'Time for Germany to act': Tanzania presses Berlin on justice for colonial atrocities

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - The Maji Maji heroes' graveyards in Tanzania's southern Lindi region, enveloped in an eerie silence, solitude and darkness, may deter most visitors, but for Abdulrahman Mamba Kijadu, a descendant of Chief Suleiman Mamba, the site holds deep significance.

Chief Mamba, a leader of the Mwera tribe, met a brutal end at the hands of the Germans on Feb. 27, 1906.

As the evening call to prayer echoed through the air, 78-year-old Kijadu said he regularly visits the burial ground, considering it a shrine that evokes memories of his grandfather.

“Every time I come here, I feel pain in my heart as I remember my grandfather,” he told Anadolu.

In this quiet coastal town where acacia trees sway lazily in the breeze, the memory of the blood-soaked struggle during the Maji Maji uprising has faded from the memories of many locals.

But Kijadu, a cashew farmer, openly expresses his belief that the descendants of those who took part deserve compensation for the injustices inflicted by the colonial powers.

Sitting on a wooden bench under a Mango tree, he deftly extracts nuts from the roasted cashew shells. His blackened fingers, marked by the sticky residue, confirm the many hours he dedicates to his craft.

“We need money, not empty words. The Germans committed grave offenses which we will never forget,” he said.

Few residents like Kijadu openly decry the tyranny of the German colonialists during the Maji Maji Rebellion, named after a magical charm believed to make warriors invincible against rifle-wielding enemies.

As the stories of unsung heroes like Mamba emerge, they echo through the corridors of power in Tanzania’s capital city Dodoma, reaching back to a painful chapter of history.

The Maji Maji Rebellion, a heroic but devastating resistance against German colonial forces from 1905 to 1907, remains etched in the collective memory of Tanzanians. The rebellion, starting as a “peasant revolt,” went beyond ethnic boundaries, uniting disparate groups under the banner of “water therapy” – the maji – as a spiritual force against the common enemy.

Despite German oppression and the use of machine guns against rebels armed with millet stalks, arrows and spears doused in sacred water, the Maji Maji rebels held their ground. The ruthless quashing of the rebellion marked a dark chapter in history, with villages destroyed, crops razed and a deliberate famine imposed, leading to an estimated loss of 250,000 to 300,000 lives.

- 'Time for Germany to act'

In a historic move, Tanzania is now demanding reparations from Germany. Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs Pindi Chana said this demand is not merely for financial restitution but a quest for acknowledgment and closure.

"The wounds of the past run deep, and it is time for Germany to act on the historical injustices perpetrated during its colonial rule," Chana told Anadolu.

Negotiations between Tanzanian and German officials are underway, with Chana expressing cautious optimism about the adoption of a comprehensive resolution that addresses both the economic and emotional toll of the past. She sees this as a pivotal moment in diplomatic relations, urging Germany to demonstrate its commitment to global justice and accountability.

"These talks are a crucial step towards healing the scars of our shared history. We aim for a comprehensive resolution that addresses both the economic and emotional toll of the past," she said.

"The reparations will not only redress the wrongs of the past but will also pave the way for a renewed and equitable partnership between our countries.”

Tanzania's pursuit of reparations aligns with broader calls from African Union member states for official apologies and compensation for the damages inflicted by imperialism in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier last year announced talks on the legacy of Germany's colonial rule, symbolizing a critical step towards closure.

The negotiations hold the promise of not just financial compensation but are a genuine effort to reconnect and reconcile.

Steinmeier, while on an official visit to Tanzania last year, stood before the descendants of Chief Songea Mbano, who was executed for leading a revolt during the German East Africa era.

Expressing remorse, Steinmeier acknowledged the bravery of Chief Mbano and pledged to seek answers to the unanswered questions that have haunted the families for decades.

"I beg your forgiveness," he solemnly declared, laying a rose at Chief Mbano's grave.

A meeting in Berlin in 2023 saw both countries discussing colonial-era crimes, emphasizing the need to clarify and right the wrongs of the past. The return of human remains stored in German museums and looted cultural objects is under consideration.

Herbert Ndomba, a professor of history at the University of Dar es Salaam, said the process aims to mend diplomatic ties.

“I think it is a very good step. Once the two countries agree on the modality for compensation, it will help to heal the wounds and open a new chapter,” he said.

The Maji War was a significant anti-colonial movement led by a magician called Kinjikitile Ngwale.

Germany's colonial role in Africa, formalized during the Berlin West Africa Conference in 1884-1885, led to its control of territories in East and West Africa, including modern-day Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Togo, Cameroon, and Namibia.

“While we are asking for compensation, I think nothing can replace the souls of our ancestors. This compensation will serve as a lesson never again to repeat such mistakes,” said Kijadu.