This chapter covers the period between Nyerere’s graduation until his resignation from Pugu. A final section then outlines the continuation of his ties with Edinburgh until shortly before his death. The chapter opens at the time Nyerere was based in London, months when he experienced intense interaction with African nationalists. It brings to light the racial motivations that determined his journey back to Tanganyika, and covers his marriage to Maria Waningu. Reflections are made on the tensions that impinged on Nyerere’s political activity in Uzanaki, and on the development of his relationship with political activists who held territorial-level ambitions. The chapter ends with Nyerere’s resignation from teaching and his entry into full-time politics. It continues to draw on the Colonial Office file that was kept on Nyerere, as well as archival material from Rome that illuminates his correspondence with Catholic priests. The chapter also uses further interview material in which Nyerere outlined the circumstances that led to his decision to enter politics.

The Race Problem

Nyerere graduated from Edinburgh on 4 July 1952 with an Ordinary Degree of Master of Arts.2 A little more than a week later he left the city, according a letter to Father Marchant.3 Having successfully completed his undergraduate studies – a time that he described as the happiest in his life4 – Nyerere was ‘anxious to get back to work as soon as possible’.5 Before returning home, however, he was granted a short British Council Visitorship to study educational institutions in England. Foregoing a trip to Europe, his stay in Britain was lengthened so that he could see the schools in operation during term time.6 Nyerere would only have been interested in this if he was serious about becoming a teacher. It appears that he may have been anticipating a longer stay however, for in the same letter to Father Marchant, Nyerere emphasised his concern that he was ‘going to add to the never-ending difficulty of the shortage of teachers’.