One cannot fully explain the history of Tanzania without mentioning Butiama Village in Mara Region where the country’s founding Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, was born in 1922 and brought up. He died in a London hospital on October 14, 1999 and was buried right next to the graves of his other family members at the village.
It’s here where you can find Mwalimu J K Nyerere Museum situated at Mwitongo – Butiama with an immense lot to offer in terms of national heritage in general and the Mwalimu’s legacy in particular for the benefit of the present generation and posterity.
Being the Champion of freedom struggles in Africa, the Museum has stored his history and activities as the first President of the United Republic of Tanzania and even events prior independence and country’s different reformations.
For instance, after the victory of the Tanzania – Uganda War commonly known as the Kagera War, Mwalimu visited all the regions and was given different gifts which are stored in the Museum as symbols of courage and patriotism during the war. The battle was fought between the countries from October 1978 until June 1979 following the invasion of Uganda to Tanzania territory. The Museum has Mwalimu Nyerere’s library with the collection of about 8,000 books including those he wrote by himself.
Other things the Museum displays include different souvenirs, his clothes, shoes, watches, a photograph of his parents (Chief Nyerere Burito and his wife, Mama Mgaya), different types of books that he wrote and so many other things. The Museum has preserved a unique ‘Panasonic Radio’ which Mwalimu Nyerere utilized it during the early years of independence. The radio is said to weigh about 20kg. It should be remembered Mwalimu was the founding president of Radio Tanzania.
Indeed, these are some of the finest attractions that students, tourists, researchers and all manner of people and institutions would like to be informed in understanding Tanzania’s history and the Mwalimu Nyerere legacies. The commemoration of Mwalimu Nyerere’s Day has been set to be cerebrated on October 14 every year.
WanderTZ/Emmanuel Kwitema
