TUKO SAWA: A GLOBAL NECESSITY FOR HARMONY!

When I think back to 2020, I remember a world that suddenly stood still. COVID-19 forced us into our homes, but for me, it also turned me inward. In that stillness, I asked myself: How can we restore the balance humanity has lost?

That question became the seed of what would soon be known as Tuko Sawa Society.

Roots Before the Storm

The seeds, in truth, had been planted years before.

In 2014, I began post-doctoral research on transculturalism as a moral compass for our diverse and interconnected world. Then in 2019, I encountered the book Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World by the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III). His Majesty's words gave me language for something I had always felt: everything in life is connected—but it is right relationships that make those connections active, balanced, and life-giving. So when the pandemic struck in 2020, I created a small “classroom” on Facebook, inviting Tanzanians of all ages. Together, we reflected on "Tuko Sawa" as a new worldview—one grounded in the equality of all beings, in caring for one another, in protecting nature, and in thinking of generations yet to come. 

A Community is Born

What began as a conversation blossomed into something larger: a community of practice. Guided by Humanity, Love, and Unity, people from every walk of life—students, farmers, doctors, artists, miners, teachers, and retirees—came together. We were not a charity. We were not an NGO. We were, and remain, a movement—fueled by volunteerism, solidarity, and shared values.

From Conversations to Celebration

By April 2021, our vision began to take shape with the first Tuko Sawa Day. On that day, we unveiled the Harmony Award—a handcrafted blackwood trophy shaped like our logo. Its meaning was simple yet profound: the world rests in our hands, and harmony is not a dream but a duty. The first recipient was Michael Nakuchima, affectionately called #ThePathfinder. In his school, he nurtured more than knowledge; he nurtured values. He taught children to walk in balance, compassion, and integrity. He was living proof that harmony can be practiced daily.

Hon. Nderakindo Kessy presenting the Harmony Award Certificate to Michael Nakuchima in 2021

But this was only the beginning. One day, that very same trophy would be bestowed upon Tanzania's Founding President, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere himself—by the next generation, #TheHarmonyGeneration—as a tribute to the seeds of integrity he planted.

The Threshold Moment

In September 2024, something remarkable happened. In Dodoma, we officially inaugurated Tuko Sawa Society. Harmony Ambassadors from across the nation gathered—at their own expense, without expectation of reward—simply to stand together in unity.

 Harmony Ambassadors in a group photo after the inauguration ceremony in Dodoma on 7th September 2024

That day, I knew we had crossed a threshold. We were no longer an idea or a gathering. We had become a mirror of Tanzanian society, reflecting the spirit of ujamaa and self-reliance that Mwalimu envisioned.

Just a month later, in October 2024, a Tuko Sawa Club at Itumbili Secondary School in Magu District established a Harmony Centre of Excellence and built a commemorative wall. Our Patron, Madaraka Nyerere, son of our Founding President, unveiled it. Elders from three major tribes joined us, marveling at how Indigenous Knowledge was being woven into modern life. The club’s founder, Minael Mndeme, had been at the forefront of this beautiful initiative.

Tuko Sawa Patron, Mr. Madaraka Nyerere flanked by Tuko Sawa Members, after officially opening the Harmony Centre of Excellence at itumbili Secondary School in Magu; Mwanza Region on 25th October 2024.

Honoring Mwalimu

On the 1st of August 2025, we bestowed our highest honor—the Professor of Harmony Award—upon Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere himself. It was a moment of deep gratitude, celebrating his lifelong example of familyhood, self-reliance, and harmony. As founder, I felt profoundly humbled. Without Mwalimu’s vision of education for all, I would not have had the chance to read, to write, or to share these dreams with dignity. For me, Tuko Sawa is not only a Tanzanian dream—it is a global necessity.

Tuko Sawa Club members from Itumbili Secondary School presenting the Professor of Harmony Award to Mr. Madaraka Nyerere, who received it on behalf of the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere.

The Heartbeat of Tuko Sawa

What sustains us is not large budgets but small acts of generosity. Through our community #HarmonyFund, members give what they can. No one has ever received a salary. Instead, we offer our time, talents, and hearts freely. Our strength is born of sacrifice, joy, and togetherness.

The Next Chapter: TUKO SAWA Harmony Academy

Five years in, one truth guides us still: everyone matters, and every action counts.

In Tanzania, like much of the Global South, Elders remain our living encyclopedias. Their wisdom reminds us: harmony is not new—it is something to be remembered and acted upon.

That is why our next step is the creation of the Tuko Sawa Harmony Academy: a place where remembrance becomes practice, where young generations can learn respect, love, and care. Because one day, when a child asks, “What does it mean to be human?”—we must have an answer!

Closing the Circle

To those who have walked this journey with us: thank you.

To those just joining: welcome.

The circle of harmony is wide, and there is room for us all.

Tuko Sawa!

Regina Kessy Wilkinson  (PhD)

CLICK HERE TO READ THE DAILY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT THE HARMONY AWARD.