miss Tanzania so far, Nancy Sumari has gone beyond the normal practitioners of the beauty pageants. As a Tanzanian, she was born artist and East African literature genius as she has proved to the world through her many written materials.
What she has done in terms of art and culture, she could soar up to become a Bongo Flava megastar, but her choice of putting her artistry into written form, makes her a campaigner reading culture, the culture that has today lost prominence among the youth today.
“My focus is to restore reading culture among the youth and as well promoting Kiswahili language fluency,” said Nancy Sumari during the official launch of her third book that honours Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania and East Africa’s first Woman President.
Nancy Sumari is a model, designer, artist, celebrity, model, beauty queen, practitioner of woman emancipation and global shaper It was unique day at Oyster Bay in Dar es Salaam early this week when Nancy Sumari paraded motherly love, warmth and kindness carrying a book the honours, Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu.
Speaking during her book’s launch in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Nancy Sumari said she had to write it artfully as the best means to thank the mother as he Samia Suluhu is a mother to every Tanzanian and she too deserves love the way she loves her people.
Elaborating, Sumari says she said the book on Samia Suluhu aims to honour the President as the First Women to lead the country and that came after she served as the first woman to serve as the Vice President.
Nancy Sumari who is the best performed Tanzanian beauty in the Miss World Beauty pageant said her book which is ideal for children aims to inspire the young Tanzanian to be good citizens and leaders in the future.
“I had to write the book by strictly observing arts and entertaining graphics that will thrill even readers who do not understand the language,” she explained.
“I have been touched by how Samia leads us all. The way she talks to the nation and her humbly approach to the hot issues. Everyone wants to see and hear our President,” said Miss Sumari.
Sumari who is also an activist, entrepreneur, artiste and model, has been very active write of books for decades and as she told the Daily News in Dar es Salaam that she campaigns for Kiswahili, the National language and wants the youth to understand their language is as among the most powerful means of communication, very rich in poetry, wisdom and idioms. She said she has already written two books prior to the latest one on President Samia.
“While Tanzanians seem to forget the richness and beauty of Kiswahili, the entire world values it,” she explained.
Nancy is the founder and executive director of the Neghesti Sumari Foundation whose programs and initiatives leverage the use of literature, technology and agriculture to create value.
She has engaged in projects of society from women empowerment to mentoring youth and championing for quality education.
Nancy is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, a Global Village Fellow, Mandela Washington Fellow 2017, and an Obama Leaders Africa 2019 fellow. Sumari is a Tanzanian author, business woman and social entrepreneur.
She is the Managing Director of Bongo5 Media Group (T) Ltd, The Executive Director of The Neghesti Sumari Foundation and The Jenga Hub, as well as a published author of the children’s book series, Nyota Yako.
In 2017 Africa Youth Awards named her among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans.
Early life and education Sumari was born in Arusha. She had her primary and secondary education in Kenya, and later graduated with a bachelor of business administration from University of Dar Es Salaam and Future leaders of business and Industry from Lehigh University, PA.
From Miss Tanzania and Miss World 2005 to the present day, Miss Sumari has matured onto grown campaigner of development and her commitment can be seen through her various artistic works include the three books.
“I have to use my reputation as a public figure to bring positive changes to the Tanzanians,” she explained.
Nancy was selected as Miss Tanzania 2005 and later competed at Miss World 2005 where she placed in the top 6, and won the title Continental Queen of Africa for 2005.
Crafty and creative, Nancy is the founder and executive director of the Neghesti Sumari Foundation whose programmes and initiatives leverage the use of literature, technology and agriculture to create value.
She has engaged in projects of society from women empowerment to mentoring youth and championing for quality education. Nancy is a published author two children’s books.
Her first, ‘Nyota Yako’ (Your Star) is a book that is set in the form of poem and sings the songs of the great women in the Tanzanian society who are successful in the roles they play. It is meant to inspire the African girl child to in pursuit of their dreams.
Sumari’s second book, titled HAKI, is a book set on the backbone of the Law Of The Child Act of 2009, that encourages children to know the rights that protect them.
Among her foundations initiatives have been transforming learning outcomes among youth and children through digital literacy programs and applying design thinking methodologies to create value; for which she won the ‘Tigo Digital Change Maker’ award for in Tanzania.
Nancy is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, a Global Village Fellow, Mandela Washington Fellow 2017, and an Obama Leaders Africa 2019 fellow.
