Joramu Nkumbi: Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Seemed To Hear the Call More than Others and Immediately Stepped Forward

Joramu Nkumbi, Tanzanian leadership coach and author

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

“Mnamo mwaka wa 1961 Tanganyika inakuwa huru kutoka katika shamba la kutumikishwa la kikoloni. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere kama kiongozi wa tofauti na asiyekuwa na ubinfasi anatazama kwa makini Afrika Magharibi anaona Afrika Magharibi iliyo huru, anatazama Afrika Kaskazini anaona Afrika Kaskazini iliyo huru. Kwa jicho jingine anatazama Afrika ya Kati tayari imepata uhuru wake, anatazama jirani zake wa Afrika Mashariki anaona bado wameshikwa na kamba za ukoloni….

“Naweza [ku]sema kuwa sehemu ambayo ukoloni ulikuwa umeota mizizi ni ilikuwa ni vigumu wakoloni kuondoka ni katika nchi za Kusini mwa Afrika na zilihitajita jitihada za makusudi na nguvu zaidi kusaidi kutokomeza ukoloni.

“Nani basi asimame kumfunga paka kengele? Nchi gani isimame iwe kitovu cha harakati za kuuondoa ukoloni uliobakia?…

“[Jibu:] Mwalimu [Nyerere] anaonekana kuisikia sauti zaidi kuliko wote na mara moja anainuka….”

- Joramu Nkumbi, kocha wa uongozi, mwandishi, na mzungumzajia wa hamasa wa Tanzania

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

“In 1961, Tanganyika gained its independence from the colonial plantation system. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, being a notable and selfless leader, looked closely at Western Africa and saw a free Western Africa; he looked at Northern Africa and saw a free Northern Africa. With foresight, he looked at Central Africa which had recently gained its independence, and then he looked at his East African neighbors and who were still living under the ensnarement of colonialism….

“I can say that the region where colonialism had taken deep root—and where it was extra difficult for the colonizers to leave—was in the countries south of the Sahara. A strong, singularly focused effort would be required to uproot those colonial systems.

“So, who would tie the bell to the cat? Which country would rise to be the epicenter of this remaining movement?

“[Answer:] Mwalimu [Nyerere] seemed to hear the call more than others and immediately stepped forward….”

- Joramu Nkumbi, leadership coach, author, and motivational speaker from Tanzania

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Chanzo (source): Nkumbi, Joramu. Ulumbi na Walumbi: Mchango wa Tanzania Barani Afrika. Dar es Salaam: JAMANA Publishers, Ltd., 2023, pages 77-78.