THE Tanzanian music fraternity's outpouring of grief following the recent demise of DJ legend Abdulhakim Magomelo was like a subconscious reaction provoked by collective guilt.

It was as if they suddenly remembered that the deceased was a true hero, a man who made an enormous contribution to the development of the current generation of Tanzanian Hip Hop artists.

DJ Kim, as he was fondly referred to by his admirers, was at the centre of music and entertainment world for close to two decades, from his early days as a DJ to head of Kim & The Boyz Promotion, a position he held until his death.

In the early 1990s, through his Kim & The Boyz Promotion, he identified and brought to the limelight some of the best dancers and Tanzanian Hip Hop artists the country has ever produced.

Famed dancers Super Ngedere, Black Moses, Ommy Cool, MC Chunusi and Othman DigaDiga are among those who shot to fame during the national dancing competitions organised by his firm.

Also through the annual Yo Rap Bonanza, Hip Hop artists like Joseph Mbilinyi aka 'Mr II' or 'Mr Sugu' hit the limelight.

Upon his death, all kinds of tributes poured in from all corners, including people who never cared what became of him since he fell sick, and later admitted at a Dar es Salaam hospital, battling against heart problems.

This trend extends to other disciplines, including soccer, as in the case of former internationals who languish in poverty after retirement, and sometimes die penniless after making their country proud during their heyday.

It appears to be a tradition. The public did the same upon the deaths of football legend Muhaji Muki and former coach Marijani Shaaban, who guided the Mainland soccer team to the Cecafa Cup title in 1974 after missing it for 20 years.

I think such men really deserve more recognition in life than they get from Tanzanians upon their deaths. I would like, therefore, to remind relevant authorities that a country without a past can not expect to have much of a future.

The outpouring of grief by the public after the death of DJ Kim, as was the case on the other fallen sports and arts heroes, was not without reason. It was yet another painful reminder that we Tanzanians do not appreciate our heroes -- music and sports heroes in particular -- while they are alive.

Unlike other countries, where sports stars and celebrities are honoured, easily recognised and sometimes feted on the streets, very few, if any, local stars enjoy such appreciation. Some former footballers and boxers, for instance, have been known to sink to such irredeemable levels that they eke out a living as night watchmen.

They carry the unenviable tag of an eyesore of retired sportsmen. They are a crying shame on how a country can neglect people who did it proud in the world of sports and entertainment.

I, therefore, appeal to relevant authorities to cultivate a culture of helping out those languishing in poverty by, for instance, assimilating them into sports management so that they do not fade into oblivion with all their knowledge.