Fatma Karume, Zanzibar’s first First Lady, dies at 97

Mama Fatma Karume, the inaugural First Lady of Zanzibar, has passed away at the age of 97. She died on Monday, September 21, 2026, following a period of declining health while receiving treatment at Lumumba Hospital.

As the widow of Zanzibar’s first president, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, she played a significant role in the island's history, particularly surrounding the 1964 Revolution and the subsequent formation of the United Republic of Tanzania. She served as First Lady from 1964 until her husband's assassination in 1972. Beyond her ceremonial role, she was noted for her work mobilizing women through the Afro-Shirazi Party to participate in nation-building.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed condolences, describing the death as a loss to both the family and the nation. Mama Fatma was the mother of former Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume and diplomat Ali Abeid Karume.

Her funeral services are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Following prayers at the Masjid Jaamiu Zinjibar in Mazizini, she will be laid to rest at the family cemetery in Mbweni.