Julius Nyerere

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Lore & Background

Nyerere was born on 13 April 1922 in Mwitongo, an area of the village of Butiama in Tanganyika's Mara Region. He was one of 25 surviving children of Nyerere Burito, the chief of the Zanaki people. At birth he was given the personal name 'Mugendi' but this was soon changed to 'Kambarage', the name of a female rain spirit, at the advice of a diviner. He began his education at the Native Administration School in Mwisenge, Musoma in February 1934, about 35 km from his home. His academic excellence allowed him to gain a government scholarship to attend the elite Tabora Government School. In March 1942, during his final year at Tabora, his father died. Nyerere then decided to be baptised as a Roman Catholic; at his baptism, he took on the name 'Julius'. He studied at Makerere College in Uganda from 1943 to 1947, where he deepened his Catholicism and studied the Papal Encyclicals and the work of Catholic philosophers like Jacques Maritain, but was most influenced by the writings of John Stuart Mill. In July 1943, he wrote a letter to the Tanganyika Standard arguing that capitalism was alien to Africa and that the continent should turn to 'African socialism'. In 1952 he returned to Tanganyika, married, and worked as a school teacher. In 1954, he helped form TANU, through which he campaigned for Tanganyikan independence. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Nyerere preached non-violent protest. Elected to the Legislative Council in the 1958–1959 elections, he then led TANU to victory at the 1960 general election, becoming prime minister. Negotiations with the British authorities resulted in independence in 1961. In 1962, Tanganyika became a republic, with Nyerere elected as its first president. His administration pursued decolonisation and the 'Africanisation' of the civil service while promoting unity between indigenous Africans and the country's Asian and European minorities. He encouraged the formation of a one-party state and unsuccessfully pursued the Pan-Africanist formation of an East African Federation with Uganda and Kenya. A 1963 mutiny within the army was suppressed with British assistance. Following the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964, Zanzibar was unified with Tanganyika to form Tanzania. In 1967, Nyerere issued the Arusha Declaration which outlined his vision of Ujamaa. Banks and other major industries and companies were nationalized; education and healthcare were significantly expanded. Renewed emphasis was placed on agricultural development through the formation of communal farms, although these reforms hampered food production and left areas dependent on food aid. His government provided training and aid to anti-colonialist groups fighting white-minority rule throughout southern Africa and oversaw Tanzania's 1978–1979 war with Uganda which resulted in the overthrow of Ugandan President Idi Amin. In 1985, Nyerere stood down and was succeeded by Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who reversed many of Nyerere's policies. He remained chair of Chama Cha Mapinduzi until 1990, supporting a transition to a multi-party system, and later served as mediator in attempts to end the Burundian Civil War.

Reader's Guide

Nyerere was a controversial figure. Across Africa he gained widespread respect as an anti-colonialist and in power received praise for ensuring that, unlike many of its neighbours, Tanzania remained stable and unified in the decades following independence. His construction of the one-party state and use of detention without trial led to accusations of dictatorial governance, while he has also been blamed for economic mismanagement. He is held in deep respect within Tanzania, where he is described as the 'Father of the Nation'. His legacy includes the Arusha Declaration of 1967, which outlined Ujamaa, and the nationalization of banks and major industries, as well as expanded education and healthcare. However, his agricultural reforms through communal farms hampered food production and left areas dependent on food aid. He stood down in 1985 and was succeeded by Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who reversed many of Nyerere's policies. He later served as mediator in attempts to end the Burundian Civil War.

Did You Know?

• Nyerere was one of 25 surviving children of his father, Chief Nyerere Burito, who had 22 wives.
• At birth he was named 'Mugendi' but it was changed to 'Kambarage', the name of a female rain spirit, on the advice of a diviner.
• He was baptised as a Roman Catholic and took the name 'Julius', though he later said it was 'silly' that Catholics should 'take a name other than a tribal name' on baptism.
• In July 1943, while a student at Makerere College, he wrote a letter to the Tanganyika Standard arguing that capitalism was alien to Africa and that the continent should turn to 'African socialism'.
• His father died in March 1942, and the school refused Nyerere's request to return home for the funeral.