Anthony B Almeida R.I.B.A

January 14, 1921 – March 17, 2019.

Born in Dar es Salaam when it was the main town and port of the British ruled Tanganyika. His parents were immigrants from the Portuguese ruled colony of Goa (India). In 1931 he attended secondary education in Bangalore (part of British ruled India). Post senior school education qualified as an architect in 1947 at the Sir J.J School of Architecture in Bombay (now Mumbai) and was enrolled as chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Having returned to Africa in October 1948, he established his own architectural practice in 1950 under the name of Anthony B. Almeida R.I.B.A, Chartered Architect. Bulk of the works he designed during the period 1950 to 1954 consisted of typical commercial cum residential, two or three storied buildings for the Asian community.

In 1955 he designed the St Xavier’s co-educational primary school for 500 pupils for the Goan community and which was part funded by the Education department. The school project showcased his talent for innovative design and many prestigious and important projects followed.

In November 1960, Anthony Almeida received the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator from the Presidency Minister and Vice President of Portugal and was made a chevalier (member) of the order. This was awarded in recognition of the Vasco da Gama memorial at Malindi which he designed.

In 1965 he was appointed by the Government Minister of Education to serve on the Advisory Council on Education.

In 2007, Anthony Almeida featured in a documentary by Jord den Hollander called Many Words for Modern in which he was recognised as being the first to bring new architectural modernism to Tanzania in which his designs were perfectly adapted to the tropical climate of East Africa.

His single architectural partnership practice which started in 1950 came to an end in December 2013 though he remained a lifelong member of the RIBA.

Anthony Almeida also took a keen interest in the preservation of Tanzania’s culture and heritage and used satirical cartoons to make a point some of which were published.