Tanzania Honors Julius Nyerere, First President and Pan-African Statesman
-
Julius Nyerere was Tanzania's first prime minister and president, leading the country from independence in 1961 to 1985. He was honored with a statue at the African Union headquarters.
-
Known as "Mwalimu" (teacher), he promoted unity through Swahili as a common language and his vision of "African Socialism."
-
He oversaw improvements in healthcare and literacy, but his economic policies largely failed, leaving Tanzania in dire straits when he stepped down.
-
In the 1970s he lobbied the West against white minority rule in southern Africa and sent troops to oust Idi Amin from Uganda.
-
Along with Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Nyerere is honored with a statue for his pan-Africanist legacy.