He was born in Raha Leo, Zanzibar and was educated in local primary and secondary schools.

He started working in government service in 1954, with a three-year period of study at the College of Philosophy in Ghana.

Following the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964, he was appointed the area commissioner for Pemba.

He remained in this position until 1965, when he joined the Tanzanian foreign service.

[1] After his foreign service, he moved back to Tanzania to become a member of parliament and held various positions as minister.