Background

The Mwalimu Nyerere Professorial Chair in Pan African Studies of the University of Dar es Salaam was established in April 2008, in honour of the great nationalist, pan - Africanist leader and first President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. The current holder of this Chair is Prof. Rwekaza Sympho Mukandala. Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam.

 Objectives

The objectives of the Chair are:

• To promote Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s thought and ideals relating to human development.

• To develop and promote ideas in interdisciplinary basic research on broad development issues from a pan-African perspective, using pan-Africanism both as a category of intellectual thought and a vision.
• To reinvigorate the concept of a university as a site of rigorous intellectual debate, discussion and publications.
• To create spaces, opportunities for debate on Africa’s development directions.
• To actively encourage and mentor young researchers in basic research.

Core areas of Activities Research on development issues with a Pan - African perspective

Annual Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival

Annual Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Intellectual Lectures

Vice Chancellor’s palavers

Occasional lectures and seminars

Undergraduate course on Pan African Thought and Practice

Mentoring of young researchers and scholars through research, post graduate studies and short term training

Publications – Nyerere lecture series, Chemchemi newsletter, articles, thinking with Mwalimu series.

Book launches

Film show