The Resume

(April 13, 1922-October 14, 1999)
Born in Butiama, Tanzania
Zanaki ethnicity
More commonly known as ‘Mwalimu’ (Swahili for ‘teacher’)
Baptized as a Catholic (December 23, 1943)
Attended University of Edinburgh (1949-1952)
Chief Minister of Tanganyika (September 2, 1960-May 1, 1961)
Prime Minister of Tanganyika (May 1, 1961-January 22, 1962)
President of Tanganyika (December 9, 1962-April 25, 1964)
President of Tanzania (April 26, 1964-November 5, 1985)
Established a collectivization policy known as ujamaa in the Arusha Declaration (1967)
Wrote ‘Uhuru na Umoja’ (1967; Freedom and Unity), ‘Uhuru na Ujamaa’ (1968; Freedom and Socialism), and ‘Uhuru na Maendeleo’ (1973; Freedom and Development)
Died in London of leukemia

Why he might be annoying:

He had a Hitler moustache.
The ujamaa system he implemented on Tanzania caused agricultural output to hit rock bottom, turning the country from the top exporter of agricultural products in Africa into the top importer of agricultural products.
The same policy also turned Tanzania into one of the poorest countries in the world.
He was committed to socialism throughout his life.
He ran Tanzania as a single-party state.
He later antagonized Britain by seeking friendlier relations with Communist China.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a skilled orator.
He mediated in the Burundi conflict. (1996)
He was the first Tanganyikan to attend a British university and gain a degree.
He led Tanganyika (mainland of Tanzania before its merger with Zanzibar) to independence without violence and excessive interracial conflicts.
He was one of the founders of the Organization for African Unity, which would later become the African Union.
He was a staunch opponent of white supremacy in Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and South Africa.
He encouraged hip hop in Tanzania, which has been influenced by ujamaa in there.
He established mass education programs that turned Tanzania into Africa’s most literate country.
He translated Shakespeare’s plays ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and ‘Julius Caesar’ into Swahili.
He protested against Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians from Uganda. (1972)
He toppled Idi Amin’s regime by sending troops to Uganda to assist the rebels against Amin’s regime for occupying an area of Tanzania bordering Uganda a year ago.

Credit: Big Lenny

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Big Lenny's Profiles [Series 03]
• I Attended University of Edinburgh
• I Died in 1999 (Ranked: 77)
• I Have a Toothbrush Moustache (Hitler Moustache)
• I Have Leukemia
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Time
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Mustaches
• Parade Magazine's Worst Leaders [January 1983] (Ranked: 29)
• People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People [1976]
• Profiles 32001-32250 (Ranked: 32039)
• Teachers

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 42 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 68.42% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 89.47% Annoying