Diaspora, identity, citizenship, and nation-building
The political and social contributions of people of Indian origin in postcolonial Tanzania
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24019262 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anisa Kapufi Mbega (0009-0009-2257-3591, University of Delhi), Edward Frank Eliya (0009-0001-7913-6394, Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, corresponding author), Gajendra Singh (0000-0002-4708-0664, University of Delhi) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication date | 2026-08-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | African Identities (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-5843 • E-ISSN: 1472-5851 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14725843.2026.2712917 |
| OpenAlex | W7197015068 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
The current study explores the contributions of people of Indian Origin (PIOs) to Tanzania’s political and social development, utilising historical and diasporic perspectives. The research draws on both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include written reports from the Tanzania National Archives (TNA), the Tanzania National Library (TNL), and the National Museum of Tanzania (NMT). It also incorporates interviews and observations conducted in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Books and Journal articles served as secondary sources. The findings suggest that while cultural belonging remains socially negotiated, creating a paradox between legal inclusion and social acceptance, PIOs’ legal citizenship grants them formal equality, and they have made significant contributions to nation-building in Tanzania. They have played a significant role in shaping Tanzania’s political and social landscape. They participated in the independence movements of Tanganyika and Zanzibar against British colonial rule. The study also highlights that Indian descendants have held high-ranking government positions, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other senior roles. Additionally, PIOs have made significant contributions to Tanzania’s social progress through their cultural diversity, educational initiatives, and healthcare efforts.
Citizenship · Colonialism · Government (linguistics) · Inclusion (mineral) · Independence (probability theory) · Politics · Tanzania · African history and culture studies · Colonial History and Postcolonial Studies · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories
From a latent to a ‘strong’ soft power? The evolution of India’s cultural diplomacy
India Beyond India
The politics of race and nation
African Socialism in Postcolonial Tanzania
Race, Nation, and Citizenship in Post-Colonial Africa
The Dialectic of Nation Building in Postcolonial Tanzania
A disruptive ethnography of Tanzanian-Indians
Depoliticised ethnicity in Tanzania
From Bandung to NAM
Is no One Left Behind? Inclusive Citizenship in Practices of Self-help Groups in Rural Tanzania
The Pleasures of Knowing
British colonialism in East-Africa during nineteenth century
Diaspora and Nation in the Indian Ocean
The Zanzibar treason trial
The Khōjā Of Tanzania
Culture and Customs of Tanzania
The South Asian Diaspora in Tanzania
Indian Ocean Food Globalisation and Africa
A Hundred Horizons
Slaves, Spices and Ivory in Zanzibar
Indian relations with East Africa before the arrival of the Portuguese
British Jurisdiction and Legal Protection of Non-Europeans in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, 1841–1888
Co-Operation and Collaboration in Colonial East Africa
The History of Indians in Zanzibar from the 1870s to 1963
Townsmen in the Making
The Making of Hindu Communal Organizations, Places, and Identities in Postcolonial Dar es Salaam
From Fighting Underpopulation to Curbing Population Growth
Asians in East Africa
The Disquieting of History
The South Asian child in colonial East Africa
Politics and Business in the Indian Newspapers of Colonial Tanganyika
Indian Ocean World Cinema
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |