Michuzi Blog
 | |
Type of site | Blog |
|---|---|
| Available in | Kiswahili |
| Owner | Issa Michuzi |
| Slogan(s) |
Swahili: Globu ya Jamii (The Community's Blog) |
| Website |
issamichuzi |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | 8 September 2005 |
| Current status | Active |
Michuzi Blog is the Kiswahili blog in Tanzania.[1] It was launched in 2005 by the Daily News photojournalist Issa Michuzi. The blog is mostly read by resident Tanzanians and assists in bridging the information gap between the diaspora and the motherland.
History
In September 2005, Michuzi had accompanied the former Tanzanian foreign minister Jakaya Kikwete who was attending the Helsinki Conference in Finland. There, he met Ndesanjo Macha who assisted him in setting up the blog.
Format
Blog entries are posted daily with news content and general updates mostly related to Tanzania. Readers have the opportunity to comment on the post, subject to approval by the moderator. The reason for the moderation is because some readers use foul language under the guise of anonymity.
The blog also posts requests from readers to make announcements of their graduation, marriage, birth of a newborn and death of their loved ones. At times, readers seek advice from the online community on various issues concerning them. Such posts are titled as Msaada Tutani.
April Fools' Day Pranks
Since 2008, Michuzi has been playing pranks on his readers on April Fools' Day:
- 2008: he announced that President Kikwete had appointed him as the District Commissioner for the newly created Tegeta District in Dar es Salaam Region. Some of his readers fell for it and congratulated him.[2]
- 2009: he announced his engagement to Tanzanian musician Rehema Chalamila (popularly known as Ray C).[3]
- 2010: he informed his blog audience that his trademark polo shirt (known as 'Ze Fulanazzz' in Kiswahili) had been sold for £1,000 and the proceeds would be used to assist 10 new bloggers. The deadline for submitting the applications was 10 April.[4]
- 2011: he issued a news alert informing his readers that he had relocated to Washington, D.C. for his new job as the White House correspondent for the Voice of America-Kiswahili.[5]
- 2012: he announced that he had been selected as the winner of an award by the (fictitious) American Celebrities Guild for his contribution in connecting people; specifically after the availability of his blog free of charge via the UhuruOne Wifi hotspots in Dar es Salaam. The prize constituted a monetary award of a cool US$800,000![6]
- 2013: he announced the creation of his music band known as "La Orchestre les Libeneke" saying it would be launched before the Saba Saba Day.[7]
- 2014: he informed his readers that he had purchased a small aircraft.[8]
Web Statistics
| Country | Visitors |
|---|---|
 Tanzania | |
 South Africa | |
 United States | |
About 84% of the web traffic comes from Tanzania.[9]
Awards
- 2011: Best Political Blog at the 1st Annual Tanzanian Blog Awards
- 2012: Local Digital Media Award by Vodacom Awards for Digital Excellence (VADE)
References
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TANZANIA'S MOST POPULAR BLOGGER ISSA MICHUZI!". sporahmagazine.blogspot.co.uk. May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Breaking News". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Ray C avishwa pete ya uchumba". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Ze Fulanazzz". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "News alert: Ankal aula! Ahamia VoA". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Ankal aula kwa kuanzisha huduma ya bure ya Wifi". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Ankal aanzisha bendi ya muziki". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "News Alert: Ankal anunua Ndege". Michuzi Blog. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ↑ "Statistics Summary for issamichuzi.blogspot.com". Alexa Internet. May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.