Germany’s apology laudable; now it should return our heroes’ remains

Germany has finally apologised for atrocities committed during the 1905-1907 Maji Maji Rebellion in southern Tanzania.

Speaking on Wednesday to descendants of the victims of Germany’s colonial crimes, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sought forgiveness in response to longstanding demands by those affected.

As Tanzanians hail Germany for that important step, it is worth reminding the former colonial power that expressing remorse alone is not enough. It should be followed by the repatriation of the remains of freedom fighters that were taken to Germany after the Maji Maji Rebellion was brutally crushed.  

Indeed, Mr Steinmeier confirmed when addressing the victims’ descendants at the Maji Maji Memorial Museum in Songea that the body parts were being preserved and exhibited at various museums in Germany.

The German President said during a joint press conference with his host, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, at State House in Dar es Salaam earlier in the week that his visit to the Maji Maji Memorial Museum would be a way of acknowledging injustices of the past and working together to build a better future.

Presidents Hassan and Steinmeier said they had agreed to continue with talks aimed at facilitating the return of the remains of some of those killed during the Maji Maji Rebellion.

The remains include the skull of Chief Songea Mbano, who led the rebellion and who was hanged by German troops after he was captured. His head was then cut off and shipped off to Germany.

Although the announcement that the two countries are negotiating the possible repatriation of the remains is somehow encouraging, it is worth noting that such talks are nothing new.

It is an issue that has existed since the Maji Maji Rebellion ended. The families and descendants of the heroes whose remains were taken to Germany have been demanding that they be returned home for well over a century now.

To some of us, this seems to be a simple issue that should not have taken ages to resolve.

We all know that the Maji Maji Rebellion happened in the early years of the 20th century. It is common knowledge that scores of freedom fighters were captured by German soldiers.

We are aware that some of those captured were hanged before their heads were cut off and some bodies dismembered. It is no secret that heads and other body parts were taken to Germany.

We all know that Germany is still holding onto these remains and the German President has publicly confirmed this. These facts are known to all and sundry.

If that is the case, it boggles the mind as what is complicating the return of the remains to warrant prolonged talks.

President Steinmeier said during his visit to the Maji Maji Memorial Museum that he would meet with some of those affected and listen to their stories, “which we will take back to Germany”.

This begs the question – is there anybody in Germany who is not aware of atrocities perpetrated by that country during its colonial rule in Tanzania?

Maybe Mr Steinmeier expected to learn something new from the victims’ descendants, but I am sure that they only repeated what had already been said countless times.

Because Germany has already acknowledged its excesses during the Maji Maji Rebellion, the best thing to do now is return the remains immediately.

The good thing about President Steinmeier’s visit to the epicentre of the rebellion is that it was the first by a German head of state, coming 116 years since the uprising was quelled.