Effects Of The Hehe Rebellion

  • The Hehe were defeated by the Germans and they lost their independence.
  • Many people were killed e.g. at Kilosa, Mkwawa killed 290 Germans and their allies.
  • The death of people resulted into massive depopulation in southern Tanganyika.
  • The rebellion caused a lot of misery, suffering which forced some people to migrate to safer areas.
  • There was destruction of property e.g. villages, food stores especially when the Germans used the scorched earth policy.
  • Famine set in because people had neglected agriculture to fight the Germans.
  • After the war, the Germans became more cruel and brutal to Africans which increased suffering.
  • Trade was disrupted especially along the central trade route in Nyamwezi land and Hehe land due to Mkwawa’s anti-German campaigns.
  • The Hehe learnt a lesson, that in future they should not bother resisting the Germans because they were superior e.g. during Maji-Maji rebellion (1905-1907), the Hehe didn’t participate.
  • The Germans also learnt a lesson that African resistances shouldn’t be taken for granted because the Hehe rebellion proved to the Germans that Africans could organize a war.
  • The rebellion spread waves of nationalism in Southern Tanganyika and this led to other revolts in future e.g. Maji-Maji revolt (1905-1907)
  • Africans who assisted the Germans during the war were rewarded by the Germans after the war e.g. the Sangu chief was promoted to the position of an Akida.
  • Diseases like dysentery and sleeping sickness were also spread.
  • The rebellion greatly affected the economic development of southern Tanganyika because many activities came to a standstill.
  • The Germans introduced new advisers and disbanded Mkwawa council of advisers which led to the introduction of Akidas and Jumbes in the area.