PROFILE : Remember a girl called Martina Chambiri?

Sometime in 1995, a five-year-old girl’s sweet voice hit the airwaves with a song about Tanzania. The song, which many still remember to-date and which became a hit for some time, thanks to the sweetness of the little girl’s babyish voice, was in praise of the country’s beauty.

Tanzania ee, nchi yangu ee, yapendeza ee, karibuni muione. Sura yake yavutia, kila kona, kwa maziwa na bahari, nchi kavu na mipaka.

So goes the first verse.

In the song, which was sung in both Swahili and Latin, the little girl invited people outside Tanzania to come and see the country’s beauty. The little girl, Martina Chambiri, then a nursery school pupil in Dar es Salaam sang the song at an international children’s singing festival dubbed Zecchino d’Oro in Rome, Italy. The festival brought together participants from schools run by Catholic nuns from different countries.

Martina was a pupil at a nursery school in Kawe in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam called Clara, which was run by nuns from Verona, Italy. The school had organised a competition to select a pupil to represent it in the competition in Italy, and the lucky pupil happened to be Martina Chambiri.

In Italy, Martina was the only child from Africa participating in the singing festival that brought together children from 12 countries. She emerged third in the competition.

Recalling how it happened, Martina says; “We did an audition at the school but since I was very young I couldn’t tell exactly what I was doing. I just remember singing and after few days, my parents were told that I was selected to go to Italy.”

It is after she returned from Italy and her song was on radio and TV that people became aware of what had happened in Italy.

“Soon after the competition, people became aware that there was a child out there who had gone to represent the country in an international children’s singing festival.”

When Martina returned to the country, she was invited to the State House where she met President Kikwete who was then the Foreign Affairs minister.

“There were other officials as well and I sang the song before them,” says the first born in a family of two.

Twenty years on, the little famous nursery school girl, has now grown into a 25-year-old-young woman, that people still recognise today. Those who saw her sing the song on TV then still recognise her face when they meet her.

“I still realise that what I did back then as a child means something to some people. A good number of people still remember me and I always get stares. For instance just last weekend when I was at the salon, there was this woman who recognised me. She was so surprised and asked if I was Martina. She told me that my face hasn’t changed at all,” Martina explains.

Martina says some people tell her how their children used to refuse to go to school when her song was being played on the radio or TV. They would insist on listening or watching her sing first and go to school later. Martina feels good about this but says she at times feels like she does not deserve all the praise alone. “Because all I had to do that time was to sing the song.”

Keeping a low profile

She thinks the person who deserves the credit was her teacher, Mr Kapinga who composed the song.

Today Martina who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya, works part time with a financial institution in the city. She is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

While Martina’s song won the hearts of many back then hence earning her fame, she managed to keep a low profile all along those years.

But how was this possible? Martina says an uncle’s piece of advice did the trick. While growing up, one of her uncles told her the pros and cons of being in the public eye.

“Since then I have learnt to keep my life private. I see no need to be in the public eye when it’s not necessary. I always try to avoid that kind of life that would require putting my private life in the open. And I am happy to have achieved that,” explains Martina.

Her parents too played a major role in her keeping a low profile. They wanted her to concentrate on her studies first and do music later on if that was what she wanted to do. And while Martina has not been in the limelight for so many years, she knows how much she touched many people with her song back then.

While Martina likes music, she has no plans to pursue a career as a musician. She would love to work closely with musicians though.

“I wouldn’t want to be into music per se. I am more interested in supporting artists than being a singer myself,” she explained. “I think I would enjoy it more if I were to become a judge in talent search competitions or having my own talent search show.”

She likes watching international talent search competitions such as the American Idol and The Voice.

Five years ago, Martina’s family received a blow when her father passed away. Her eyes welled with tears when she spoke about her father’s demise.

“I was very close to my father. However, his death has brought my mother, my younger sister and I closer as a family than ever before,” she says.

Just a normal girl

Martina is a firm believer in God and believes that God always listens and helps those who work hard to achieve their goals and not otherwise. That is why she has never considered using her name to get favours from anyone.

“I am just a normal and simple girl and I’d rather be known for my accomplishments and for things that I am good at, rather than be known for that image I had when I was a child,” she explains.

“Whatever I did back then, however big or small, I am glad that it had an impact on the nation. And that’s it. I don’t wish to use my name or image as a ticket for me to have any kind of favours in life because I believe I am capable and intelligent enough.”

One of the things that Martina enjoys doing during her spare time is sleep. “I love to sleep a lot and when not at home, I like going out with friends and meeting new people. I also love to travel a lot and am an open and outspoken person too. When I don’t like something, then I will tell you right there and then,” she explains. Commenting on the forthcoming election, Martina believes young people have a role to play to ensure we get the president that we want.

“During the years that I spent in Kenya, I learnt that the country has a strong political system and the social media contributed much to that. Things are changing in our country too as people are becoming more aware of what is happening politically through social media.”

“People are keen in politics especially the youth and I hope this will help us make the right decision on the kind of leaders we want to take us forward when the time comes.”

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