thesilkroadtoday
All is set for the Launch of a book published by the Pan African Writers Association ( PAWA) in honor of the late President of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli who died on 17th March 2021 after a prolonged illness.
The collection of poetry and essays written in English, French and Swahili with 46 contributors from 27 African countries including the diaspora will be launched during the forthcoming Conakry Book Fair scheduled for April 2026.
Edited by the PAWA President, Prof Bill Ndi of the Tuskegee University, US, the book will be the third to be published by PAWA in honor of worthy African leaders of note.
It is on record that PAWA had previously published similar collections of essays and poetry in honor of the late Ghanaian President, John Jerry Rawlings and the Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof Wole Soyinka.
The new collection traces John Pombe Magufuli’s ascent as both symbol and statesman—a figure whose reforms struck like lightning and whose resolve reshaped national ethos.
It situates Magufuli within Tanzania’s historical and political continuum, illuminating his revolutionary vision, his disciplined governance, and his defiance of imposed paradigms.
“Hapa kazi tu”, his mantra emerges not merely as a slogan but as a philosophical framework rooted in African self-belief, cultural affirmation, and developmental sovereignty.
Through poetic reflection and scholarly insight, these pages examine the man, the myth, and the memory. They reveal a leader who challenged complacency and reclaimed national purpose.
PAWA believes that Magufuli’s legacy is cast alongside Nyerere, Kenyatta, Nkrumah, Sankara, and Mandela, revealing a shared pursuit of African autonomy. His pragmatism, bold reforms, and action driven leadership mark him as a pivotal voice in Africa’s future trajectory.
The Conakry Launch will be the first in a number of other events around the book that will also take place in some other African countries later in the year.
