Today is public holiday...specifically Nyerere Day, in honour of the first president of the United Republic of Tanzania, which only came into being in 1964. Nyerere is dead now, but he is still widely revered as the father of our country, and his picture hangs beside that of the current president in schools and government buildings. He is recognized as a man who single-highhandedly united over 120 tribes into a single functioning nation. He is also acknowledged as the main reason for the continuing stability of this country, which is after all on a continent where bloody civil wars are the normal course of business. Nyerere made Swahili the national language, which was successful to the point that everyone speaks it even though it is nobody's original first language. He also promoted an atmosphere of family, a sort of all for one and one for all. Overall Tanzanians are laid back and peace loving, and this spirit was instilled and nurtured by Nyerere, according to everyone here. They have never been to war, except to defend themselves against an invasion by Idi Amin in the late 70s. Tanzanians are widely admired throughout Africa because of it.
kwa leo inatosha.'
'happy nyerere day'
