THE UJAMAA MOVEMENT: MASS SUBJECTIVITY AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

The Ujamaa movement, rooted in the traditional African family structure of communal living and cooperation, aimed to establish Ujamaa villages in rural areas while implementing nationalization and reforms in urban centers. Ujamaa villages emphasized equality, self-determination, and local self-governance. While there has been extensive research on the Ujamaa movement, existing studies primarily focus on its theoretical foundations, practical applications, and broader influences, with limited attention to the role of mass subjectivity. This paper takes a historical materialist perspective to explore the active involvement of the masses in the Ujamaa movement, shedding light on how their collective subjectivity contributed to its development.