The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was a political party in Tanzania founded in 1954. It aimed to promote the interests of the African population in Tanganyika, advocating for independence from British colonial rule. TANU played a crucial role in the country's struggle for self-governance and was instrumental in the eventual attainment of independence in 1961. Under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, TANU became the dominant political force in Tanganyika. After independence, it merged with the Zanzibar revolutionary party to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964. TANU's policies focused on socialism and national unity, shaping the country's political landscape for decades.