Intro
Contents
- Pronounced: “Tan-za-ni-a” (as opposed to “Tan-zaynia”).
1840
Claiming the coastal strip, Omani Sultan Said bin Sultan moved his capital to Zanzibar City in 1840. During this time, Zanzibar became the centre for the Arab slave trade.
1900’s
In the late 19th century, Germany conquered the regions that are now Tanzania (minus Zanzibar) and incorporated them into German East Africa (GEA). The Supreme Council of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference awarded all of GEA to Britain on 7 May 1919, over the strenuous objections of Belgium. Britain and Belgium then negotiated the Anglo-Belgian agreement of 30 May 1919, where Britain ceded the north-western GEA provinces of Ruanda and Urundi to Belgium.
On 12 July 1919, the Commission on Mandates agreed that the small Kionga Triangle south of the Rovuma River would be given to Portuguese Mozambique with it eventually becoming part of independent Mozambique. On 10 January 1920, the GEA was transferred officially to Britain, Belgium, and Portugal. Also on that date, “Tanganyika” became the name of the British territory.
In 1954, Julius Nyerere created the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). TANU’s main objective was to achieve national sovereignty for Tanganyika. Within a year, TANU had become the leading political organisation in the country. Nyerere became Minister of British-administered Tanganyika in 1960 and continued as prime minister when Tanganyika became independent in 1961.
Post-colonial Era
British rule came to an end on 9 December 1961, but for the first year of independence, Tanganyika had a governor-general who represented the British monarch. On 9 December 1962, Tanganyika became a democratic republic under an executive president.
After the Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the Arab dynasty in neighbouring Zanzibar, which had become independent in 1963, the archipelago merged with mainland Tanganyika on 26 April 1964. On 29 October of the same year, the country was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania (“Tan” comes from Tanganyika and “Zan” from Zanzibar). The union of the two hitherto separate regions was controversial among many Zanzibaris (even those sympathetic to the revolution) but was accepted by both the Nyerere government and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar owing to shared political values and goals.
Following Tanganyika’s independence and unification with Zanzibar leading to the state of Tanzania, President Nyerere emphasised a need to construct a national identity for the citizens of the new country. To achieve this, Nyerere provided what is regarded as one of the most successful cases of ethnic repression and identity transformation in Africa. With over 130 languages spoken within its territory, Tanzania is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa. Despite this obstacle, ethnic divisions remained rare in Tanzania when compared to the rest of the continent, notably its immediate neighbour, Kenya. Furthermore, since its independence, Tanzania has displayed more political stability than most African countries, particularly due to Nyerere’s ethnic repression methods.
In 1967, Nyerere’s first presidency took a turn to the left after the Arusha Declaration, which codified a commitment to socialism as well as Pan-Africanism. After the declaration, banks and many large industries were nationalised. Tanzania was also aligned with China, which from 1970 to 1975 financed and helped build the 1,860 kilometre-long TAZARA Railway from Dar es Salaam to Zambia.
Motto:
“Uhuru na Umoja” (Swahili)
“Freedom and Unity“
Anthem:
“Mungu ibariki Afrika”
(English: “God Bless Africa”)
| Swahili lyrics | English translation |
|---|---|
| Mungu ibariki Afrika Wabariki Viongozi wake Hekima Umoja na Amani Hizi ni ngao zetu Afrika na watu wake. Ibariki Afrika, Ibariki Afrika Tubariki watoto wa Afrika. Mungu ibariki Tanzania Dumisha uhuru na Umoja Wake kwa Waume na Watoto Mungu Ibariki Tanzania na watu wake. Ibariki Tanzania, Ibariki Tanzania Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania. | God bless Africa Bless its leaders Wisdom, unity and peace These are our shields Africa and its people Bless Africa, Bless Africa Bless us, the children of Africa God bless Tanzania Grant eternal freedom and unity To its women, men and children God bless Tanzania and its people Bless Tanzania, Bless Tanzania Bless us, the children of Tanzania |
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