Show the lessons Tanganyikans drew from majimaji war in their struggle for independence OR, In what ways did majimaji war serve as a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression in east Africa and how this symbolism evolved in contemporary discussion about post-colonial identity and Nationalism?
Introduction.
The war involved various tribes of southern Tanganyika such as Matumbi, Ngindo, pogoro, Luguru, zaramo and Ngoni.
The people of southern Tanganyika were against forced cotton cultivation, forced labour, oppressive taxation, low wages and land allienation imposed by the Germans.
Although the uprising was supressed by the german troops, the Tanganyikans showed that they were not ready to live like slaves in their own territory but rather die trying to liberate themselves.
This left a mark of Nationalism struggle in Tanganyika although it did not include people from the whole country.
The war left some lessons such as;
1. The importance of unity
The war taught other Tanganyikans that in order to succeed in the efforts to liberate themselves from colonial domination, they must join forces against their common foe/enemy instead of fighting separately.
Separate fighting was what led to the failure of most of African resistances like Nandi and Hehe resistances in Kenya and Tanganyika respectively.
2. The need for courage and desire to be free
The war alerted Tanganyikans that, to free themselves from German rule, they must be ready to face their oppressor and convey their message, that they wanted freedom instead of hiding their true intent and keep complaining and blaming.
Kinjekitile stepped up knowing clearly that leading such a resistance would cost his life, but he did it for next generations to understand the value of freedom of their motherland and be ready to protect it no matter the cost.
3. Avoidance of superstitious beliefs
The people of Tanganyika learned that in the endeavor to uproot colonialism from their country, they should use realistic tactics instead of superstition which was the chief cause for the failure of Majimaji war.
The ancestors believed in the magic water to shield them, a belief that proved failure against Oppressor's bullets leading to reckless bloodshed.
4. The use of clever and capable leaders in organizing the mass against colonialists.
The organising technique used by Kinjekitile was too dangerous and fatal to his troops.
Kinjekitile's organization was like sending his men to suicide, because approaching the enemies with local weapons like arrows and spears against guns was self massacre.
Though Kinjekitile showed the real spirit, but the tactic was not clever. Therefore there was a need to come up with more prudent way of expressing their complaints when their army was not yet a match for German troops.
5. The need to use peaceful method.
The outcomes of the war was a clear message to Tanganyikans that, the blood which was shed by the patriotic and loyal soldiers of southern Tanganyika was a wastage of human resource and the main reason for separation of families as well as trauma and loneliness.
Therefore to avoid all these tragedies, only peaceful means was the best solution to their oppression something which was positively taken by J.K nyerere to regain independence.
6. Patriotism and loyalty
The war was a clear indication that the people of southern Tanganyika were ready to die for their land and the next generations.
They fought willingly and with lot of courage only for freedom of their people and the coming generations.
Conclusion.
The failure of Majimaji uprising wasn't the end of struggle for freedom, but a point of new beginning for the welfare of the people of Tanganyika.
The war taught the Germans that Tanganyikans were no longer ready to continue living under colonialism, making the Germans to change their oppressive measures, in order to avoid another bloodshed to their people as it happened during majimaji war.
In the end, people of Tanganyika regained independence in 1961, but the contribution from majimaji war could not go unnoticed.
Related topics;
Establishment of colonialism.
African Nationalism and Decolonization.
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