The Maji Maji rebellion in Southern Tanganyika, now Tanzania between 1905 and 1907, was a systematic resistance by the local people against the German imperialist rule. It involved the application of a religious ideology based on the belief in the power of a magic fluid or magic water called “Maji Maji” that could turn bullets into water.  This belief united the local people against the Germans and helped to spread the rebellion. However, after an initial success in the rebellion, it was put down by the Germans and resulted in the killing of over 75,000 local people, destruction of their villages, and the land which resulted in famine. Palmer, in the textbook Africa-chapter 3 “Imperialism in Africa,” defines imperialism as the “annexation and occupation of an alien country and the subjection of its people and was almost exclusively done by European countries to subjugate the people and exploit the resources. However, this imperialism was met with increasing resistance by Africans”.

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        In this essay I will argue that the Maji Maji rebellion that occurred in Tanganyika had a lasting significance on the German imperialist rule in Africa. It demonstrated African people’s fierce resistance to German’s imperialism, exposed the brutality by imperialist powers to suppress the resistance and subsequent policy changes by German and was also an inspiration to other freedom fighters.

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Resistance to imperialism

        The Maji Maji rebellion was a resistance to German’s imperialism which followed the general unhappiness and resentment among Africans towards them its oppressive regime.  “When Germany established its control over Tanganyika by 1898, it imposed a particularly violent regime to control the population, including a policy of killing kings who resisted German occupation. This oppressive regime bred discontent among the Africans, and resentment reached a fever pitch in 1905 when drought hit the region” (Beverton, 2009). After the initial success, the Maji Maji was put down with aggression.

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Brutality by the Germans

         According to Beverton (2009), “The German killed hundreds of men, women, and children. This marked the beginning of a brutal counteroffensive that left an estimated 75000 Maji Maji warriors dead by 1907. The Germans also adopted famine as a weapon, purposely destroying the crops of suspected Maji Maji supporter.” This relates to the process of putting an end to the African résistance described by Palmer in Chapter 3, “The process of putting an end to this resistance and establishing their authority of the imperialist powers went under the ironic title of “pacification”. The use of the term” pacification” to supporters’ process was the most egregious misuse of the term ever recorded. In the effect, it involved the most brutal suppression of all resistance to bring about the total subjugation of the African people involved.”

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The policy changes by the Germans

         Following the Maji Maji rebellion, the German government made policy changes in their African colonies,” Although the Maji Maji Uprising was ultimately unsuccessful, it forced Kaiser Wilhelm’s government in Berlin to institute reforms in their African colonies as they realized the potential cost of their brutality.” (Beverton 2009).

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Conclusion

         The Maji Maji rebellion that occurred in (southern Tanzania) is an example of a significant African people’s resistance to imperialism. This rebellion which was against German imperialism was met with severe brutality as was the case for other African countries that showed resistance. However, despite the rebellion not being successful Germany instituted policy changes for its African colonies. In addition, this rebellion was the most significant challenge for German imperialism in Africa.

         The Maji Maji rebellion brought about the role religious ideology to unite different ethnic groups to work together and fight imperialism or oppression. It also motivated freedom fighters later in the 20th century who used a similar inter-ethnic unity to fight colonial rule.