Danish PhD student on Nyerere and "Vijiji vya Ujamaa"

[EMT]

huyo ni mtafiti anayefanya almost some kind of (if not) ethnography huko vijijini, kakaa darisalama, tumemuambia aende hakiardhi n.k., labda kashaenda ila ndio hivyo kuna majuzuu nakuambia makubwa hayo yapo pale kuhusu wananchi walisema nini kuhusiana na ardhi na kwa ujumla mengi waliyoyasema yanahusiana na hiyo villagization - sasa kwa kuwa hajawekewa online ndio afanye hayo mahitimisho? kuna kina shivji,hadjivayanis,kapinga na waanzilishi wengine wa hakiardhi, waliandika makabrasha kibao na mpaka wengine wakaenda kufungua makesi ya kutetea wafugaji na wakulima huko ( hata ringo tenga mwenyewe naye enzi za uwanaharakati alichapisha pia kuhusu hayo masuala)!

Also, the library of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Dar eS Salaam, have some academic materials on this matter. Its own resource centret houses a collection of materials to support the course work and research . There is a working collection of approximately 1500 volumes, 250 of which are recently published books that have been acquired in the last two years.

 

[Zakumi]

If you are doing a research through internet for an issue which happened in 1960s and 1970s in Africa, you are just going to come across with hearsay writings. Remember that writer who said in his recent book that Nyerere said in his retiring speech that he "failed"? Then, we went to locate the actual speech and found out that there was no such acknowledgment that he "failed"? That is is why is important to use primary sources than the secondary ones.

How long will it take to digitize Tanzanian literature? It will take less that a year. How long will it take to put Nyerere speeches in digital format? Probably three months.

 

[Zakumi]

Kinachochekesha ni kwamba wanaosema vijiji vya Ujamaa havikufaa hawakwenda hata mmoja wao lakini wanadai walipoteza ardhi..Na kama alikwenda kijiji cha Ujamaa muulize kijiji gani na imekuwaje karudi maana hakuna aliyerudi bali wale waliokimbia na kutawanyika.

Hizi tuhuma tumezisikia hata ktk kupitia JKT kwanza kwa wahitimu wa vyuo au from 6, wale wote waliokwepa JKT kwa sababu hawakuona umuhimu wake ndio wapiga parapanda sana kuhusu JKT lakini huwezi kumkuta aliyekwenda JKT akikashifu idea ya JKT ila mambo alokutana nayo JKT.

Mkandara,

Kama nitakuwa sijakosea. Mjadala wa hapa sio hitimisho la mwandishi. Mjadala ni mwandishi kudai kuwa hakuna kazi nzito zilizofanyika kuchambua sera hizi ambazo ziliwagua zaidi ya wananchi milioni 10 wa Tanzania.

Wachangiaji wanaonyesha kuwa zipo kazi nyingi tu. Na nyingi ya kazi hizo hazitohi sifa kwa sera za serikali. Zimeandikwa na watanzania wenyewe.

 

[Ubumuntu]

This is what happens when an occident scholar writes oriental affairs in an occidental outlook!!

Edward Said (RIP) (thought to be the father of postcolonial theories/studies) wrote a book Orientalism in 1978. The book was a critic to the ways western scholars analyze and explain the Orient "Asia/Middle East and Africa's affairs in prejudiced discourses. Being a Palestinian-American was one of the influences for Said's Orientalism; the other influence being his work as a Professor of Literature at Columbia University, USA. In his book Prof. Said called for the "orients" Asian/African scholars to rewrite history from the point of the "orient" rather than the "occident", so as to challenge the prejudiced discourses about the orient which have been the "dominant/conventional explanations" for so long in the western academia.

The book is a classic reading for all orients who are involved in postcolonial studies and theories. It is a must-read book for us to understand what Rasmus is trying to convey. Although he was and still is heavily criticised, his book and work still have relevance to the oriental civilisation.

In addition, there is one French philosopher (although, he never agreed to be called a philosopher) called Michel Foucault (RIP), famous for his book The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969), who analysed and explained the concepts of power and truth. In that book, Foucault has critically discussed the relationship between truth, knowledge and power. He argues that, in this world, the powerful can create what is to be generally known as "the truth", to those with no powers. Thus, truth and knowledge is the function of power. So people like Rasmus are using communication/media resources like blogs et al. to advance their occidental explanations "their constructed truth" about villagization studies in Tanzania. They are having occidental analysis and conclusion that, Tanzanian scholars haven't sufficiently researched on villagization policy and its contemporary accounts.


It is therefore a challenge to us and mostly, to those involved in land issues etc. to heavily criticise Rasmus with scholarly explanations from the orient viewpoint. It could be better, if we could wait for his PhD to be approved, and then we start hurling missiles of criticisms to his blemished research and conclusion.

 

[EMT]

How long will it take to digitize Tanzanian literature? It will take less that a year. How long will it take to put Nyerere speeches in digital format? Probably three months.

No doubt that our local content needs be preserved and transmitted to the larger world via a successful digitization process. But before asking how long will take to digitize our local content we need to first answer these questions.

1. What is local content?
2. Why do we need to digitize our local content?
3. How do we digitize local content?
4. How do the digitized local content help in preserving and transmitting Tanzania literary and cultural heritage to the world at large?

 

[Zakumi]

huyo ni mtafiti anayefanya almost some kind of (if not) ethnography huko vijijini, kakaa darisalama, tumemuambia aende hakiardhi n.k., labda kashaenda ila ndio hivyo kuna majuzuu nakuambia makubwa hayo yapo pale kuhusu wananchi walisema nini kuhusiana na ardhi na kwa ujumla mengi waliyoyasema yanahusiana na hiyo villagization - sasa kwa kuwa hajawekewa online ndio afanye hayo mahitimisho? kuna kina shivji,hadjivayanis,kapinga na waanzilishi wengine wa hakiardhi, waliandika makabrasha kibao na mpaka wengine wakaenda kufungua makesi ya kutetea wafugaji na wakulima huko ( hata ringo tenga mwenyewe naye enzi za uwanaharakati alichapisha pia kuhusu hayo masuala)!

Companero,

Hivi kwanini kazi za watanzania ambao walikuwa critical na government enzi zile zinakuwa ngumu kuzipata. Na kwanini wasomi wa sasa mnakuwa wagumu kuziendeleza kazi hizo? Je ni lazima mtu atoke Denmark?

 

[EMT]

Haya ndiyo matatizo ya "Occident" kujaribu kuandika mambo yanayohusu "Orient" katika mtizamo wa ki-occident!!
Kuna Mpalestina-Mmarekani mmoja anaitwa Edward Said (RIP) aliandika kitabu kinachoitwa Orientalism (1978). Kwa ufupi kitabu kilikua kina criticise namna Occident "western scholars" walivyokua wakiandika na kueleza mambo ya Orient "Africa and Asia" katika namna ya upotoshaji wa ukweli. Ndipo Professor Said akatoa jumuisho la kutaka Orient scholars na waanze kuandika mambo ya Orient katika mtazamo wa ki-orient; katika kuandika ukweli wa mambo ulivyo.

Kitabu hiki ni kizuri sana katika kuweza kuelewa bwana Rasmus anavyotuchukulia watanzania (haswa wasomi, watafiti n.k.) katika suala hili la "vijiji vya ujamaa". Na pia wale ambao wako involved na postcolonial studies/theories, hicho kitabu ni classic reading.

Pia kuna mfaransa mmoja anaitwa Michel Foucault (RIP), amechambua vizuri sana juu ya "truth/knowledge and power". Katika kitabu chake The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969), Foucault anajaribu kueleza namna gani "the powerful" can creat "truth/knowledge". Kwamba, truth is a function of power; hivyo hawa akina Rasmus, kwa kutumia powerful tools such as media and blogs, na pia "yeye kama mtu kutoka nchi iliyoendelea" wanaweza kuuaminisha umma wa ulimwengu kwamba, watanzania hawajalifanyia kazi na kulipa mkazo suala la "vijiji vya ujamaa".

Hivyo basi, hiyo ni changamoto kwenu mlio katika nyanja za ardhi n.k. ku-mchallenge huyo bwana na kuonyesha kwamba hicho anachokisema si kweli. Ingekuwa vyema kusubiri hiyo PhD yake ipitishwe (kama itapitishwa), kisha kuanza kui-criticise kwa kutumia mtazamo wa ki-orient.

Nice post. I would have been better if you have written it in English as the researcher is following and posting on this thread as well unless s/he understands Kiswahili.

 

[jmushi1]

Kutumika kwa nguvu kwenye operation vijiji ndo jambo ambalo halikuwa jema kwenye issue nzima.Na hiii ni kwa mtizamo wangu tu.

Mwalimu alitumia characteristic ya kiualimu hapa wakati wa utekelezaji,(inaweza pia ikwa ya ki dictator).

Kama wanavyofanya walimu wa kitanzania kuwalazimishia wanafunzi kwa viboko tu na bila ya kuwaelewesha vyema, kwa kuamini tu ni wajinga...

Nadhani kungetumika mbinu nyingine ya tofauti na busara zaidi, maybe tungepiga hatua badala ya kubakia kwenye malalamiko ambapo yalikuwa mengi kutoka kwa wananchi waliohamishwa.

 

[Masanja]

Have you done your research and find out that there are no academic works on the subject matter? And please here we are talking about academic articles, not politicians and ex-president articles.

I very much believe kama ungenielewa usingelipuka hivyo.

NA I can tell you fuatilia huu mjadala mpaka mwisho utagundua kwanini watanzania/waafrika we never make progress. Tunashindwa kujenga hoja tunaanza name-calling. Tujadili hoja iliyoletwa hapa. SIYO personalities. This folk has given us a challenge. It is upto us to challenge his/her arguments not calling his/her name.

Yaani wewe na usomi wako huoni umuhimu wa akina Mkapa et al kuandika historia yao/maamuzi ambayo walishiriki? Hapa tunajadili nini? Are we not discussing 'ujamaa/villagisation' is this not politics? au mwenzangu unadhani politics ni kitu gani? Hujiulizi kwa nini foreig policy ya mataifa makubwa iko shaped na vitabu vya hawa wazee ambao wamekaa madarakani miaka hiyoo..akina Kissinger, Baker, etc? C`n mate ..Iam sure this bandiko does not represent your thinking/analytical ability...

Just know... Watu kama akina Mkapa na wenzake wana nafasi kubwa sana ya ku-shade more light kwenye maamuzi kama haya ambayo in one way or another they profoundly influenced and changed our lives as a nation. (Na siyo Mkapa tuu..wako wengi sana...)

Masanja

 

[Fredrick Sanga]

IT all started after the death of his friend (American President) and the undercover killing of multiparty systems in 1960s.

 

[jmushi1]

Just know... Watu kama akina Mkapa na wenzake wana nafasi kubwa sana ya ku-shade more light kwenye maamuzi kama haya ambayo in one way or another they profoundly influenced and changed our lives as a nation. (Na siyo Mkapa tuu..wako wengi sana...)

Masanja

Mkuu vp za mida?
Mkapa mwache tu mkuu, usimwingize kwenye huu mjadala kabisa, na hiyo light atakayo shed kwenye maamuzi ni ipi?Please mkuu, huyu aliyesema tuna wivu wa kike?Na alikuwa rais wetu?Mkuu our inteligences pliiz!

 

[Zakumi]

No doubt that our local content needs be preserved and transmitted to the larger world via a successful digitization process. But before asking how long will take to digitize our local content we need to first answer these questions.

1. What is local content?
2. Why do we need to digitize our local content?
3. How do we digitize local content?
4. How do the digitized local content help in preserving and transmitting Tanzania literary and cultural heritage to the world at large?

EMT,

People didn't stop using clay tablets because there was a shortage of clay. They stopped because man invented better technologies as such papyrus and paper that were better than clay.

 

[Mkandara]

Mkandara,

Kama nitakuwa sijakosea. Mjadala wa hapa sio hitimisho la mwandishi. Mjadala ni mwandishi kudai kuwa hakuna kazi nzito zilizofanyika kuchambua sera hizi ambazo ziliwagua zaidi ya wananchi milioni 10 wa Tanzania.

Wachangiaji wanaonyesha kuwa zipo kazi nyingi tu. Na nyingi ya kazi hizo hazitohi sifa kwa sera za serikali. Zimeandikwa na watanzania wenyewe.

Nakubaliana na wewe sana tu ila nimemsoma mwandishi kicha cha habari, utangulizi na pale aliposema amekuatana na watu walichomewa nyumba na wengine bado wakiota nyumba na ardhi walizodhulumiwa.. Kwangu binafsi ni kwamba alitaka kuona negative materials zaidi kutokana na uchunguzi wake.. kama nimemsoma vizuri inaonyesha kakutana na maandishi yenye mazuri mengi zaidi ya mabaya wakati yeye amekutana na watu wanaosema mabaya mengi tu. Hivyo namchambua yeye zaidi ktk utadfiti wake.

 

[MTAZAMO]

Mkuu vp za mida?
Mkapa mwache tu mkuu, usimwingize kwenye huu mjadala kabisa, na hiyo light atakayo shed kwenye maamuzi ni ipi?Please mkuu, huyu aliyesema tuna wivu wa kike?Na alikuwa rais wetu?Mkuu our inteligences pliiz!

Hujamuelewa Masanja ndio maana anasema tuna discuss personalities! Hawa wazee wanapaswa kuandika vitabu badala ya kushinda wakijibizana na watoto! Hawa ndio wamekuwa viongozi toka awamu ya kwanza hivyo wanaweza kufanya sisi na vizazi vijavyo kusoma na kuanalyse mapungufu na mafanikio yao! Tuache personalities!

 

[EMT]

I very much believe kama ungenielewa usingelipuka hivyo.

NA I can tell you fuatilia huu mjadala mpaka mwisho utagundua kwanini watanzania/waafrika we never make progress. Tunashindwa kujenga hoja tunaanza name-calling. Tujadili hoja iliyoletwa hapa. SIYO personalities. This folk has given us a challenge. It is upto us to challenge his/her arguments not calling his/her name.

Yaani wewe na usomi wako huoni umuhimu wa akina Mkapa et al kuandika historia yao/maamuzi ambayo walishiriki? Hapa tunajadili nini? Are we not discussing 'ujamaa/villagisation' is this not politics? au mwenzangu unadhani politics ni kitu gani? Hujiulizi kwa nini foreig policy ya mataifa makubwa iko shaped na vitabu vya hawa wazee ambao wamekaa madarakani miaka hiyoo..akina Kissinger, Baker, etc? C`n mate ..Iam sure this bandiko does not represent your thinking/analytical ability...

Just know... Watu kama akina Mkapa na wenzake wana nafasi kubwa sana ya ku-shade more light kwenye maamuzi kama haya ambayo in one way or another they profoundly influenced and changed our lives as a nation. (Na siyo Mkapa tuu..wako wengi sana...)

Masanja

Sir,

It appears you are probably not aware with what we discussing. We are not debating about Ujamaa Village per se. We are discussing about a statement provided by the researcher alleging that:

Operation Vijiji has received surprisingly little academic attention. I have only found a few academic articles analysing aspects of these villagisation processes of the 1960s and 1970s, and, so far, no larger, authoritative account of the whole period. That is a shame.

Now, here we are talking about academic literature. Is Mkapa an academician capable of writing an academic article? And, whether Mkapa has or has not written any article on Ujamaa Villages, does not negate the fact that there are plenty of academic literature contrary to what the researcher is alleging. That is my point. Some have even gone to the extent of providing him/her with information where s/he can locate them.

 

[jmushi1]

Hujamuelewa Masanja ndio maana anasema tuna discuss personalities! Hawa wazee wanapaswa kuandika vitabu badala ya kushinda wakijibizana na watoto! Hawa ndio wamekuwa viongozi toka awamu ya kwanza hivyo wanaweza kufanya sisi na vizazi vijavyo kusoma na kuanalyse mapungufu na mafanikio yao! Tuache personalities!

Mkapa anatakiwa jela na si eti kushed light, period.
Nimemwelewa vyema, wewe hujanielewa.

 

[BabuK]

PhD candidate may have missed stories from real people who were pro and against the idea ..and that would have shaded the untold experiences along with those captured by elites such as the likes of Prof. Shivji.

 

[EMT]

EMT,

People didn't stop using clay tablets because there was a shortage of clay. They stopped because man invented better technologies as such papyrus and paper that were better than clay.

So, how long it took the inventors to invent the better technologies? Less than a year? Three months?

 

[Companero]

Companero,

Hivi kwanini kazi za watanzania ambao walikuwa critical na government enzi zile zinakuwa ngumu kuzipata. Na kwanini wasomi wa sasa mnakuwa wagumu kuziendeleza kazi hizo? Je ni lazima mtu atoke Denmark?

wagumu kivipi wakati tunaziendeleza, tunapiga mikritiki ya nguvu ya jinsi mlivyowatesa wamaasai na wabarabaig!

 

[Zakumi]

Nakubaliana na wewe sana tu ila nimemsoma mwandishi kicha cha habari, utangulizi na pale aliposema amekuatana na watu walichomewa nyumba na wengine bado wakiota nyumba na ardhi walizodhulumiwa.. Kwangu binafsi ni kwamba alitaka kuona negative materials zaidi kutokana na uchunguzi wake.. kama nimemsoma vizuri inaonyesha kakutana na maandishi yenye mazuri mengi zaidi ya mabaya wakati yeye amekutana na watu wanaosema mabaya mengi tu. Hivyo namchambua yeye zaidi ktk utadfiti wake.

Mkandara,

Alichosikiliza kwa hao wanavijiji sio kipya. Kwani tayari researchers wa university of UDSM walichaandika. Ngoja nitoe nukuu ya researcher mmoja kutoka Mara.

"The officials decided that people should move immediately and so the police, army, national service, and militiamen [mgambo] were mobilized to move the people. People were ill-treated, harassed, punished in the name of TANU under socialism. And those who questioned it were told, this is Nyerere's order."

Researcher kutoka Iringa:

"To assure that people remained in the new villages, former houses were usually made inhabitable by ripping out doors and windows and kicking holes in the mud walls or by setting fire to the thatch roofs. In some cases grain stored in or near the house also caught fire and the family's food supply was destroyed."

Hayo ni maneno ya wanavyuoni wa Tanzania miaka ya 70.