In an apology, the president of Germany on Wednesday, Nov. 1, met with the descendants of Chief Songea Mbano, who was put to death for inciting a rebellion in Tanzania during the colonial era.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier committed in Songea, southwest Tanzania, to look for answers about the German East Africa era. One of Germany’s colonies in Africa was German East Africa. It encompassed the period from 1885 until the end of World War I, which included modern-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Steinmeier said, “My dear family (of Songea, ed.), I mourn with you for Chief Songea, and for all the others who were executed. I wish to pay my respects to the victims of the German colonial rule. And as German President I would like to ask for forgiveness for what Germans did to your ancestors here.” He called Mbano “a brave leader” in the rebellion. He added, “I beg your forgiveness and I would like to assure you that we Germans will search with you for answers to the open, unanswered, outstanding questions that give you no peace.”
According to German news agency dpa, Steinmeier placed a wreath at the mass grave of 66 other Maji Maji revolt combatants and a rose at the tomb of Chief Songea Mbano.
It is estimated that between 1905 and 1907, up to 300,000 people perished during the Maji Maji revolt.
Among the skulls returned to Germany may be Chief Mbano’s. Remarks issued by Steinmeir’s office state that he has promised to look for it. He continued, “Unfortunately, I just can’t promise you that we will be successful,” this is due to the reason that it is not easy to identify human remains even with scientific expertise.”
Tanzania’s then-government declared in 2017 that it was thinking of taking Germany to court to get compensation for the individuals who were allegedly malnourished, tortured, and killed by German forces.
According to German news agency dpa, Steinmeier placed a wreath at the mass grave of 66 other Maji Maji revolt combatants and a rose at the tomb of Chief Songea Mbano.
It is estimated that between 1905 and 1907, up to 300,000 people perished during the Maji Maji revolt.
Among the skulls returned to Germany may be Chief Mbano’s. Remarks issued by Steinmeir’s office state that he has promised to look for it. He continued, “Unfortunately, I just can’t promise you that we will be successfull,” this is due to the reason that it is not easy to identify human remains even with scientific expertise.”
Tanzania’s then-government declared in 2017 that it was thinking of taking Germany to court to get compensation for the individuals who were allegedly malnourished, tortured, and killed by German forces.
In 2021, Germany declared that it had reached a deal with Namibia, another nation it had ruled during its colonial era, to acknowledge the killings that claimed tens of thousands of lives there as acts of genocide and to donate funds to aid the impacted communities. However, the agreement did not include formal compensation.
That agreement hasn’t been properly signed off on yet, which annoys certain groups representing the Herero and Nama people.
