Course Of Abushiri Rebellion

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• Course Of Abushiri Rebellion. It started on 18^th August 1888 in Pangani where GEACO had established an administrative post.
• It was led by Abushiri Ibn Salim al Harthi, a prominent Arab trader and sugar cane planter in Pangani.
• It started when Abushiri refused to raise / hoist the German flag and even refused to listen to the German instructions and his people started rioting against the Germans.
• The rebellion abruptly and spontaneously spread to other areas e.g. Tanga, Kilwa, Mikindini and Kilwa.
• Some Bantu communities’ e.g. the Bonda and Zinguwa also joined the rebellion.
• Bwana Heri, a Swahili chief in Uzigua and other coastal Arabs joined the revolt.
• The Germans were caught unaware and suffered heavy losses.
• GEACO officials were beaten and driven out of all coastal towns except Dar-es-Salaam.
• The Abushiri rebels surrounded them and captured them.
• The Germans called for assistance from home and by May 1889, reinforcement had arrived under Major Von Wissman.
• He commanded a large army of 600 Nubian, Sudanese, 50 Somalis, 350 Zulus and 20 Turkish troops.
• Within 2 months, Wissman had captured Pangani and Dar-es-Salaam.
• Many Arabs who had supported Abushiri opted to make peace with the Germans.
• Smelling defeat, Abushiri retreated into the interior and hired 500 Maviti fighters (Ngoni warriors).
• They used the Ngoni tactics of warfare but did not save the situation because they were only interested in looting.
• He later adopted the guerilla war tactic of hit and run.
• By 15^th Dec 1889 most of his followers had deserted him.
• He was later betrayed by a Jumbe called Magaya of Usagara.
• He was captured and killed at Bagamoyo.
• By 1890, Von Wissman had moved to the south and captured all coastal towns e.g. Kilwa, and Lindi.
• In April 1890, Bwana Heri also submitted to the Germans and this marked the end of the rebellion.

Problems faced by abushiri during the resistanceagainst the germans.  

• He had never been a military man and so were many of his followers who lacked military training.
• It was poorly organized since the fighters lacked serious military strategies and thorough preparation.
• Abushiri’s weapons were inferior e.g. old fashioned guns, bows, arrows and short stabbing spears which couldn’t match the guns of the Germans.
• The Germans had recruited a large force reinforced by Nubians, Sudanese, Somalis and Zulu and Turkish troops.
• The 500 Maviti mercenaries recruited by Abushiri lacked interest in war and instead of fighting they were just looting from the Germans.
• Some coastal tribes easily gave in to the Germans e.g. Magaya of Usagara even gave the Germans information about Abushiri.
• The rebellion wasn’t well coordinated and lacked a united command e.g. Abushiri led forces in Pangani, Bwana Heri in Uzigua and Matoro in Kilwa.
• The revolt lacked a national outlook i.e. the indigenous people (blacks) did not join the revolt because it was entirely an Arab revolt.
• Abushiri employed poor methods of fighting e.g. they used open warfare which put him and his troops at a disadvantage.
• The Germans also used cruel methods to suppress the rebellion e.g. the scorched earth policy, hanging the captured rioters and shooting at first sight which greatly scared the rebels.
• Abushiri was forced into the interior where he lacked an Arab following. E.g. he was cut off from the supply of guns and ammunition while in the interior.
• The Germans were determined to crush the rebellion because they wanted to colonize Tanganyika.
• The landscape of the coast lacked defensive barriers so the Abushiri rebels could be spotted from far.
• Famine also weakened the Abushiri rebels e.g. many of the Bwana Heri fighters surrendered due to starvation.