Aziz Musa Hassam Valiani
October 13, 1942 – January 22, 2022
On August 31, 2016, Aziz Musa Hassam Valiani celebrated 50 years in Canada. He arrived to Naicam, Saskatchewan as a public school teacher, and continued in the Calgary public school system for years after his official retirement in 1997. He was one of the early Shia Ismaili Muslims in Calgary, moving from Saskatchewan in 1967. Prior to that, he had taught in Nairobi, after leaving home in Tanzania, in the late 1950s. Aziz loved travel, world politics, history, teaching, music, nature, food and physical activity. He was among the first teachers to bring stories of Africa, anti-colonial struggles and inequality to Calgary classrooms — and he did this in a spirit of honour, justice, and pride. He passed away in the late evening of January 22. He is survived by his children, Salimah and Arafaat Valiani, Phumi Mtetwa, grand-daughters, Safa Loan-Valiani and Maleeah Yamanua Mtetwa-Valiani, and long time friend, Zebunnisha Nanjuwany Valiani, as well as other family across Canada, the US, Europe and East Africa. In 2016, a happy moment, Aziz said Shukhuru Mungu (Thanks to God in Swahili), Shukhrun Alhamdulillah (Thank you Allah in Arabic)! His family and loved ones say Shukhuru Mungu, Shukhrun Alhamdulillah for his life, blessings, and the love that surrounded him. We pray for his peaceful transition and return to beloved Rasulullah.
Published on January 30, 2022