Once upon a time, nestled in the azure embrace of the Indian Ocean lies the enchanting island of Zanzibar, a paradise like no other. As the gentle breeze whispers through the palm trees, it carries with it the tantalizing scent of spices that have enchanted travelers for centuries. There was a guy named Ludba Halim, a 28-year-old handsome guy who had a dream of living a great life and becoming famous like other famous people from the island, such as football players like Feisal Salum Feytoto, Mudathir Yahaya, Entrepreneurs like Bakharesa, Bopar, Artists musicians like Bi kidude and Makame Faki. Since he was young at age of 16 Ludba used to picture himself on T.V having interviews, podcasting and shows, he really enjoyed watching and listening to people and wished one day he could become like one of them, he believed that becoming famous can bring a lot of changes and become successful in his life, with a heart full of ambition and a relentless drive, Ludba yearned to carve his own path to success, determined to leave a mark on the world. But beneath his outward determination lay a restless soul, constantly seeking that one opportunity to propel him towards his dreams. Whether it was through entrepreneurship, creative pursuits, or venturing into the unknown, Ludba was always on the lookout for the chance to shine. At the moment he was just a local designer that kept him on his journey to his success of living a good life and become like one of the famous people, and so his story began.

One day he was on his way home around 5:30 pm coming back from a football match at MAO Zedong Stadium, the famous football pitch in town area in Zanzibar, where many big football matches are being played. Habib spoke to Ludba with an excited tone with a smile on his face “Yow, have you heard about the audition?”, Habib is Ludba’s childhood best friend since 2009, Habib likes to play football and believes in talent. When Ludba moved to a place called Kikwajuni in 2009 he met Habib, it was when he became friends with Habib since then, these two are always there for each other, they were so close and became more like brothers, people from the streets call them “Pwagu and Pwaguzi” those names are from a story that is being told by the elders, a story of two brothers that were unseparated and that’s how those two were, Habib and Ludba. “No man which audition?” Ludba replied, “the one that everybody is talking about man, it’s all about showing your talent, sharing your ideas and many more! I think I might sign up for this” with hope and excitement Habib said, Ludba laughs out loud and makes a joke on Habib “Man you are joking, what talent are you going to show? You got none my brother, you think your football skills are going to amaze the judges, who do you think you are, RONALDINHO? HAHAHA” he kept on laughing at him, these two joke around all the time even when it’s something serious. “Okay you will see, you think I only have one talent, have you forgotten that I play Qanun, HUH!?” Habib replied while looking at Ludba’s face with a funny face, trying to get back at him with his jokes. Habib was taking lessons at DCMA (Dhow Country Music Association) an institution where people go to learn and play music, it is where many of the Zanzibarian Famous International Musician came from, like Bi kidude and Siti Amina, these two were the Queens of Taarab Music, may their souls rest in peace. They continued joking around until they got home, “See you tomorrow dream chaser!” Habib said to Ludba, “See you tomorrow brother” Ludba replied back to Habib. “A dream Chaser”, that’s what Ludba calls himself, since he had many dreams and ready to take action of them, he once had a dream of becoming a big entrepreneur and have his own Branded Company called “FLYBOY BRAND” where he could produce his own accessories like t-shirts, caps and many more, big dreams.

“You should try something else brother, you got talent and ambition, I know you will come up with something good, I believe in you, you have never let me down just keep on pushing”, Ludba’s brother Dula was on the phone trying to encourage Ludba. Dula always believed in Ludba, he knows how much he wants to be out there to be seen and live a great sustainable life, he believes in his creativity and he is a hardworking guy. “Alright I will keep on trying but I don’t think I have got much energy left for this, since I have tried a lot of things and yet nothing happened, it’s like I am still stuck in the “who am I and what I am capable of doing, but no pressure” mdogo mdogo tutafika” (in Swahili: slowly will get there)” Ludba said to Dula.

The next day, at 7:30 am at his mother’s Workshop. Ludba is currently working at his mother’s Workshop “KITENGE WORKSHOP”, it is in Stone Town area a place called Malindi. In Zanzibar Island the Stone Town area lies about 100 of workshops or more, they represent different cultural things, many of them represent Zanzibarian culture, dresses made from Kanga and Kitenge, bags made from coconut tree branches called “Mkoba wa Ukili” it’s a very impressing bag that does not go out of fashion since in the 80’s, art crafts and drawings of the stone town streets, beautiful beaches and people, that shows the beauty of the Island and its history. Ludba was trying to design and make a stylish dress for a fashion show event that he was given a chance to present his work there. Suddenly out of nowhere a beautiful lady walks in, “Hello, I am here to see Ludha” the beautiful lady in Hijjab said, Ludba sighs! Tiredly, and answers “Sorry lady, it’s Ludba with a B Not H”, “Sorry my bad” the lady quickly replied. “Come in how can I help you Miss….?” Ludba said to the lady while starring at her, “Miss Ringariye” the lady answered calmly. Ludba posed and started thinking, guessing, is it a real name or she just made it up, Ludba replied ironically “Ringariye you say, is that your real name or your Instagram name, never mind how can I help you?”. Ringariye with an angry face answered, knowing that Ludba didn’t believe her, “I am here for the outfits that you were supposed to submit them yesterday for today’s event, I hope they are ready LUDHA!” said his name out loud. Ludba looked at her in such a way that he wishes she wouldn’t have make fun of his name, because one thing that he hates the most is someone making fun of his name, “It’s LUDBA L.U.D.B.A miss Ringa…… whatever!” spelled out his name with anger to Ringariye, and continued “the outfits are ready but I wasn’t told that you were coming to collect them, but it’s okay here they are”. Ringariye rolled her eyes and replied “Thank you, don’t be late for the event, Bye”. Ludba didn’t like her reaction and didn’t reply back to her, he kept quiet and look for something else to keep him busy ignoring her. Ringariye left without paying attention if Ludba replied back to her or not.

Later on, the Audition that Habib signed and was about to participate, it was the same day of the event that Ludba was attending, they both couldn’t make it to each other’s event, how sad was it to miss your best friend’s big and special event. Habib was so excited, he was going to show his talent and win the audition, since he was the greatest Qanun player from his class. “Hey, where are you? Am about to go, I am showing off my talent, I will be playing the Qanun tonight” Habib’s on the phone exciting telling Ludba, “Sorry brother I have an event at Ngome Kongwe at the moment, you do what you got to do, good luck man” Ludba calmly replying back to Habib knowing that Habib might get upset but he had no choice, “Okay bro good luck to you too” Habib replied back with positive energy, they both understood that everyone was where they should be and how important it was for them. Many International events that are happening in Zanzibar are held at Ngome Kongwe, it is also known as The Old Fort, it is located at Stone Town the Capital of Zanzibar, on the main seafront adjacent to another landmark building of the city, the House of Wonders (BAIT-AL-AJAIB) and facing the Forodhani Gardens, it is the oldest building and a major visitor attraction of Stone Town, it has a great history and many things to tell, but that’s another story for another time. So, after the event finished, Ludba was introduced to an old lady, her name is Asha Said the owner of a Modeling house in Zanzibar called “D Fashion with Models”, Asha was age of 50 with a good taste of fashion, she designed many latest fashion clothes for many events to different people, she dresses the famous musicians from SITI AND THE BAND, the live musical band that is doing really great in the Island and well known internationally from their performance, their music and from its historical band name that came from the Queen of Taarab herself Bi Siti.

Asha and Ludba had a conversation on modeling and designing, Ludba badly wanted to know how Asha became successful and famous from her work. He didn’t want to lose that one opportunity he had, standing and having a conversation with Asha, Ludba took a chance with confidence and asked Asha, “Am I ever going to be like you Asha?”, Asha sighs! And chuckled with a smile on her face, putting her hand on Ludba’s shoulder and answered in a very polite way “like me? Who am I, matter of fact who are you, and why are you trying to be like me, of course you cannot be like me because I am Asha and you are you, be yourself my child do not try to be someone else”, Ludba faced down nodding his head slowly, realizing that the key to become successful is within himself and not trying to do or become like someone else because every human being has his/her own path to reach his/her goals. He left that night with a positive mindset and kept on remembering the conversation he had with Asha, he was feeling very lucky, and the night kept on favoring him with surprising moments to come.

On his way back home he stopped at LUKMAN’s restaurant to buy some food, as he was so hungry and tired, he could eat two plates of Pizza by himself, they only served bites and drinks from the event that he came from. The restaurant place was calm at that time, it is the most lovable place that people love to go eat, it’s food is delicious, with different dishes, Swahili food like Biriani, Pilau, Ugali with chicken roast, sea food, fresh fruit drinks and fruits, everyone on the Island loves to go eat there whether if it’s individual, family or friends, if it’s having dinner, lunch or breakfast, LUKMAN is the best place. “Can I have Chicken Boko Boko please?” Ludba ordered a tasty dish that it is usually cooked most in Ramadhan times, while he was on the waiting line he saw Ringariye at the table, drinking juice chilling all by herself, he was happy to see her but he was also thinking things might get hasty like at the Workshop earlier. He wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea and okay to go and say “hi” to her. In a quiet voice talking to himself “should I say hi and leave or should I just leave and act like I didn’t see her, this is so weird!”. Slowly walking towards her, he decided to say “hi”. “Miss Ringariye I didn’t see you at the event” Ludba nervously called her name first and forgetting to say “hi” to her and rushed to ask her why she wasn’t at the event. Ringariye looked at him with an angry expression and tried to ignore him, but she couldn’t because she wasn’t that type of a person, instead she answered with lower energy, for him to just go away, “that’s none of your business, my where about is none of your concern Tailor, and besides aren’t you supposed to say hi first or something before calling someone’s name and start asking questions?”, Ludba chuckled with a smile on his face nervously knowing that he messed up, he tries to laugh to show her that it’s nothing, then he replied, “Okay I didn’t mean to be rude, I was just asking, I think we have got off on the wrong foot, you don’t have to be hasty like that, I am sorry, let me start over. Hi my name is Ludba I am a designer from Kitenge Workshop, I would kindly like us to be friends and I apologize for earlier today, can I company you or buy you some food?”, Ringariye gave him the thinking face and acted like she was about to say something harsh to him, then she replied “okay I am Ringariye, thank you but no thank you I am good, but you can join me, sit down and please I don’t want you to have any ideas that will make me regret letting you sit here with me”, Ludba replied quickly and sat down “okay I won’t”.

They started talking and bonding, they kept talking and had a great friendly conversation, Ludba joked much about the situation earlier and started to make Ringariye feel comfortable and started laughing. Ringariye liked Ludba, she kept listening to his jokes, asked him how the event went, Ludba told her everything and how he was introduced to Asha Said, how excited he was. In the end of their conversation they exchanged numbers and gave each other their social media accounts. Ludba walks her out of the restaurant trying to be friendly and a gentleman, “so I am taking a boda boda way back home, what about you?” Ringariye asked Ludba, he replied “I will just walk, it is not that far, I am living nearby don’t worry, you be safe”, “thank you I will” she replied with a smile. “how much is it going to be, I would kindly like to pay since you didn’t want me to buy you anything, I insist, let me pay the guy, where are you heading?” Ludba confidently asked “that’s so kind of you, thank you I am heading home Mbweni, how much would it be?” she asked the boda boda guy, “five thousand” he answered. Ludba without hesitating paid the guy and said goodbye to Ringariye, he walked back home talking to himself all the way home, “tonight was my luckiest night, I am going to sleep like a baby, I can’t wait to text her”. Walking with one hand in his pocket with a big smile on his face, walking with confidence humming a love a song “mmmmmh mmmmhh just the way you are”.