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Mkwawa the freedom fighter German East Africa part of the German Empire, was transferred in 1918 to the British and was named Tanganyika, today about the state of Tanzania, member of the British Commonwealth. In the southern highlands of Tanzania live the people of the Hehe, today approx. 250,000 souls. The 7th Quawa, i.e. Chief or Master of the governing dynasty of the Yinga or Vayinga was Mkwawa born around 1855. Mkwawa was at the time the "mightiest and most energetic of all African Kings". His government lasted from 1879 to his death. He united his people and he succeeded in controlling about 1/3 of the later German Colony of Eastern Africa. His victorious wars in all directions brought the fame of his tribe. Magic forces had been attributed to him already during his lifetime and he was considered to be invincible. When Germany started to colonize Eastern Africa, Mkwawa got an adversary too strong for him in the long run. German reports tell about his tactical genius. A telegram of the German troops in Eastern Africa of September 13th, 1881 to Berlin reporting the fight at Rugaro reads as follows: "The Zelewski corps totally annihilated, probably 10 Europeans, 300 African, in total 300 rifles, all ammunition, 2 cannons, 2 machineguns in the hands of the enemy. Remaining 4 Europeans, 60 men fled to Monda." 2'000 Hehe warrior with darts and lances had overcome the German troops of "4 companies of Sudanese and Zulu askaris well equipped with guns and machineguns." The actions against the rebel Mkwawa were continued by Lieutenant Tom Prince. The pursuit of Mkwawa needed more and more German forces. He received the surname "The Black Napoleon". A German source describes the warfare: "No prisoners were taken: Those caught were hanged or killed otherwise. The war had become extremely cruel even for African conditions." In 1892 the Hehe successfully attacked a caravan near Mukondoa. In 1894, a German safari led by Prince took place against Kuirenga, the most important town under Mkwawa's sovereignty. Mkwawa probably now made his greatest strategic mistake by defending himself behind the walls of the City. October 30th 1894 the town fell and was then erased. Mkwawa himself escaped undiscovered with still quite a lot of equipment. The reports about the behaviour of Mkwawa in this decisive battle give reason to doubt his mental sanity. He expected treason everywhere and therefore he did not make use of all possibilities at his disposal. Only 1/3 of his troops had been given guns even though there would have been enough for all. He let his troops charge the bullets without giving them gunpowder. Most incomprehensible was that he changed his successful guerilla tactics of attacking the German troupes on the move for a fight behind the walls of his capital. Guerrilla warfare and the search for Mkwawa went on for quite a while even after this victory. Assassins have been sent out; finally a bonus of Rupies 5,000 (approx. $ 2,000) was promised. Mpangile, the younger brother of Mkwawa was court-martialed, sentenced to death and hanged in 1897. Women and children of the Hehe were taken hostages and brought into areas of other tribes. We have the report of staff sergeant-Major Merkl about the death of Mkwawa dated July 22nd, 1898 addressed to the Government of the German Empire. Merkl belonged to the second company under lieutenant Kuhlmann of the Regiment under Prince. On July 14th, 1898 Kuhlmann had learned where Mkwawa with 4 boys and his last follower accompanied by wife and child were hiding, reported Merkl. Thereupon he let 15 African askaris of the German army and some Hehe, catch the wife of the last follower and later on three of the four boys. On July 19th he caught the fourth boy who led the group to the hideout of the now sick Mkwawa. Approaching the hideout they heard a shot. They then discovered two "sleeping" men, shot at them but realized soon that both had been dead already. Mkwawa had shot his follower and when the last boy had left he shot himself. Merkl realized that Mkwawa's body was still warm. He ordered one of the Hehe to cut off Mkwawa's head. With great hesitance and obviously against his will the Hehe finally obeyed. Merkl brought the head to Iringa and received 3,400 Rupies of the bonus. On July 21st, 1898 with great jubilation the head of Mkwawa on a pole was carried around in Iringa. Magdalena Prince, the wife of Captain Tom Prince wrote in her diary: "Not even in his death this most powerful and strongest of all African Kings, no white man could claim to have ever seen his face before, allows his enemies to see his true face. He has shut himself into his head so that his face is distorted. But it is easy to recognize the most characteristic traits of his head: a small face with queer slit eyes, anyhow quite large; a big nose, blabber lips especially the lower lip hanging down heavily to a very prominent chin. This accentuated chin, the blabber lips and the advanced jaw-bones give this head a strong expression of will power. A bump on his forehead, stemming from a spear stitch has caused the widely spread opinion that Quawa bears a horn on his front. Staff sergeant Merkl reports that Quawa was a tall figure of about 1.80 meters of height and of extreme power. The structure of his body therefore completely corresponded to his formidable sense to rule and that iron willpower of this last Sultan of Uhehe. His last deed after having realized that he had lost his empire and that he himself was lost too corresponds with this bloody despot so sympathetic in his desperate fight: He shot his last loyal faithful in order not to enter eternity like an ordinary man alone without being accompanied by a warrior befitting for a chief." About the head of Mkwawa there is further reported that it was taken in jubilation to the German Hospital for drying. About two month later it was taken to Dar es Salaam by Merkl in a small box to be shipped to Germany. The body of Mkwawa has been buried by his family without the head. With the death of Mkwawa the last opposition against colonization vanished. The Germans now could begin to collect taxes in Eastern Africa. This proved still quite difficult as the natives did not know money. Further uprisings against the Germans took place but the Hehe did not take part anymore. But every year they remembered the day of the death of their great ruler.
The skull of Mkwawa was not the only one to be shipped from Africa to
Germany. At that time skulls of Africans used to be a favourite souvenir
even recommended in guide books. Bowls made from the skulls were used as
ashtrays and a most welcome birthday or promotion present for officers in
the Colonies.
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