Father Stanley Recommends Nyerere for a Scholarship to Study in the United Kingdom in 1948

Kama miaka sabini na saba iliyopita, Father Stanley, mwalimu mkuu wa St. Mary’s school, alikaa chini kuandika barua ya kumpendekeza Mwalimu Nyerere apate scholarship ya kwenda kusoma United Kingdom. Barua hii iliandikwa mwaka 1948 na ilimsaidia Mwalimu Nyerere kupata scholarship kwenda kusoma Chuo Kikuu cha Edinburgh, Scotland.  

This is the letter written by Father Stanley, headmaster of St. Mary’s School, recommending Mwalimu Nyerere for a scholarship program to study in the United Kingdom in 1948.

 S.A. Makamba doing post graduate work in Australia in 1961.  Photo credit: National Archive of Australia

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Kambona on Independence Day 1961

 

Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda Married Robetine A. Edmonds in the United States in 1934

Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the prime Minister and later the first President of Malawi. Banda’s history of relationships with women and marriage has been a subject of much research and speculations. I discovered a marriage certificate that shows Banda married Robetine Edmonds on February 3, 1934 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her last name appears to be Edmonds. However, the last name is also identified as Edwards on some documents. The records show that Robetine Edmonds was born in 1912. She was twenty two years old at the time of the marriage. Banda's birth year is listed as 1907 on the document. The Reverend Neary officiated the marriage. A receipt for the marriage certificate is signed by Neary of 6047 Ave and Meharry College is given as an address. Banda was a student at Meharry Medical College, a historically black College and University (HBCU). He was studying medicine at the school.

© Azaria Mbughuni

October 8, 2023

Encounter with the Former President Benjamin Mkapa

The former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa was laid to rest today. I met the former President at his Residence in Masaki in December 2019. I heard so many things about him, read countless articles. I wanted to speak to him to understand his ideas, journey, and place in history. He did not disappoint me.

The former President welcomed me to his home with "Karibu Professor" to which I replied “Asante” and gave him his "Shikamoo." As we sat down to talk, it did not take long to realize that he had taken the time to look me up and study my work. Despite his advanced age (he was 81 years old), Mzee Mkapa was attentive, his memory was sharp, he looked me directly in eyes with his sharp piercing eyes. He was constantly looking at me, assessing my every move, body language. The Americans diplomats presented their assessment of the newly appointed Tanzania Foreign Minister, Benjamin Mkapa in 1977 as someone who was a "shrewd judge of human personalities." I wondered at the time if those deep piercing eyes were assessing me, judging my personality? I may never know!

I picked up his book My Life, My Purpose: A Tanzania President Remembers, a couple of days before meeting the former President. Dar es Salaam is a busy city; it was difficult to find time to read the book. I managed to read it in record time. I was not going to get caught flat-footed. I was determined to learn as much as I can about him from his book. My discussion with this serious, no nonsense, former President was a meaningful one. I had a lot of questions. I wanted to learn about him, his history and debate him on various issues. He did not rush to answer any question I asked him. I got to see a diplomat, an intellectual, at work. Every word he said was carefully thought out. He was well-read, articulate, and thoughtful. He had depth! I learned about his childhood, experience with racism in Atlanta and Alabama in the late 1950s, and his early experience in Foreign Affairs. He told me that he was a low level employee in 1963 when his job consistent of, among other things, taking notes when Mwalimu spoke to foreign dignitaries.  He had already earned his Masters from Columbia University when he worked as a “note taker” for Foreign Affairs. The former President was an ardent Pan Africanist. His work as a Foreign Minister helped advance the liberation struggle in Africa in the late 1970s and 80s. He told me that Tanzania sacrificed to liberate southern Africa because they were liberating their "Brothers and Sisters,” adding that "Africa is one." Our conversation finally turned to African development. I wanted to know why Africa is where it is at this point in time. His insight into African development challenges was brilliant. Here was a person who spent years thinking about this very important question. I shared my thoughts about the state of African development. He paused for what felt like eternity and then he told me that he agreed; it was a good end to a great discussion.

There is nothing like having a great conversation with a knowledgeable person. Time flies in those moments. We ended our discussion and I thanked him. I told him that this was just the beginning of our discussion and that I would stop by his place to pick up where we left off the next time I was in Dar. He looked at me, smiled, and said "yes Professor." Little did I know then that there was not going to be a second conversation. I had one more request for him before leaving: I was not going to leave his house without him signing my book. I opened that book again today with a heavy heart.  I was sad.  Then it occurred to me that that I was holding a treasure, not so much for his signature, but the wealth of information that is contained in the book.  Mkapa the intellectual had thought this through.  He made sure that we knew what he wants to be remembered for.  It is all in his book!

Assessing the legacy of a leader can be tricky. Historians like to let time pass before they can begin to dig in and try to understand a person, events, an era. There is no leader who did not have their shortfalls. The former President Mkapa was not perfect in any sense of the word. His work, like the work of many other leaders, has it highs and lows. Time will tell. You really don’t know what you have until it is gone. There is little doubt that Mkapa the journalist, the diplomat, helped advance African liberation. Mkapa the President helped set Tanzania in the path to prosperity. I am convinced that history will be kind to Benjamin William Mkapa. Safe journey Comrade!

© Azaria Mbughuni

July 29, 2020

Governments Must Work to Flatten the Income Gap Curve, Access to Adequate Health Care and Basic Needs.

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is teaching us something about class. This is particularly clear in the West, the US to be exact. The situation in Africa is evolving at this point: we will have to wait and see. In the US, both the rich and the poor are getting sick. The poor will be impacted more than the rich; that is without a doubt. Yet, the rich and powerful cannot hide from this disease. This pandemic will have a profound impact on the society as a whole.

Failure to provide adequate healthcare system and livable wages (minimum wages) will haunt Americans for generations to come. The older generations were shaped by World Wars I and II; this generation will be shaped by the Covid-19. This is truly a global crisis. When hospitals are full to capacity with Covi-19 patients and all equipment has run out, it will not matter if you are a millionaire or broke when you show up at that emergency room. It will not matter how many zeros are in your bank account when you are dying in isolation in that ICU room. There will be no one to comfort you, to touch you. No goodbyes, I love you. What will be left is that shared human experience: tears, grief, joy, regrets, happiness, fear of the unknown. The rich and the poor will experience some of those emotions, feelings. Again, it is obvious that more poor people will die from this when it is all said and done. There is not much fine dinning at restaurants, exclusive social clubs etc for most of the rich at this point.

The Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us many lessons. We are learning about the heroism of medical workers and the spirit of giving (Jack Ma, Chinese owner of Alibaba). But what are the Dangotes (the richest person in Africa) of Africa doing? What are the Mohammed Dewjis of East Africa doing? They may very well be doing something privately. I hope that is the case! You may say who cares what the rich do. What they say, do or not do matters. Dangote may decide to say that this is none of his concern. In that case, the people can and should decide to say that his cement is none of their business!

We live in a Global Community. We are interlinked in ways that was unimaginable just a century ago. What happens in Wahun, China can reach to all corners of the world within a very short period. What happens in Lagos, Nigeria or New York, can reach the furthest corners of the world in a very short time. In some ways, the borders and border controls are meaningless. It is too late by the time politicians realize what is happening and close borders (yes closing borders may mitigate spread of diseases). The so-called poor countries are most likely to be impacted more than the rich. However, this pandemic is teaching us lessons about our connectedness; that we are in this together. When wealthy countries continue to exploit poor countries, when they refuse to flatten the curve of income gap between nations, what happens in the “poor” countries will impact the “rich countries” in ways that they cannot ignore. Something has to change!

Finally, it is up to governments to flatten the curve of income gaps and access to adequate healthcare. The poor will eat the rich if there is no meaningful change. We are all in this together. When we provide adequate wages and healthcare, both the rich and the poor are protected; the society as a whole becomes for successful, happier. As we work hard to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, we should also be keep in mind that the gap in income, wealth, adequate healthcare, education and access to basic needs, all of those differences are not sustainable in the long run if we are to survive as a specie. Governments should work to flatten the curve of income gap, provide adequate healthcare, and access to other basic needs. The people are waiting. This should be a wake up call for all!

© Azaria Mbughuni

March 28, 2020

Share a link for a free online book. Weka linki ya kitabu kinachopatikana bure kisheria mtandaoni

Share a link for a book you enjoyed reading online that can be legally accessed online for free on the comment section.  This is difficult period for many people around the world.  Let us take a moment to share with others knowledge with have acquired online for free

Tafadhali weka linki ya kitabu ulichosoma kinachopatikana mtandaoni kwa bure kisheria kwenye comment hapo chini.  Hii ni nafasi kwetu sote kuonyesha upendo kwa wengine katika kipindi hiki kigumu.

Hii ni linki ya kitabu: Kesi ya Julius Kambarage Nyerere 1958 kilichoandikwa na Simon Ngh'waya.  Kitabu hichi unaweza kukisoma kwenye hii linki. Unaweza kusoma kitabu chote kupitia hii hinki hapo chini

Bonyeza hapa kusoma kitabu cha Kesi ya Julius Kambarage Nyerere 1958.  Click the link below to read the above book

http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0unescoen--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-10&a=d&cl=CL1.12&d=HASH015c801205c5314989c9ebfe.4