How Nyerere Came to Embrace Nkrumah’s Stance on African Unity

In the early 1960s, as African nations gained independence, a major debate unfolded about the continent’s future. One camp, led by Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, pushed for immediate political unification across Africa believing that only a united continent could truly resist neocolonial influence and thrive. Opposing this view were several African leaders who felt the pace was too fast and preferred a step-by-step approach to integration.

Among them was Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, who initially believed that Nkrumah’s vision, though passionate, was unrealistic and overly driven by political idealism. He advocated for regional cooperation as a more practical starting point.

But decades later, with the benefit of reflection and deeper study, Nyerere had a change of heart. He acknowledged that his earlier stance may have underestimated Nkrumah’s foresight. In a candid moment, Nyerere admitted that it took him years to fully grasp the depth of Nkrumah’s thinking. He ultimately recognized Nkrumah’s dream of African unity as both visionary and necessary, calling him, without hesitation, “the greatest African of all time.” 

Written By: Omotade Kehinde