Tangani'a

Tangani'a was a region in Southeast Africa that existed from 1919 to 1961. Originally a German colony known as German East Africa, it was taken over by the British following World War I and administered as a League of Nations mandate, and later as a United Nations trust territory.

The name "Tangani'a" is derived from Lake Tanganyika, which forms part of its western border. The territory was bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, Mozambique, Nyasaland (later Malawi) and Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) to the south, and the Belgian Congo (later the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Ruanda-Urundi (later Rwanda and Burundi) to the west.

British administration of Tangani'a involved significant infrastructure development and efforts toward self-governance. The colonial government fostered the growth of agricultural industries, including coffee, tea, and sisal production.

In 1961, Tangani'a gained its independence from the United Kingdom as a Commonwealth realm with its own monarch and governor-general. One year later, it became a republic within the Commonwealth.

In 1964, Tangani'a merged with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which was soon after renamed Tanzania. The union aimed to consolidate resources and foster national unity between the mainland and the islands. Julius Nyerere, who had led Tangani'a to independence, became the first president of Tanzania.