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uhuru

American  
[oo-hoo-roo, oo-hoor-oo] / uˈhu ru, ʊˈhʊər u /

noun

Swahili.
  1. freedom; independence.


uhuru British  
/ uːˈhuːruː /

noun

  1. national independence

  2. freedom

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What is uhuru? Uhuru is a Swahili term meaning freedom or independence. Uhuru is often used to describe the freedom of a country to govern itself, especially in parts of Africa where Swahili is spoken. In Kenya, uhuru was used frequently in the mid-1900s when Kenya was gaining independence from the United Kingdom. Uhuru is also the first name of Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta. He is the leader of the Jubilee Party of Kenya’s political system. Example: On Jamhuri Day, Mukondi likes to watch the uhuru parades.

Etymology

Origin of uhuru

C20: from Swahili

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still commanded by British officers two years after uhuru, the African soldiers interpreted de-Africanization to mean that they would not gain the promotions they had been promised.

From Time Magazine Archive

Miss Brooks can view black Africa's yearning for uhuru, or independence, from a unique position.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some of the dreams of uhuru have been shattered; a very few, such as the founding of the Organization for African Unity in 1963, have been fulfilled.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Tanganyika had three things working for it that made the country seem ideally suited for uhuru.

From Time Magazine Archive

With uhuru an accomplished fact, party discipline was crumbling.

From Time Magazine Archive

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