A rare video of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her late husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, locked in a tender public embrace has resurfaced online, moving thousands of viewers across the region.
The footage gained renewed attention following the news of Hafidh’s passing on Monday, September 7, 2026.
He died at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar at 8 am, reportedly after battling a heart condition. He was 76 years old.
What did the viral video show?
The clip was originally filmed during a 2020 presidential campaign rally in Zanzibar, where Samia was running as the vice presidential candidate on a ticket with the late former president John Magufuli.
Hafidh stepped onto the stage during the event and wrapped his arms around her in a moment that was warm, unscripted and clearly heartfelt.
The resurfaced clip has often circulated alongside audio from one of Samia’s widely discussed speeches about marriage and family values.
In the speech, the president spoke candidly about how, despite her powerful position on the national stage, she chose to honour her husband and submit to him at home out of love and cultural tradition.
The pairing of those words with the video of the two embracing in public has struck a particularly emotional chord with viewers who never got to see much of Hafidh in the years that followed.
What we know about Hafidh Ameir’s death
Hafidh Ameir holds the distinction of being Tanzania’s first first gentleman, a role he carried quietly and without fanfare.
A retired agricultural officer and academic, he largely stayed out of the political spotlight throughout his wife’s rise to the presidency, preferring a life away from public scrutiny.
His death was officially confirmed in a live national broadcast by Tanzania’s Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi.
The announcement prompted an outpouring of condolences from regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto.
Burial arrangements are under way in his hometown of Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, where his family intends to lay him to rest.
For many Tanzanians, the footage serves as both a tribute to the man who stood beside Africa’s first female head of state and a glimpse into a side of Samia that she rarely puts on display.
Watch the video below:
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