The
Duka
La Ujamaa
Named
in Honor of
Mwalimu
Julius K. Nyerere
The
First President of the
Republic
of Tanzania
 ne
of Africa's most charismatic, intelligent and upright leaders is
Tanzania's Julius Karambarge Nyerere. He became his country's first
Prime
Minister, almost exactly 37 years ago, Dec. 9, 1961 to be precise,
after
the departure of the British who ruled the country then called
Tanganyika
since 1920. Tanganyika was a German East Africa Colony from 1885 until
the end of World War I in 1918. For a brief period subsequent to their
independence, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar were united in an
East African federation. But the federation turned out to be unworkable
and the countries went their separate ways. Tanganyika and Zanzibar (a
clove-rich island just off the coast of Tanganyika), however, got
together
to form the united Republic of Tanzania in 1964, a unity that has
survived.
 When the united nation
was born, Nyerere became President of Tanzania;
the elected head of Zanzibar became the Vice President. Nyerere, a
former
school-teacher, was an impres- sive figure on the national and
international
stage. . . . He was impressed by the Soviet Union and China and wanted
to emulate them in Tanzania. . . . In February 1967, his govern- ment
made
what is known as the Arusha Declaration
whereby Tanzania declared itself a "socialist" country and all the
means
of production were henceforth to be publicly-owned. Virtually all
industry
and property was nationalized, agricul- ture put in the hands of
Chinese-style
"communes" and private schools taken over by the state.
"Self-reliance,"
as embodied in the concept of ujamaa, became Tanzania's
byword.
All opposition parties were banned and politically the country became a
one-party state.
The Duka La Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics
Store) is a part of the Center of Pan-African Culture and is,
therefore,
available to individual students, student organizations and commun- ity
groups or individuals. The Department is committed to instilling in the
minds of students and others the twin concepts of cooperative economics
and collective work and responsibility — Ujamaa and Ujima. The
Duka La Ujamaa serves as an operational means to this end.
The
following is a message sent to President Julius
K. Nyerere, on the occasion of his announcement of the
nationalization
of all banks in Tanzania, 1967*
"A GREAT STEP FORWARD"
In the name of the African National Congress of South Africa and on
behalf
of millions of oppressed and struggling people in my country, I take
great
pleasure in addressing this message of solidarity to you, to TANU
National
Executive, and to the Government and people of Tanzania. We have always
fervently held the conviction that the people of Tanzania by following
the road of unflinching struggle against imperialism, colonialism and
neo-colonialism
will not only achieve the revolutionary tasks and ideals of the African
revolution but will also render Africa the inestimable duty of
affording
her sons and daughters an opportunity to learn from Tanzania's
experience
and example.
The programme of
socialist construction enshrined in the Arusha Declaration
will go down in the annals of African history as the decisive clarion
call
to defend national sovereignty against neo-colonialist counter
revolutionary
subversion and to move African revolutionary forces towards the full
realisation
of political, social and economic independence. This is a great
revolutionary
step forward. It has struck fear in the hearts of the enemies of
Africa's
freedom.
The Arusha Declaration
comes at an opportune historical period and is
a telling blow to the imperialist offensive which swept across Africa
last
year bringing untold humiliation to African nationhood and human
dignity.
We particularly wish to commend you and the TANU National Executive for
the clear enunciation of the basic elements of socialism in African
conditions
in which public ownership of the means of production is based on
self-reliance
and democratic government. The principle of nationalisation has also
been
placed in vivid perspective, showing the only way in which national
resources
and the heritage of the people can be restored to them.
In conclusion allow me
to convey to you our heartfelt congratulations
and good wishes for success in the implementation of the historic
Arusha
Declaration.
/Signed/ O.R. Tambo,
Deputy President
African National Congress
*Declaration on self-reliance and
later in the
month the Government nationalised the banks.
|
The
Duka La Ujamaa was established in 1972,
a few years after the promulgation of the Arusha Declaration, so that
students and other African Americans
on the Kent State University campus and community organizations could
in the spirit of UJAMAA sell
items such as baked goods. clothing, books, art objects, records, etc.
to raise funds to support community-based programs both on and off the
Kent Campus. They may request
the use of the Duka from the director of the Center of Pan-African
Culture.
Although
no fee is charged to students
or community organizations who use the Duka, a contribution of ten (10)
percent of net earnings may
be required. Vendors wishing to have tables set up in the first floor
corridor
shall be assessed a fee for each table set up. An additional fee of no
less than ten (10) percent shall be negotiated betwseen the vendors
concerned
at the time the facility is first scheduled. All vendors, students and
others, are required to adhere to all University regulations governing
solicitation and sales (see the University Register, Sections
3342-4-13
and 3342-4-14).
|
