Neema Asenga Kyando
Lovingly known as “Prof. Neema”
21 March 1952 — 8 June 2024 · aged 72
Chemistry professor at Dar es Salaam who made clean water her life's work
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Born in Tukuyu, Mbeya Region Resting at Family home, Tukuyu, Mbeya RegionAbout Neema
On the shelf in Professor Neema Kyando's office at Mlimani stood two jars: one of cloudy river water, and one of clear water, labelled in her firm hand 'Before' and 'After'. Every visitor was handed the clear one to taste. 'That,' she would say, 'is a village you will never have to visit with a coffin.' She spent forty years making that jar possible.
Neema was born in 1952 in Tukuyu, in the green highlands of Mbeya, the daughter of a Moravian schoolteacher who believed science was a form of prayer. She studied chemistry at the University of Dar es Salaam, took her master's at the University of Nairobi and her doctorate at the University of Birmingham, and returned to Mlimani in 1979 as a lecturer. She rose to Professor in 1996 and served as Head of the Department of Chemistry from 2001 to 2007. Her research on natural water purification using crushed moringa seeds has been used in dozens of villages along the shores of Lake Nyasa and Lake Victoria.
She supervised thirty-one master's and doctoral students, many of them women, whom she hosted in her home on Sunday evenings with ugali, fried dagaa and ruthless questions about their data. She was a soprano in the choir at Azania Front Lutheran Church, wore bright kanga to every faculty board and sent a handwritten thank-you note after every conference she attended. She was widowed in 2010 and spent her retirement tutoring secondary school girls in science at her kitchen table.
Neema died in Dar es Salaam in June 2024, aged seventy-two, after a short illness. She leaves her son, her daughter, seven grandchildren and thousands of former students who still carry her voice into the laboratory.
“A clear jar of water is the shortest proof that chemistry loves people.”
- Faith
- Christian
- Place of birth
- Tukuyu, Mbeya Region
- Resting place
- Family home, Tukuyu, Mbeya Region
- Passed away
- 8 June 2024, Dar es Salaam
Memorial Service
Friday, 14 June 2024 at 12:00 UTC
Add to calendarLife journey
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
University of Dar es Salaam1971 – 1975 · Dar es Salaam
One of only four women in her chemistry cohort.
Master of Science
University of Nairobi1976 – 1978 · Nairobi
Researched water chemistry in Rift Valley lakes.
PhD in Chemistry
University of Birmingham1980 – 1984 · Birmingham
Her thesis on natural coagulants laid the base for her life's work.
Lecturer, then Professor of Chemistry
University of Dar es Salaam1979 – 2018 · Dar es Salaam
Supervised thirty-one master's and doctoral students.
Head of Department of Chemistry
University of Dar es Salaam2001 – 2007 · Dar es Salaam
Doubled the number of women on the departmental staff.
Women in Science Excellence Award
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology2009 · Dar es Salaam
For water research and mentoring young women in science.
Choir soprano
Azania Front Lutheran Church1985 – 2024 · Dar es Salaam
Sang every Sunday and organised the Christmas concert.
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Family & connections
Neema is survived by
- Joseph Kyando· Son
- Upendo Kyando· Daughter
- Dr. Rebecca Mwakyambiki· Sister
- 7 grandchildren· Grandchildren
Tributes & memories
6 people have shared a memory of Neema.
Knew Neema? Share a memory with the family and everyone who loved them.
Sign in to write a tribute- KM
Research collaborator, Bonn
We met at a water conference in 1998 and collaborated for twenty-six years by letter, email and, finally, video. Neema never rushed a result and never published a number she had not tasted in the field. Her moringa jars sit on my desk.
- JM
Nephew, Tukuyu
Shangazi Neema paid my secondary school fees in 2002, and every year after wrote me a letter ending in the same line: 'Water is life, and you are the one to carry it.' I am now a water engineer for the Mbeya region.
- UK
Daughter
Mama taught me chemistry in the kitchen. Salt, sugar, rice, tea, everything was a lesson. When she was ill she asked me to make her a cup of tea and said, 'Watch the colour.' I watched. It was perfect. I made three more.
- RM
Former student, now lecturer at Sokoine University
In my first year Professor Neema asked me the one question I could not answer, then told me, 'Good. Now you have a research project.' She sat with me every evening that term. I now supervise girls whose names she would be proud of.
- SM
Pastor, Azania Front Lutheran Church
Neema was a soprano who could carry the whole choir through a failing generator. She sang the last verse of every hymn as if she knew where the water was coming from. We will sing it for her on Sunday, a little flat, as she would permit.
- MJ
Colleague at the University of Dar es Salaam
Neema chaired departmental meetings with a stopwatch and a flask of tea. Nobody was allowed to speak for more than three minutes, including the Dean. We finished on time for six years. Since her retirement the meetings have never ended before dark.
