Tanzanians Criticisms Follow Nyerere Statue Unification in Ethiopia

Some Tanzanians have expressed concern online that a new statue honoring their founding president, Julius Nyerere, does not resemble him. The statue was unveiled on Sunday outside the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Abeba.

“I know the gesture counts the most, but this statue’s face bears little or no resemblance to Mwalimu Nyerere (old or young),” Maria Sarungi writes on X (formerly Twitter).

“That is not our Nyerere,” another responds.

Nyerere led Tanzania from its independence in 1961 to 1985. He was a staunch pan-Africanist who hosted southern African independence fighters opposing white minority rule.

Last year, a statue of Zambia’s first President, Kenneth Kaunda, had to be removed after weeks of ridicule, with many people claiming that it did not look like him.