Seko Shamte

Seko Shamte grew up in Dar es Salaam but spent some of her early years in the United States of America as well as Asia. Her parents, Fulgence and Antonia Tingitana, father an engineer and mother, an education specialist encouraged the development of her writing skills by sending her to writing camps over the summer holidays.[2] At Mzizima High School where she studied she formed an appreciation for history and music. She played the violin and was the chairperson of the music club.[3] During a talent show at Zanaki Secondary School, she was a visiting performer for Radio One. At 17 years that performance went on to give her an entry into the media industry, with her own show on East Africa Radio.[3]

After finishing her BSC in finance with a minor in media at Marymount College Manahattan College and in 2005 she went to work at East Africa Television as the Head of Programming.[1] During her time at the television station she saw the creation and televising of the popular television programs Ze Comedy, Friday Night Live, 5 Live! and Nirvana.[1] Ze Comedy is the highest ever rated comedy sketch show on Tanzanian television.[4]

Seko Shamte started her own production company, Alkemist Media in 2008.[5] producing programmes and films about Tanzania and Africa for international distribution. Starting with features on CNN's Inside Africa, including a story on Hashim Thabeet, Tanzania's NBA basketball player and his contribution to his community in Tanzanians; a story on the migration of Maasai men in Tanzania. (Inside Story) This was followed by a series of other pieces for CNN, ABC networks in the United States and BBC in the UK.[1]