Trends in the Development of Patriotism in Tanzania, 1960s to 2020s

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.