Julius K. Nyerere rose to global greatness in what was at the time one of the poorest countries in the world. He led the way in uniting two countries into one (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) and emerged as in the vanguard of the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. He also became one of the most eloquent voices of the Global South in its demands for fairness and justice in the global economy. This collection of essays captures Nyerere's invention of a new indigenous ideology (ujamaa), his promotion of an indigenous language policy (Kiswahili), his remarkable influence in Pan-African politics, and Nyerere's special place in the history of the 20th century. Because the essays were written across time, they capture the unfolding narrative of continuity and change. This volume also demonstrates how a political leader could be humble enough to avoid ostentation, scholarly enough to translate Shakespeare into an African language, and great enough to help change the African continent forever. This book is part of the African World Series, edited by Toyin Falola, Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, University of Texas at Austin. "...[I]t is genuinely a useful book for all those seeking inspiration in 'their struggles to transcend dependency.' It is of importance to all students and those interested in understanding Tanzania and Africa." -- Conrad John Masabo, African Studies Quarterly

With vision, hard-nosed judgment, and biting humor, Julius Nyerere confronted the challenges of nation building in modern Africa. Constructing Tanzania out of a controversial Cold War union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, Nyerere emerged as one of independent Africa’s most influential leaders. He pursued his own brand of African socialism, called Ujamaa, with unquestioned integrity, and saw it profoundly influence movements to end white minority rule in Southern Africa. Yet his efforts to build a peaceful nation created a police state, economic crisis, and a war with Idi Amin’s Uganda. Eventually—unlike most of his contemporaries—Nyerere retired voluntarily from power, paving the way for peaceful electoral transitions in Tanzania that continue today. Based on multinational archival research, extensive reading, and interviews with Nyerere’s family and colleagues, as well as some who suffered under his rule, Paul Bjerk provides an incisive and accessible biography of this African leader of global importance. Recognizing Nyerere’s commitment to participatory government and social equality while also confronting his authoritarian turns and policy failures, Bjerk offers a portrait of principled leadership under the difficult circumstances of postcolonial Africa.

Drawing on a wide range of oral and written sources, this book tells the story of Tanzania's socialist experiment: the ujamaa villagization initiative of 1967-75. Inaugurated shortly after independence, ujamaa ('familyhood' in Swahili) both invoked established socialist themes and departed from the existing global repertoire of development policy, seeking to reorganize the Tanzanian countryside into communal villages to achieve national development. Priya Lal investigates how Tanzanian leaders and rural people creatively envisioned ujamaa and documents how villagization unfolded on the ground, without affixing the project to a trajectory of inevitable failure. By forging an empirically rich and conceptually nuanced account of ujamaa, African Socialism in Postcolonial Tanzania restores a sense of possibility and process to the early years of African independence, refines prevailing theories of nation building and development, and expands our understanding of the 1960s and 70s world.

"This book presents the first truly rounded portrait of Nyerere's early life, from his birth in 1922 until his graduation from Edinburgh in 1952, helping us to see his later political achievements in a new light. It was after returning to Tanganyika that 'Mwalimu' (the teacher) formally entered politics, and led efforts to deliver Tanganyika to independence."--Publishers website.

A compelling account of the establishment of Tanzania's stable and ambitious government in the face of external threats and internal turmoil.