Trace and Tell your Family's Empire Stories
Country Histories
The mainland coast and the nearby islands of Tanzania have been important centres for trade between Africans, Arabs and Indians for around 2000 years. European contact began with the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century, while British and German activity began in the mid-nineteenth century.
The Sultan of Oman moved his court to Zanzibar in 1832 and many Arabs settled on the island and the mainland coast. After Britain claimed a protectorate over the island in 1890, indirect rule was maintained through the sultans. When Zanzibar became independent in 1963 the Arab leaders were overthrown in a violent coup.
While Britain focused on neighbouring countries, mainland Tanganyika was claimed by Germany in 1891. However, when German overseas territories were shared out under League of Nations mandate after the First World War, Tanganyika became the responsibility of Britain. Tanganyika gained its independence in 1961.
The name 'Tanzania' is a blend of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. They were united in 1964 following the uprising in Zanzibar.
Browser by chapterThe Tanganyika African Association, founded in 1929, was transformed into a more political movement, the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954, with Julius Nyerere as its leader. Nyerere, a teacher and one of only a handful of only a handful of university graduates in Tanganyika, was influenced by socialism whilst studying at Edinburgh University and determined to achieve independence for his country without bloodshed.
By 1955 TANU had become the leading political organisation in Tanganyika. Its new constitution was moderate, emphasising equality and racial harmony, while opposing tribalism and isolationism. Nyerere toured the country, speaking to the people, and achieving a membership of some 250,000 within a year.
When the first elections to the unofficial side of the Legislative Council were held in the mid-1950s, TANU's strength became clear. Even among the Asian and European candidates, only those supported by TANU were elected. By 1959 it was agreed that after the 1960 elections the majority of both official and non-official members of the Council would be African. In September 1960 a predominantly TANU government took office.
