Passion or Profession: author

Period: 1909–1962

Shaaban was born in the village of Vibambani, which was founded by Germans (from whom his father received the last name Robert). He worked as a clerk in a colonial office his whole life but was famous for his writings (much of it political), which included poetry, essays, and philosophy. One of his most famous works is an autobiography entitled Maisha Yangu (“My Life,” 1949). Roberts worked closely with Julius Nyerere in the struggle for independence and is known as the “Father of Swahili modern literature.”