Tanzania’s founding father, Julius Nyerere, has been honoured with a statue outside the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
Nyerere, affectionately known as Mwalimu (Swahili for teacher), led Tanzania from its independence in 1961 until 1985. A devoted pan-Africanist, he provided sanctuary to independence fighters opposing white minority rule in southern Africa and played a pivotal role in establishing the Organisation of African Unity, later evolving into the African Union.
The AU Commission’s leader Moussa Faki Mahamat unveiled the statue during a ceremony in which several African heads of state were present and said, “This remarkable leader’s legacy encapsulates the essence of Pan Africanism, profound wisdom, and service to Africa.”
Nyerere’s commitment to unity was evident when he became prime minister of Tanganyika in 1961. Tasked with uniting a nation comprised of over 120 diverse ethnic groups, including Arab, Asian, and European minorities, he promoted Swahili as a common language and advocated for “African Socialism,” or ujamaa (familyhood).
In 1964, Tanganyika merged with the Zanzibar archipelago to form Tanzania, which later became a one-party state. Nyerere defended this system, emphasising its role in maintaining stability and asserting that Tanzanians experienced more freedom under his leadership than under British rule.
Julius Nyerere was a committed pan-Africanist who led Tanzania from its independence in 1961 until 1985.
Despite his aspirations for an egalitarian society based on cooperative agriculture, Nyerere’s vision of self-reliance without foreign aid and investment faltered, leading to economic challenges when he stepped down in 1985.
Nevertheless, Nyerere oversaw significant improvements in healthcare and literacy, earning enduring respect in Tanzania. His legacy is reflected in various landmarks, including the country’s main international airport, roads, bridges, and stadiums named in his honour.
In the 1970s, Nyerere advocated against white-minority rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa, supporting armed groups fighting against those regimes. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan paid tribute, stating, “To him, Africa’s wellbeing came first, before popular approval, personal fortune, or country wellbeing.”
Nyerere opposed the expulsion of Asians in Uganda under Idi Amin in 1972. Tensions escalated, leading Nyerere to send his army into Uganda seven years later to oust Amin.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema praised the unveiling of the statue as a “proud day” for the continent, honouring one of its iconic figures.
A trained teacher, Nyerere was the first person from Tanganyika to study at a British university, attending the University of Edinburgh in 1949. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 77, and the anniversary of his death, October 14, is observed as a public holiday.
Nyerere now joins the esteemed ranks of leaders honoured with statues outside the AU headquarters, alongside Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah and Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie, symbolising their pivotal contributions to African history and unity.
