In Dar es Salaam, scholars and policymakers gathered at the 17th Julius Nyerere International Festival held at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to discuss Africa’s role in global knowledge production and development.

The event, organised under the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Research Chair in Pan-African Studies, focused on the theme “Geopolitics, Development, and a New Vision for Africa.

” Participants stressed that African universities must take a stronger role in shaping knowledge that responds to the continent’s real social and economic challenges instead of mainly serving Western academic systems and interests.

A key lecture was delivered by Professor Zachariah Cherian Mampilly, who argued that African knowledge production should be more independent and rooted in everyday realities of African people.

He highlighted examples from grassroots intellectual movements in countries like Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where scholars and activists are sharing knowledge beyond academic paywalls and traditional Western journals.He emphasized that knowledge should not only circulate within elite institutions but must also reach ordinary citizens in understandable ways.University leaders, including UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof.William Anangisye, reminded participants that universities must go beyond producing graduates and research outputs.

They should also help society think critically and imagine better futures, in line with Tanzania’s Vision 2061 and continental frameworks like Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA.The festival also featured discussions on geopolitics, climate change, inequality, and Africa’s position in a shifting global order.

Speakers warned that while global power is becoming more multipolar, this does not automatically guarantee fairness for African nations unless they are strategically organised and united.The event concluded with calls for stronger Pan-African collaboration and intellectual independence in shaping Africa’s development path.