As I walked into the Russian Culture Centre, I felt a sense of revival that, as Tanzanians, our support for Palestine has not abated. The venue was abuzz two days before October 7, 2024, decorated with a sea of kufiyyehs to welcome Tanzanian poet Omary Baajun on launching his poetry collection Olives, Watermelon & Kufiyyeh.

Since the days of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, our founding president, and under his leadership, Tanzania has been a staunch supporter of Palestine. However, the strength of support that was shown before has dwindled, or so it seems. 

Permits for peaceful pro-Palestinian walks were granted and then hastily cancelled to deter people from applying. However, Baajun broke this barrier, and by inviting people to his book launch, he was graced with a large number who came to show their support for Palestine.

I feel proud that our late president, Mwalimu Nyerere, set an example in moral leadership by being the first in Africa to open a Palestinian Embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1973. 

At the United Nations General Assembly meeting in 1979, Nyerere stated: “We in Africa cannot accept that the Palestinians, like us, victims of colonialism and racial oppression, should be denied their rights to freedom and dignity. We will stand with them, as we stood against apartheid and colonialism in Africa.”

The man of the moment, Omary Baajun, was finally on stage with an olive tree, a huge banner and a Palestinian flag in the background. Watermelons were scattered around the hall, and a few were beautifully carved and sliced on trays. 

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The audience heard Baajun’s motivation and feelings about writing this collection of poems in solidarity with the Palestinian people. He walked the crowd through his dedications in this epitome of his writing career, which allowed us to see the people who inspired and supported this young man. 

A year into the genocide, Baajun brought over 100 people together, draped in kuffiyehs, to not only launch his book of 22 poems but as a symbol and exhibit of their support.

Justice and humanity

Baajun’s book emphasises the intertwining of justice and humanity and that double standards of the international community are unacceptable. As a peace ambassador, Baajun won many awards, including the AfriCAN Honoree Authors’ Award in 2023 (South Africa), WAOW Global Humanitarian Award in 2023 (India), Kwanzaa Unity Award 2022 (USA) and the WLFPH International Peace Ambassador Award also in 2022. 

He chose October 5, 2024, to launch his book to send a message in commemorating one year of the genocide and to make the world realise that the genocide didn’t begin on October 7, 2023. This narrative of pointing to one day erases the massacre and systematic oppression that has been going on for 76 years under occupation.

Looking grand with a Kufiyyeh wrapped around his neck, he explained: “I decided to write a poetry book on Palestine to counter the narratives of settler-colonialists and apartheid regimes that seek to erase Palestinians, their history, culture, stories, and resilience.”

“My book aims to demonstrate and condemn the over 75 years of settler-colonialism, illegal occupation, apartheid, oppression, dehumanisation, double standards, hypocrisy, and the ongoing ethnic cleansing happening right before our eyes,” the author added.

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Baajun said he “wanted to make the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere and Nelson Mandela proud of the generation they have inspired—a generation committed to creating a better world for everyone through peace-building and solidarity with the people of Palestine.”

When asked what inspired him to write the book, Baajun explained, “I also felt compelled to write about Palestine to align myself with the good side of history. 

“As a member of a new generation that has studied the histories of Nazism, South African settler-colonialism and apartheid, and African colonialism, I believe I have a responsibility to raise my voice and inspire others to do the same. I chose to write a book because I believe that even if I were to die today, this work would endure, allowing future generations to see that Gen Z did not remain silent.”

Before officially launching his book, with a passionate tone in his voice, Baajun read a verse from his poem, The Chosen Land, from his collection, which read I Dream of the Free State of Palestine. This poem questions the justification of the so-called ‘chosen land’ where thousands of women, children, elders, journalists, health workers and hospital patients are being killed. 

There is no justification for bombing hospitals, schools, refugee camps, orphanages, residential buildings, and starving people. “I needed to wake people up and tell them that God is not behind all those actions. 

“God is peace and love. And what we see today is not the promised chosen land but a Zionist settler-colonial project,” he explained. “Furthermore, I aimed to break the silence in Tanzania and send a message that Friends of Palestine – Tanzania exist; this book represents thousands of us.”

Opposing genocide

The Palestinian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Hamdi Mansour Abuali, was the guest of honour. The dignitaries and esteemed guests in attendance exuded a potent energy. To name a few: Walter Bgoya, Prof Issa Shivji, Fatma Alloo, Prof Abdul Sheriff, Emma Lwaitama Nyerere, and Prof Saida Yahya Othman.

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In his speech, Mr Abuali spoke from his heart on a topic that is ingrained in his essence. He thanked the audience for being there, for being human, for holding on to humanity for the sake of Palestine. He also reminded the audience that Palestine was a functional and peaceful country, with the different faiths living together side by side, before Israel claimed the land. 

Israel was created not on a land without a people but rather on a land inhabited by people that they had to displace. Surely, this was not what God had asked of them: to displace the people to grab the land. 

Palestinians were the only people who took in European Jews with open arms when they were being persecuted, and no other country wanted to take them in. He encouraged Tanzanians not to tire of speaking about the genocide that has continued for not just one but for 76 years. Prayers for peace in Palestine and around the world followed his speech.

Art for justice

The open mic session allowed artists to speak out through songs, poems and plays. In the panel discussion titled Creatives for Justice, Mr Bgoya, founder and retired Managing Director of Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, quoted Martin Luther King: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 

He said this was his way of emphasising why Tanzanians like Baajun need to speak up and raise their voices creatively to call for justice. He reminded the audience that, historically, artists and creatives have been able to bring about a difference by using their platforms to call for justice.

Emma Nyerere, a humanitarian activist and also a panelist, said: “To write poems in support of Palestine is certainly not anti-semitic but promotes the peaceful co-existence of all peoples, Jews and non-Jews, Arab and non-Arab in the Middle East.” 

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With social media covering war crimes, we should also be able to have open discussions because silence never brings about a solution. Being peace-loving citizens, we should do what is in our power to bring peace using our voices.

Olives, Watermelon & Kufiyyeh is the first Tanzanian poetry book for Palestine in the modern era, endorsed by Prof Issa Shivji, Prof Karim Hirji, and Mr Richard Mabala. The profits from the book sale will all go towards helping the genocide survivors. To purchase your copy, contact +255 684 956 676. 

We are currently witnessing a global uprising against oppressive hegemonies, and as Tanzanians who have been great supporters of legitimate struggles, we must be bold again to raise our voices, insist on justice, and never abandon our duty to the oppressed, now in Palestine, Lebanon, DRC Congo, Sudan, and other countries. 

The event renewed my sense of duty toward oppressed peoples and reminded me that we can all make a difference, whether big or small.
Nahida Esmail is a freelance writer based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She writes fiction stories for children and young adults and dabs in poetry. She’s available at nahida.esmail@gmail.com. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please get in touch with our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.