NYERERE: 'SELF-RULE IS NOT A FAVOUR'

​​Today, we celebrate the 103rd birthday of Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922-99), the first president of Tanzania.

Born in 1922 in the village of Butiama, Nyerere grew up in Tanganyika, under British control per a League of Nations mandate, before it united with Zanzibar in 1964 to form what we now know as the United Republic of Tanzania.

Fondly referred to as 'Mwalimu,' meaning teacher in Swahili, Nyerere was not just a leader but a passionate anti-colonialist and political thinker, serving as president from 1964 until 1985.

His journey was far from straightforward. Nyerere emerged as a symbol of determination, challenging the imperialist narrative that claimed Africa was unprepared for self-governance. This powerful moment from a 1960 interview showcases a young Nyerere firmly rejecting colonialist assumptions, stating that Europeans granting independence was them restoring a right that had been unjustly taken. He argued that the question of African readiness for self-rule was irrelevant, as we had successfully managed our affairs long before colonisation.

Nyerere joined our ancestors on 14 October 1999 in London, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.

Sources

https://www.eac.int/about-ncpr/julius-nyerere-biography

https://www.pambazuka.org/nyerere-nationalism-and-pan-africanism

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2019-11/the-legacy-of-mwalimu-julius-kambarage-nyerere.html

https://www.workers.org/2009/world/julius_nyerere_1105/