Meet Jokate Mwegelo: Tanzanian Actress, Entrepreneur and District Commissioner
Jokate Mwegelo is an actress,TV hostess, singer and entrepreneur.
Born March 20, 1987 in Washington, D.C., where her parents worked, Mwegelo was raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She started primary school at Olympio Primary School and attended St. Anthony High School, graduating from Loyola High School, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. She attended the University of Dar Es Salaam, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and philosophy.
She was first runner up in the Miss Tanzania beauty contest.She was also named Redds fashion ambassador and Citizen newspaper ambassador, after receiving the most votes that year. Before Miss Tanzania, she competed in Miss Kurasini 2006, which she won, advancing to the Miss Temeke 2006 contest, which she also won.
In 2007, she made her film debut in the movie called Fake Pastors, with Vincent Kigosi, Lisa Jensen, second runner up Miss Tanzania 2006 and the late Adam Kuambiana. In 2008, she acted in the movie, From China With True Love. In 2010, she appeared in Chumo, a movie produced by Media for Development International, about malaria education. It earned her the 2011 Zanzibar International Film Festival best actress award and a Pan-African actress of the year nomination, at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. She was also featured in the TV series, Siri Ya Mtungi, produced by Jordan Riber and directed by Karabani, in 2013.
In 2014, she played “Ndekwa” in Mikono Salama, which earned her another Zanzibar International Film Festival award for best actress in Swahili films.
In October 2012, she officially launched her company goes by name Kidoti Loving Company Limited, the launch went together with introduction of her new hairline. The company did well and in December 2014, she founded Kidoti. She partnered with RainBow Shell Craft, from China.
She is also CEO of Kidoti Company.Her company produces slippers, wigs, school bags and other fashion accessories, under the Kidoti brand. Her company introduced the Be Kidotified campaign to empower students. Her firm has worked with Mohammed Dewji. In March 2017, Clouds Media Group honored her with the Malkia wa Nguvu Award in business innovation in Tanzania.In 2017 she was nominated at Africa Youth Awards for Entrepreneur Of The Year and her company Kidoti was nominated for Startup Of The Year.
Mwegelo was featured in Japo Nafasi by Cpwaa and with A.Y. (musician) in Kings and Queen, with Amani (musician), from Kenya. In 2013, she released a song with Lucci, called ‘Kaka na Dada. In 2015, she dropped her another song called “Leo” featuring Ice Prince from Nigeria.
In 2011, she hosted Top Ten Most,on Channel O with Denrele Edun from Nigeria. It counted down the most influential African artists. In 2013, she hosted with Ice Prince.
She was also the red carpet host at Channel O Music Video Awards in 2011, held in Sandton Convention Centre, in Sandton South Africa.
In 2014, Mwegelo hosted the show, Beat the challenge, together with Ugandan host Gaetano Kagwa. The show was broadcast by DSTV channel Maisha Magic.
In 2015, Mwegelo hosted Mashariki Max, with Sarah Hassan, from Kenya on StarTimes.
She hosted the Tanzania Music Awards, in 2008 and 2010. In 2013, she was the red carpet host for the 2013 Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards, with Millard Ayo. She also hosted the KTMA social media lounge, with the Sam Misago. In 2014 she hosted the Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards Social Media Lounge.
In 2011 and 2015 she won Zanzibar International Film Festival award for best actress. In 2017, Mwegelo was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Africa. August 2017 she was named by Africa Youth Awards as among of 100 Most Influential Young Africans.
On 28 July 2018, president of Tanzania John Magufuli appointed Jokate Mwegelo as a new District Commissioner of Kisarawe district in Pwani region. She is one of Tanzania’s young influential entrepreneurs.
