Filipo was born, raised and partly educated in Tanzania. He did his undergraduate degree at the University of Dar es Salaam, in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. Filipo enjoys teaching. Before coming to Pitt in August 2016, he taught Swahili at the University of Wisconsin Madison, Ohio University and University of Florida. Filipo likes involving himself around activities related to creating and developing digital resources for learning and promoting Swahili language. He is curently a board member of the Global Association for the Promotion of Swahili (CHAUKIDU). Apart from teaching Swahili, Filipo also enjoys writing Swahili novels and poems.