Explain the impact of DOAG policy to the outbreak of coastal African resistances in the summer of 1888s

In Berlin Peters worked to form a new organization which was to carry out the task of colonial development under imperial protection, the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft . The acquisition of colonies was the task for the younger generation, especially from Europe nations which had grown up under the influence of three wars and the founding of the German Reich. A future empire overseas was a political project which was to consolidate and expand German nationality like other countries in Europe. The assertion of nationality is part of a wider power struggle in which stronger and weaker nationalities compete with each other, this led to the formation of Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft (DOAG). In other word was called German East Africa Company(GEACO) in English, was found in  (1885-1891) as a chartered colonial organization responsible for the establishment of German East Africa, a territory which eventually comprised the areas of modern Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. This organization was established at the start of the German colonization of East Africa. The origin of the company can be traced back during December, 17th 1884 when a young Germany explorer named Carl Peters (1856-1918) arrived at Swahili coastal city states of Bagamoyo.

The economic purposes were incorporated in order to make the central aim of the new society more acceptable. The German Colonization wants to implement carefully thought out colonization projects in a decisive and ruthless manner. Its main tasks were formulated as follows; the acquisition of colonization capital, the discovery of areas suitable for colonization, markets areas and the directing of German emigration to these areas. These areas goes together with the establishment of large scale agriculture and distribution of goods and services.

Because of these socio-economic and political matters, there were some reasons which were relevance of DOAG policy to the outbreak of coastal resistances in the summer of 1888’s. These reasons was shown on the following paragraphs;

The issue of acquisition territories,  was led to the conflict with local chiefs in the coastal areas and Zanzibar under Sultan Said Bargash in particular. In the issue of colonization was not only a question of the state but the entire nationality is at stake. DOAG policy under Peters’s agenda was primarily focused on the expansion of German nationality in the world and its importance for the development of the country. This conviction was reinforced in the summer of 1885 when Bismarck ordered German warships to line up in front of Zanzibar town. As a flexing German muscles forced Sultan Said Bargash to accept the German claim to the mainland.

The German ambition to stop the coastal slave trade , the Germans ambition to stop slave trade was to fulfill one among the principles of Berlin conference such as abolition of slave trade in their territories control. To accomplish this task Carl Peters decided to signed different treaties with local African chiefs so as to make slave trade illegal but later on Carl Peters was assisted by Emil von Zelewiski and Bismarck who aimed to end the East African coastal slave trade something which led to the occurrence of conflict between Germans and Muslims particularly Abushiri who was found in Zanzibar. This target led to the occurrence of Arab revolt causing a conflict with the wealth Arab traders like Abushiri but later on Germans managed to defeat Abushiri.

The different ideologies in religious matters , also a kind of problematic issues which led the indigenous to resist against the imposition of colonial rule in the coastal areas.  Most of local chiefs in coastal areas by that time were Muslims who called non-Muslims as “Aduiwa Allah” or kafiris but the coming of Europeans in this coastal areas under the amburellar of spreading Christian religion behind they had another motives of intensive exploitation of African resources. For instance, it is important to bear in mind that Emil von Zelewski and his group acted with an amazing degree of arrogance and contempt. They desecrated the mosque when Zelewski forced his way into the prayer room, wearing boots and accompanied by his hunting dog.

The use of coercive and intimidation style  was another policy applied by DOAG under their leaders especially Carl Peters who taking the responsible to insure German get areas for sphere of influence in East Africa and Africa in particular. For Peters and his associates, was the vehicle to expand German nationality overseas. He maintained that all efforts had to focus on winning the coast. This was a matter of life and death for the company (DOAG). Their interests were diametrically opposed to each other especially in coastal areas.

To prevent their lands from being annexed by the German, DOAG acquired further land in Tanganyika up to the Uluguru and Usambara mountains, and then from August (1888) organization tried to take over the coastal towns of Tanganyika against the fierce resistance by the Arabs elites and the indigenous population . Emil von Zelewsk, German administrator attempted to rise the company’s flag in Pangani then sparked uprising which led by the planter known as Abushiri ibn Salim who gained support by both, the Arabs and Swahili tribes. Rebellion spread all along the coast from town of Tanga in the north to Lindi and Mikindani in south. Many representatives of DOAG were killed. In (1889) Bismarck intervened and appointed Lieutenant Reichskommisar of DOAG who suppressed the revolts then after Abushiri on his flights to Mombasa finally in (1889) he was sentenced to death. As far as the Sultan’s political power on the mainland was concerned, he relied on a set of commercial and political networks established with local chiefs and members of the coastal elites like Bwana Heri and the others. In this system, Zanzibar agents shared the exercise of political control with local rulers.

Cultural interference , most of the coastal societies opposed German imposition due to the fact that the company accompanied with the destruction of cultural practices such as religion or worship, dressing styles and language whereas foreign cultural practices like the introduction of Christianity, the use of German language in high level of administration and business were much encouraged and favored by the German east Africa company. Henceforth this situation created coastal resistances against German bureaucracy. The degree of Zanzibar involvement and influence varied from place to place. Overall it served the purposes of securing and interference of African culture especially in language, norms and customs.

They obviously hoped that German presence would offer them effective protection against hostile neighbors . The brutal and tactless behavior of the company’s agents, when the company tried  to take over the administration of the coastal towns (1888) which had acquired by treaty from the Sultan of Zanzibar early the same year. The agents of DOAG (Germany East African Company), most of whom where military men previously involved in treaty making in the interior, finally provided the spark for the coastal uprising in 1888. For instance in Bwana Heri in 1889 to 1890 around this year Wissmann re-conquered the main southern towns of Kilwa, Lindi and Mikindani by 1890 he completed his mission.

DOAG led to the loss of control of trade among great traders along the coast. By 1885 the German led by Karl Peter began taking the coastal region by establishing the company known as Deustch Ostafricanische Gesellschaf (DOAG).Through the company German in East Africa captured trade along the coast and the traders who controlled the trade of coastal areas during that time were dissatisfied with German control of trade. Great traders like Abushiri ibn Salim who had follower’s organized strong resistance against German so as to defend their trade interests. German fount the Arabs traders were highly involved in trade with Nyamwezi people and their main commodities that involved are slaves and ivory. Abushiri gained support from both Arabs and Swahili tribes. The war spread along the coast from town of Tanga in the North to Lindi and Mikindani in the south, German representative in East Africa were defeated and killed at first but later on 1889 Hermann Wismann sent by German government organized strong resistance against Abushiris and finally Abushiri was defeated again and fled. He was caught and hanged at Pangani. 

In general, most of local chiefs in coastal areas were resisted against the DOAG policy and its ambitions.  The operation of German East Africa Company (DOAG) in the coastal areas and other parts of the East Africa had created economic and social hardship in the community due to intervention in economic activities such as trade and commerce. The war outbreaks along the coastal areas were influenced by company operation and result was hanging of some leading rebels and other became part of the colonial system as collaborators. DOAG deterioration of financial situation forced German colonial government under chancellor Otto Von Bismarck to take over the control of East Africa territory in 1891 and the aim of this colonial government was to keep their interest and protection over East Africa territory. German under DOAG enhances full control of major population centers and lines of communication in Tanganyika and other territorial control. Therefore German East Africa company created the environment for the colonization of Africa especially East Africa in particular and Africans reacted to harsh rule of German, for instance in southern part of Tanganyika Hehe resisted in 1890s and the notable resistance which involved different ethnic group against German rule was Majimaji uprising of 1905-1907. All in all, these reactions were not successful until the end of German rule after her defeat in First World War (1914-1918), where its territories were taken as punishment for her causalities of the war.  

REFERENCES

Chris, P.  Warrior’s Peoples of East Africa 1840-1900. New York: Osprey Bottey (2005).

Henry, M. East Africa Diplomacy and Defiance. London: UNESCO.(1984). 

Perras, A. Carl Peters and German Imperialism 1856-1918.New York: Clarendon Press. Oxford. (2004).