Erick Mchome
Dorothy Kipeja is a young female entrepreneur who has managed to set a striking mark both in the entertainment and education sector in Tanzania. She rarely makes a public appearance, but what she does speaks volumes about her.

Blurb: Doing business, being a mother and a wife isn’t simple, but if you have a passion for something, then you are likely to excel.

She currently owns Tripod Media which specialises in the production of different television programmes including documentaries, music, videos clips and films.

Born 27 years ago in Morogoro region and raised by a single mother Ms Gloriosa Maganga, the slender middle height woman seems to have it all since her childhood.

She completed her primary education at Chang’ombe Primary School two years earlier than the normal average age of 15 and joined Jangwani Girls Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.

Later, she went to Jitegemee High School to pursue her A Level in Swahili, English and French.

“I wanted to be a linguistic because I was fluent in both English and French,” she says.

“While in High School, my cousin from the US convinced my mother to take me there for a degree course,” she says.

In January, 2001, she went to Xavier University in Ohio, US for a B.A in communication, majoring in electronic media.

Dorothy reveals that, by then, being the only daughter of 17 years old, her mum found it hard to let her go.    

“At first, while in the US I stayed with my cousin, but I was still feeling lonely as I found it hard to cope with the learning environment,” she says.

Having being raised by an independent mother, with the exposure she got in the US, she thought of establishing her own company in Tanzania.

“When I came back for holidays, I shared the business idea with my mother. She took it serious and told me to prepare a business proposal.”

“My mother translated my words into actions. She raised some money and bought the essential equipment ready to start the company,” she says.

In January 2003, Tripod Media was officially born under her mother’s supervision.  By then, Dorothy was still studying in the US.

At the launching time, coincidentally, Lady Jay Dee, a local musician had her second album entitled ‘Binti’ in the market. Through Tripod Media, she produced her video clips for ‘Siri Yangu’ and ‘Wanaume kama mabinti.’

These were among the first video clips that introduced the company to the market.

“We felt the company started at the right time because between 2003 and 2004, we produced a lot of successful products including ‘Hi’ and ‘Ladies Free’ of Dully Sykes.

Since the Tanzania entertainment and media industries are fast growing, Dorothy knew she needed the appropriate skills to cope with the challenges of the day.  So, in 2004, she transferred to South African School of Motion Picture and Live Performance for a B.A in Motion Pictures.  

“Studying and running a company wasn’t easy, but thanks God in 2006 I graduated and became a full time video producer,” she says.
 
The company now has six permanent employees and boasts having worked with reputable organisations like UNICEF, FHI, Zain and WAMA.

The young entrepreneur, despite being busy and time conscious, but she puts her family needs first.

“I can’t come to the office if my husband or daughter is sick.  I would rather work from home as I take care of them. I don’t want to regret if anything happens to them while I’m not around,” she says.

Talking of how she met her husband Mirza Ngoshani, a lawyer, she says at first, no one thought the two would make chemistry. But later, the love that flared was stronger than what they anticipated.

In 2008, they exchanged their vows and now they are blessed with a three-year-old daughter, Mischa.

Dorothy says she is just like any other woman except that when it comes to beauty and fashion, she chooses according to functions and places.

“I wear anything that makes me comfortable.”

According to Dorothy, the secret behind her dark soft skin is a result of natural products she uses.

“If I have to do scrubbing, then local products with coconut ingredients will be my first choice.”

“Doing business, being a mother and a wife isn’t simple, but with passion, one can excel. So today I am successful not out of sheer luck, but through hard work.”

Whenever she has some free time, she prefers watching television or spending some quality time with her family.

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