Abstract:
This study examined the trend of patriotism and nationalist sentiments in post
colonial Tanzania. It also explored the circumstances behind the changes and
continuities in patriotism and nationalism values during the period under review. In
Tanzania, patriotism and nationalism were cultivated during the struggle for
independence. The hardships of colonial rule and the complexities of the journey to
autonomy heightened sentiments related to love for patriotism in Tanzania and
across Africa in the 1950s. The study employed a qualitative research
methodology, drawing insights from in-depth interviews with selected
academicians and former public leaders in Dar es Salaam. The documents
reviewed helped reconstruct the fluctuations of the patriotic spirit, highlighting the
socio-political and economic contexts behind these shifts. The collected data were
analysed using content and thematic frameworks typical of qualitative analysis.
The findings suggest that the rise of nationalist movements marked the peak of
patriotic fervour in Tanzania and across Africa. Africans in Tanzania and elsewhere
sacrificed their lives, employment, families, and nations to free their continent from
imperialistic powers. In Tanzania, patriotism was further strengthened when early
leaders, under Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, promoted national values rooted in the
philosophy of Ujamaa and self-reliance. This spread patriotic values nationwide and
played a significant role in nation-building efforts. However, patriotic and
nationalist sentiments and awareness gradually declined in Tanzania, especially
after the 1990s, as individual interests grew stronger and liberal forces challenged
the relevance of patriotism and nationalism against universal values and the
pressures of global citizenship. The study recommends a strategy tailored to
current advances in science and technology to revive the deteriorating love,
loyalty, and pride in our country for current and future generations. Patriotic and
nationalist values must be nurtured and instilled among young people to ensure
Tanzania remains a politically, socially, and economically strong nation.
