The poets` contribution to political development: a case sudy of Saadani Abdu Kandoro.

This study examines the contribution of Saadani Abdu Kandoro to Tanzania's political development. The study situates Kandoro both as a renowned poet and an important political figure and recognizes the significant contribution he has made to the country's political development. His active participation in the formation of Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in1954, which led the struggle for independence, is a pointer to this. The study argues that despite its known importance in many Tanzanian societies, the contribution of poetry and that of Kandoro as a poet, to the country's political development has rarely been documented. It argues that this is a serious shortcoming in recording the country's history owing to the important role that poetry played both in pre-and post-independence political development. It is against this background that the study uses Kandoro to recognize the contribution of poetry to Tanzania's political development with himself (Kandoro), being in the forefront. Within this endeavour the study traces the development of poetry since pre-colonial times through the colonial period up to the independence days. It was during the colonial period, the study goes on to show, that the talent of Kandoro as a poet-cum-politician started to make an impression. But Kandoro went further: he used his talent to participate actively in the country's political development, starting with the independence struggle. Ultimately, the study summarizes the finding vis-a-vis the problematic which was the contribution of Kandoro to Tanzanians political development. It makes some interesting conclusions which show several attributes of Kandoro which played an important role in the political development of Tanzania. Last but not least, the study offers several recommendations which could be taken up to not only ensure the progressive development of Swahili but also to preserve the history of eminent people such as Kandoro.