Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy (MNMA) is an undergraduate university dating back to the dawn of Tanzania's independence in 1961. It is located in Kigamboni District of Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania. It took over the assets and functions of the former Kivukoni Academy of Social Sciences.
Historical background
The Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy emerged from an institution once called Kivukoni College.
Phase 1
In February, 1958 the National Conference of TANU which was held in Tabora passed a Resolution to establish a college for adults in the lines of Ruskin College in Oxford. The college was to be a tool for spreading understanding of social, political and economic problems facing underdeveloped countries such as Tanganyika among people who were likely to become leaders in the newly independent country but who did not have qualifications necessary to enter educational institutions. The Adult College was formally established on 29 July 1961 as a private company under Companies Ordinance (Cap 212) and named Kivukoni College. While inaugurating Kivukoni College, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the President of TANU and the Prime Minister of Tanganyika by then had this to say about the name.
“The name of this College is significant. It is not just the question of
the site being of crossing place physically. Tanganyika itself is at the
crossing place now; on December ninth, we assume new and great
crossing place now; on December 9th, we assume new and great
journey, and every student must become part of that crew. But first
he/she has his/her own crossing to make; a crossing to wide
understanding and to new opportunities for service”.
Regarding the adult college, he said: “…Kivukoni College is not intended to be a College for an Elite, it is intended to make a contribution to the development of all the people. To come here as a student is to be given a wonderful opportunity and a privilege. The responsibility is proportionately great. If any student ever tried to divorce himself/herself from the people who indirectly sent him/her here he/she would be abusing the privilege but I do not believe that will happen. The graduates of Kivukoni must be like the yeast in a loaf, effective because it cannot be isolated, its presence being known by the work it had done….”
The college opened with only 43 students. Subjects taught were political science, history, sociology, literature, geography, administration, law, modern languages plus other relevant subjects.
Phase 2
In 1971 Kivukoni College was transformed into an Ideological College. The college was considered best suited to inculcate the party ideology of Socialism and self-reliance. The main functions of Kivukoni Ideological College were:
To spread and reinforce the ideology of the Party (TANU) through interpreting, teaching, analysing and defending it and in so doing raise the level of understanding of leaders and masses at large. To be a source of ideas to help the Party promote the development of Tanzania. To be a source of information and an advisory organ on various issues regarding the ideology of the Party.
Kivukoni Ideological College had eight zonal colleges, namely Zanzibar, Lushoto, Murutunguru, Hombolo, Msaginya, Mahiwa, Kihinga and Ilonga. They offered the following subjects:
Ideology and Politics
History – The History of the Party
Political Economy
Management and Administration
People's Combat and
Social Science Research Methodology.
All zonal colleges except Zanzibar were closed and handed-over to the Tanzania
Government in 1992, at the end of the one party state and the adoption of a multi-party system from 1 July 1992.
Phase 3
The college was transformed into an academic institution and renamed Kivukoni Academy of Social Sciences (KASS).
The Memorandum and Articles of Association which established Kivukoni Academy of Social Sciences gave mandate to the academy to undertake the following functions: