Tribute to Mshigeni: First Tanzanian scientist to introduce seaweed farming in Africa

DAR ES SALAAM: IN collaboration with Who’s Who Tanzania, ‘Daily News’ presents this special tribute to Prof Keto Elitabu Mshigeni, honouring his extraordinary life and pioneering contributions to seaweed farming across Africa.

A towering scholar, patriot and global scientific icon, Prof Mshigeni passed away onMarch 22, 2026, at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Dar es Salaam.

While his departure leaves a profound void in the international scientific community, his legacy remains immortalised in the sustainable industries he built and the millions of lives he transformed.

Prof Mshigeni will be laid to rest today (March 27, 2026) at his residence in Mbezi Makabe, Dar es Salaam. This commemorative feature retraces the remarkable journey of a man who moved science from the “ivory tower” to coastal communities, ensuring high-level research served the society’s most vulnerable.

As we bid farewell to this academic giant, we celebrate a life defined by curiosity, humility and an unwavering commitment to African development. To gauge a nation’s development, one must track its annual output of scientific research and the budget allocated to innovation. In 2005, a single institution Harvard University produced more scientific papers than all African and Middle Eastern countries combined.

Within this challenging landscape, Prof Mshigeni emerged as a titan, one of the few African scholars to attain the highest global marks of academic recognition. He was a man who understood that for Africa to rise, it had to produce its own knowledge and solutions.

An inspirational scientist, mentor and astute scholar, he broke the mould of traditional fame. While streets and buildings are typically named after politicians, royals, or entertainers, the naming of the Professor Keto E. Mshigeni Mariculture Research Complex in Henties Bay, Namibia, signifies a rare breakthrough for the scholarly arena.

This facility, the largest for marine research in Africa, stands as a living legacy to a man, who dedicated his life to making the world better through the quiet, transformative power of science.

An emblem of humility and a tireless worker, Prof Mshigeni climbed the educational ladder to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of Hubert Kairuki University of Health Sciences (HKUHS). His pioneering work on seaweeds, mushrooms, medicinal plants and zero-waste systems earned him worldwide acclaim.

Throughout his career, he remained in high demand globally, driven by a passionate concern for science and a unique ability to handle tough challenges with a smile. Reflecting on his journey, his life story reveals a path of persistence that began in the small village of Mwanga, Kilimanjaro.

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Born on January 14, 1944 in Same District, he started his education at Pinji Primary, a Seventh Day Adventist mission school (1952-1955). He later attended Shuji Primary School (1958-1959) before joining the prestigious Tabora School (1960-1965).

It was there that he met influential classmates like Richard Mpopo. He eventually studied Botany, Geography and Education at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), then part of the University of East Africa. Although he was initially posted to teach at Old Moshi Secondary School, Principal Wilbert Chagula recognised his immense potential for higher academia.

Chagula saw that Mshigeni was being groomed for UDSM and arranged a Rockefeller scholarship for him to study in Hawaii in 1969.

His research journey actually began in high school with a study on ‘polygamous’ bishop birds. While many birds form monogamous pairs, he was fascinated by how one male bird could maintain several female partners. Under the guidance of his biology teacher, Mr Lennox, he investigated 40 nests by graduation, winning the East African Swynnerton-Burtt prize in 1965.

This early success foreshadowed a lifetime of discovery. Before leaving for Hawaii in 1970, he spent a year, surveying Tanzanian shores with Prof Erik Baardseth.

Due to his extensive publications during this period, he was exempted from a Master’s degree upon arrival in Hawaii. However, he faced a significant hurdle when advised against a thesis on Eucheuma seaweed due to a perceived lack of originality.

He pivoted, eventually completing his PhD on Hypnea, a species common to both Hawaii and Tanzania. Returning to Tanzania in 1974, Mshigeni completed his National Service and began lecturing at UDSM. By 1979, he had published roughly 40 papers surpassing many senior professors.

He was regarded as an exceptional scholar because he operated in an unexplored field where nearly every finding was original research. One of his colleagues describes him as a prolific mentor who supervised countless doctorate theses. Devota Kavishe, the widow of Prof Frank Kavishe, was likely among the last candidates he supervised, completing her doctorate on seaweed in Zanzibar.

In 1994, while receiving the Boutros Boutros Ghali Award in Tokyo, he lectured at the United Nations University (UNU). His work on the Zero Emissions Initiative impressed the Director so much that he was appointed a joint UN-UNESCO Chairperson for Africa.

At the request of President Sam Nujoma, he relocated to Namibia to head the project. Despite budget challenges at the UNDP, he successfully focused on fast-growing crops like seaweeds and mushrooms. His mastery of mushroom cultivation, utilising agricultural waste, led him to become a global expert and Vice-President of the World Medicinal Mushrooms Association.

His move to Namibia was a serendipitous coincidence. While at a conference in Zimbabwe, he argued that biology should be taught in the field rather than just through textbooks. This prompted Prof Shaun Russell to invite him to advise Namibia on its marine resources.

Though he had planned a sabbatical in California, Prof Mshigeni chose Namibia instead. His progress impressed the Namibian leadership and at the request of President Benjamin Mkapa, he stayed to help establish theUniversity of Namibia in 1992. He served as Pro-ViceChancellor for Academic Affairs and Research for six years before becoming the Regional Director for UNDP Africa.

A significant milestone in his later years was the launch of his seminal book titled “Curiosity and Quest for Knowledge: The Story of Keto Mshigeni” on February 27, 2026, at Kairuki University (Mikocheni Campus), just weeks before his passing. The event was officiated by Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties), who served as the Guest of Honour.

Published by Mkuki na Nyota, the autobiography chronicles his journey from a rural village in Kilimanjaro to becoming a world-renowned authority on marine biology and sustainable agriculture. It details his extensive research into seaweeds and mushrooms while integrating the traditions and proverbs of the Pare people.

The book launch was more than a book launch, it was a gathering of ideas, leadership and vision. It served as a rallying cry for young African scientists to take pride in local research.

Additionally, Prof Mshigeni coedited a notable collection titled “Lighting a Fire: 31 Inspiring Stories of Eminent Tanzania Scientists”, which highlights the paths of distinguished Tanzanian researchers to inspire future generations, which chronicled his scientific journey and the potential of Africa’s natural resources.

He often credited his success to the inspiration of his parents who lived to be 105 and mentors like Prof Baardseth and Prof Berry. His close relationship with President Nujoma allowed him to share scientific insights with African Heads of State like Kenneth Kaunda.

Throughout his journey, Prof Mshigeni collected prestigious accolades, including the Ciba Prize for pioneering seaweed farming. However, his path was marked by hurdles, such as the requirement to master German and French for his PhD. He tackled these with the spirit of the Kiswahili proverb, “Ukitaka cha uvunguni sharti uiname” (If you want what is under the bed, you must stoop), passing both within 18 months.

Inspired by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s call for universities to reach out to villages, Prof Mshigeni dedicated his career to translating complex biology into practical technology. He authored a Kiswahili guide on seaweed farming and, with support from USAID, established successful trials in Tanga, Zanzibar and Pemba.

This work transformed seaweed into a major national industry. Prof Mshigeni effectively “descended the ivory towers” to empower coastal communities.

His final message to the youth was a call to stay vigilant and “grab opportunities as they come,” a philosophy he immortalised in his story, “Lighting a Fire.” His passing leaves a void, but the fire he lit continues to burn across the continent. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Amen.