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The One Coconut Tree

Part 2 Project 2020
Veronica Tendai Chipwanya
University of Johannesburg | South Africa
This project is a synopsis of a speculative counter event that took place on the 60th Anniversary of the Independence of Tanzania on 9 December 2021 in Dar-es Salaam.

Commemorative Events emphasise remembering. They are held on the anniversaries of significant past events, either annually or after significant time periods. Commemorative events provide fascinating insight into how societies see themselves, their heritage and their identity. These events however carry high propensity for controversy as memory and identity are highly subjective.

Independence Day is commonly celebrated throughout the African continent as the day which commemorates the anniversary of national independence from the governance of a colonial rule. However, the festivities of this day are marked by humdrum colonial practices.

Mnazi Mmoja is an open “public” space primarily utilised as a device for commemoration and a stage for political agendas and events such as independence in Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania. However, Mnazi Mmoja exists in a static state as it exudes a single political expression of history and memory through its monuments.

Keywords: Protest, Politics, Parade, Memory, Culture, Dance.


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2020
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