Dar es Salaam. The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Research Chair in Pan-African Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has announced the 17th Julius Nyerere International Festival, inviting the public to participate in the three-day event scheduled for May 28–30, 2026, at the New Library Conference Auditorium on the university’s Mlimani Campus.
Held annually, the festival serves as a platform for advancing dialogue on the enduring legacy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s founding president and Father of the Nation. The event promotes scholarly engagement and policy discussions on Pan-Africanism, people-centred development, peace, and the evolving international order.
According to the newly elected Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Professor in Pan-African Studies, Alexander Makulilo, the gathering will bring together academics, policymakers, civil society organizations, and members of the public to examine issues shaping Tanzania, Africa, and the wider world.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Prof. Makulilo said the festival comes at a time when Africa is facing complex geopolitical and socio-economic challenges that require informed dialogue and collective solutions.
“This conference is held every year, and this year’s theme is ‘Regional Politics, Development and Africa’s Future Direction,’” Prof. Makulilo said.
He noted that discussions will focus on pressing global concerns, including rising fuel prices, ongoing conflicts and their implications for Africa’s development trajectory.
Participants will engage in lectures, panel discussions, and policy dialogues aimed at providing deeper insights into these and other contemporary issues affecting the continent.
Beyond geopolitics, the festival will also explore a wide range of development topics, including climate change, agriculture, industrialization, and the implementation of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.
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One of the major highlights of the event will be the inauguration of Prof. Makulilo as the Fourth Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Professor in Pan-African Studies, succeeding Prof. Rwekaza Mukandala.
Prof. Makulilo, a Political Science scholar in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at UDSM’s College of Social Sciences, is widely known for his works on democracy, comparative politics, and development studies. He has held senior leadership positions in several higher learning institutions in Tanzania and currently serves as Chief Editor of the academic journal African Review.
Organizers say the festival will continue to serve as a vital forum for intellectual exchange and policy engagement, while reinforcing Nyerere’s vision of African unity, self-reliance, and sustainable development in an increasingly interconnected world.
