Ujamaa was the concept that formed the basis of Julius Nyerere's social and economic development policies in Tanzania after it gained independence from Britain in 1961. The term has also come to be used as one of the seven principles of the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa.

History[link]

In 1967, President Nyerere published his development blueprint, which was titled the Arusha Declaration, in which Nyerere pointed out the need for an African model of development and that formed the basis of African socialism. Ujamaa comes from the Swahili word for extended family or familyhood and is distinguished by several key characteristics, namely that a person becomes a person through the people or community.

Nyerere used Ujamaa as the basis for a national development project. He translated the Ujamaa concept into a political-economic management model through several means:

1. The creation of a one-party system under the leadership of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in order to help solidify the cohesion of the newly independent Tanzania.
2. The institutionalization of social, economic, and political equality through the creation of a central democracy; the abolition of discrimination based on ascribed status; and the nationalization of the economy's key sectors.^[1]
3. The villagization of production, which essentially collectivized all forms of local productive capacity.
4. The fostering of Tanzanian self-reliance through two dimensions: the transformation of economic and cultural attitudes. Economically, everyone would work for both the group and for him/herself; culturally, Tanzanians must learn to free themselves from dependence on European powers. For Nyerere, this included Tanzanians learning to do things for themselves and learning to be satisfied with what they could achieve as an independent state.
5. The implementation of free and compulsory education for all Tanzanians in order to sensitize them to the principles of Ujamaa.^[1]
6. The creation of a Tanazanian rather than tribal identity through means such as the use of Swahili

Julius Nyerere's leadership of Tanzania commanded international attention and attracted worldwide respect for his consistent emphasis upon ethical principles as the basis of practical policies. Tanzania under Nyerere made great strides in vital areas of social development: infant mortality was reduced from 138 per 1000 live births in 1965 to 110 in 1985; life expectancy at birth rose from 37 in 1960 to 52 in 1984; primary school enrolment was raised from 25% of age group (only 16% of females) in 1960 to 72% (85% of females) in 1985 (despite the rapidly increasing population); the adult literacy rate rose from 17% in 1960 to 63% by 1975 (much higher than in other African countries) and continued to rise.^[2]

Nyerere used a colonial law, the Preventive Detention Act to crush opposition.^[2]

In 1967, nationalizations transformed the government into the largest employer in the country. Purchasing power allegedly declined,^[3] and, according to World Bank researchers, high taxes and "bureaucracy" created an environment where businessmen resorted to evasion, bribery and corruption.^[3]

Eventually a number of factors contributed to the downfall of the development model based on the Ujamaa concept. Among those factors were the oil crisis of the 1970s, the collapse of export commodity prices (particularly coffee and sisal), a lack of foreign direct investment, and the onset of the war with Uganda in 1978, which bled the young Tanzanian nation of valuable resources and two successive droughts. By 1985 it was clear that Ujamaa had failed to lift Tanzania out of its poor economic state; Nyerere announced that he would retire voluntarily after presidential elections that same year.

The hip-hop scene in Tanzania was greatly influenced by the key ideas and themes of Ujamaa. At the turn of the century, the principles of Ujamaa were resurrected through "an unlikely source: rappers and hip hop artists in the streets of Tanzania."^[4] In response to years of corrupt government leaders and political figures after Nyerere, themes of unity and family and equality were the messages sent out in a majority of the music being produced. This was in response to the working class oppression and in some sense a form of resistance.^[4] The principles of cooperative economics —"local people cooperating with each other to provide for the essentials of living"—^[5] can be seen in the lyrics of many Tanzanian hip-hop artists. They promote self-business and self-made identities in an effort to raise the spirits of the youth and promote change in society.

Literature[link]

• Paul Collier: Labour and Poverty in Rural Tanzania. Ujamaa and Rural Development in the United Republic of Tanzania. Oxford University Press, New York 1991, ISBN 0-19-528315-6.

See also[link]

• Harambee
• Ubuntu (ideology)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ujamaa: The Basis of African Socialism:, nathanielturner.com
• Ibhawoh, Bonny and J.I. Dibua, "Deconstructing Ujamaa: The Legacy of Julius Nyerere in the Quest for Social and Economic Development"PDF (1.30 MiB) in African Journal of Political Science Vol.8 No. 1, 2003: pp. 59–83.
• Lawrence Cockcroft and Gerald Belkin, Ralph Ibbott: "Who conceived/led the way to Ujamaa?" in Tanzanian Affairs Issue 92, January 2009.