Angelus Mnenuka: Defining Pan-Africanism

Angelus Mnenuka, senior lecturer at the Institute of Kiswahili Studies (IKS) at Dar es Salaam University

Mmerikani’s Substack consists of sourced, edifying quotes in a dual-language format (Swahili & English). I am a Quaker, runner, and was formally trained in Swahili.

[Scroll down for the English]

KISWAHILI

[Madondoo kutoka kwa sura la kitabu lililochangiwa na Angelus Mnenuka “Dhima ya Fasihi ya Kiswahili katika Utangamano, Utambulisho wa Uafrika na Uatamizi wa Fasihi ya Kiafrika” (2022).]

“Umajumui wa Kiafrika ni harakati za kiraia, kitaaluma, kisiasa na kitamaduni za kupigania ustawi wa maisha ya Waafrika wanaoishi barani Afrika na wale wote walioko uhamishoni wanaosukumwa na hisia kuwa chimbuko lao ni Afrika. Harakati hizi za kupigania ustawi wa Waafrika zilisababishwa na unyanyasaji na uonevu mkubwa kwa Waafrika uliofanywakwa vipindi tofauti, yakiwamo maafa ya kuwatenganisha [kwa jefule] baadhi ya Waafrika na bara lao….

“[Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere] alisisitiza sana haja ya kuungana ili kukabiliana na changamoto na matatizo mbalimbali yanayoukabili ukanda wa Jumuiya ya SADC na Afrika yote kwa ujumla. Kwa msingi huo huo, sura hii inapanua wigo na kuendeleza mjadala wa muda mrefu kuhusu Umajumui wa Kiafrika na namna fasihi ilivyochangia na inavyoendelea kuchangia ukamilishaji wa ndoto hiyo [Umajumui wa Kiafrika].”

- Angelus Mnenuka ni mhadhiri mkuu katika Taasisi ya Taaluma za Kiswahili (IKS) katika Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam na mtafiti wenye kujitawala. Ni mwandishi wa machapisho kadhaa yanayochunguza nadharia ya fasihi, fasihi simulizi na fasihi maandishi, na lugha la Kiswahili.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

[Excerpts from Angelus Mnenuka’s book chapter “The Role of Swahili Literature in Compatibility, African Identity and the Evolution of African Literature” (2022).]

“Pan-Africanism is a civil, professional, political, and cultural movement advocating for the well-being of Africans living on the African continent—and those who have been displaced—and sense that their origin is in Africa. These movements advocating for the well-being of Africans emanate from the profiteering and tyranny exercised upon Africans at various points of time, including the disaster of [violently] separating some Africans from their continent….

“[Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere] strongly affirmed the need for unity to address the various challenges and problems facing the SADC region [South African Development Community] and all of Africa, generally. Along those lines, this chapter explores another avenue, continuing the long-standing debate surrounding Pan-Africanism: the way literature has contributed to, and continues to contribute to, the realization of [Pan-Africanism].”

- Angelus Mnenuka is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Kiswahili Studies (IKS) at the University of Dar es Salaam and an independent researcher. He is the author of several publications examining literary theory, oral and written literature, and the Swahili language.

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Chanzo (source): Mnenuka, Angelus. “Dhima ya Fasihi ya Kiswahili katika Utangamano, Utambulisho wa Uafrika na Uatamizi wa Fasihi ya Kiafrika.” Book chapter from Kiswahili katika Anga za Kimataifa. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Taasisi ya Uchunguzi wa Kiswahili (TUKI) (Institute of Kiswahili Research), 2022, pgs. 2 and 3. Accessed on June 5, 2025 from ResearchGate.net at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370658801_Dhima_ya_Fasihi_ya_Kiswahili_katika_Utangamano_Utambulisho_wa_Uafrika_na_Uatamizi_wa_Fasihi_ya_Kiafrika.