Penina Mlama

Penina Muhando, also known as Penina Mlama (born 1948), is a Tanzanian Kiswahili playwright, and a theorist and practitioner of popular theatre in Tanzania.

Born in Tanzania, Muhando gained a BA in theater arts, a BA in education, and a PhD in language and linguistics from the University of Dar es Salaam  She rose to become professor and head of the Department of Theater Arts at the university

Plays

• 
  Hatia (Guilt), 1972


• 
  Tambueni haki zetu, 1973


• 
  Heshima yangu, 1974


• 
  Pambo (Decoration), 1975


• 
  Fasihi na sanaa za maonyesho, 1976


• 
  (with Amandina Lihamba and Ndyanao Balisidya) Harakati za ukombozi (Liberation Struggle), 1982


• 
  Nguzo mama (Mother Pillar), 1982


• 
  Abjadi yetu, 1983


• 
  Lina ubani (Antidote to Rot), 1984


• 
  Talaki si mke wangu (Woman, I Divorce You)

Other

• 
  "Creating in the Mother-Tongue: The Challenges to the African Writer Today." Research in African Literatures 21.4 (1990): 5-14


• 
  Women's participation in Communication for Development: the popular theatre alternative in Africa, 1991