an arrangement, honoured.

Sultan and Hussein Rattansi, were married on August 10, 1946. Their wedding was officiated by His Highness the Aga Khan III, Sultan Mohamed Shah (a.s.a), during his Diamond Jubilee visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika.

Hussein was born April 17, 1927 in Moshi, Tanganyika. The eldest of 6 children, he was pulled out of school in his early teens by his father to grow the family business from a corner tuck shop to a general store servicing the entire Kilimanjaro-region.

Sultan was born February 4, 1931 in Mityana, Uganda. Like Hussein, Sultan was also the eldest in her family of 9 children. Her family operated a successful tailoring and textiles business in Kampala that she dreamed of joining as a seamstress.

Sultan and Hussein’s marriage was arranged by Hussein’s parents and Sultan’s grandparents. This arrangement was made despite the protest of Sultan’s father, Amarshi Sayani, who felt she was still too young to be wed. Sultan was 15 at the time of marriage.

Despite her young age, Sultan was a very strong character and was never shy to make her presence known. Shortly after their marriage, Sultan witnessed Hussein being physically abused by his father. In an act of defiance, Sultan put herself in between her father-in-law and husband and demanded that she be beaten instead. Hussein’s father never raised a hand to him again.

Hussein Rattansi passed away in December 2013 at the age of 86. Sultan Rattansi passed away in March 2024 at the age of 93.

Hussein and Sultan are survived by their commitment to family and the honour required for it.

by Aalim Rattansi, Sultan and Hussein's grandson