Happy Independence Day, Tanzania

Tanzania is celebrating its 49th anniversary as an independent nation.

Hongera sana!

I finally got the day right (there was at least another one where I went to the office and down the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road wondering why there was no traffic.)

This is also the day where the former president Julius Nyerere will be quoted endlessly, like for instance in today's Citizen.

Out of lack of other presidents to quote?

Nyerere is also alive in the t-shirt design company Kina Klothing's Uhuru Street collection, evidently referring to the independence (uhuru) - and the values associated with it.

One has to imagine what Kikwete would look like depicted on a t-shirt in a similar design (in 49 years) - and what the collection would be labelled then?

Any ideas?

The Uhuru Torch (as depicted in the image above on one of the designs from Kina Klothing's t-shirts) is one of the National Symbols of Tanzania. On Kilimanjaro you find (I've read) a kerosene torch. The Uhuru torch symbolizes freedom and light, and it was first lit on top of Mount Kilimanjaro on December 9, 1961 by Alexander Nyirenda. Symbolically, to shine over Tanzania and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enemity and respect where there is hatred.

49 years later, Tanzanians update their Facebook status, tweet and blog on December 9 to about uhuru. Amongst others:

Kathleen Bomani

Lulu Kitulolo

Kiranga

The Mikocheni Report