Oman and Zanzibar Virtual Museum

 To control the uprising the German Marine (fleet ) was called in to help. The fleet would provide soldiers and block the coast of East Africa.

1. Land und Leute in Duetsch Ost Afrika 1890 Wangemann (text); Sturtz (photos)
2. Erinnerung an die Ostafrikanische Blockade und  meiner Reise an bord SMS Carola 1888-1890 (50 original photos, by naval officer J. Sturz, the album belonged to Emil Voelker and contains his manuscript captions on the photos) Emil Voelker was on-board the SMS Carola during these events.
3. F.H. Behr Kriegsbilder aus dem Araberaufstand in Deutsch-Ostafrika. Mit einem Vorwort von H. von Wissmann 1891 On page 139 you find a woodcut of Bagamoyo based on the  above photo.

Details of the Arab revolt against the Germans

Very rare and important photos. The revolt was led by Bushiri and by Bwana Heri. The slide-show contains three fine photos. One blue photo has been printed in a special technique named. Original photo. In 1888 the Omani / Zanzibari Arabs and some African tribes (Yao) in East Afrika started a revolt against the Germans and the Sultan of Zanzibar who were taking over control of East Africa.  The livelihood of these Arabs and African tribes was threatened by the Germans taking control of the country, they were typically ivory and slave traders and owners of plantations with slaves.  They also revolted against the Sultan as he was seen as a puppet of the British.

The revolt started with some hostages being taken by the revolting Arabs in. Father Etienne Baur was head of the French mission, and had been living peacefully for 20 years with Arabs and other local tribes. As France did not play a role in the conflict and because Etienne Baur was trusted by all parties he played a key role in the negotiations for the release of the hostages. Not insignificantly he came form the Elzas and spoke therefore fluently French and German. He also spoke fluently Arabic and Swahili. After the release of the hostages the war intensified in particular by the attitude of  von Wissman.

The German army led by  Hermann von Wissmann put down the revolt. Bushiri was arrested and hanged in 1889 (see next photos) Ironically the Germans stopped slavery but at the same time they took large numbers of Africans prisoner and turned them into forced labor, often shackled with the same chains previously used by the Arabs for slaves. So slavery effectively becomes forced labor (just a different name) ! Also the Germans do not involve the Africans in any way in the development of the country and they were without any rights.

1. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost-Afrika in de 19e eeuw, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal 2003 page 123 (incl background to the events and other photo of Bushiri)
2. HGM Tullemans Pere Etienne Baur en d Arabische opstand van 1888-1889 Promotion Thesis 1982 2 volumes University of Nijmegen
3. Handboek Herkennen fotografische en fotomechanische procedes. Historische en moderne procedes en digitale afdruk technieken. Jan van Dijk. Primavera Pers Leiden 2011 page 194 describes the Cyanotype photographic printing process.

Background to the Askari soldiers

Rare photo. Most enlisted ranks in the German "protection" forces in East Afrika were generally recruited locally. They became known as Askari. Askari is an Arabic word meaning "soldier" (Arabic: عسكري‎ ‘askarī). The first Askaris formed in German East Africa were raised by DOAG (Deutsche Ost-Afrika Gesellschaft - the German East Africa Company) in the 1880´s. Originally drawn from Sudanese mercenaries, the German Askaris were subsequently recruited from the Wahehe and Angoni tribal groups.These Swahili askaris were then incorporated into the Wissmanntruppe in 1889 to tackle the Arab (Buschiri) revolt.They were harshly disciplined but well paid and highly trained by German cadres who were themselves subject to a rigorous selection process.  Decades later the brave Ashkari´s received a German pension. To proof to German civil servants that they had been Ashkari´s, individuals had to demonstrate they could march like German soldiers (using a broomstick) and most were still able to demonstrate it perfectly!

References:

1. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost Afrika in de 19e eeuw by Afrika museum Berg en Dal 2003.

Blockade East Africa 1888-1890 , local vessels being searched by German sailors

1.  Land und Leute in Deutsch Ost Afrika Wangemann (text); Sturtz (photos) There is a second edition of  1890 and a third of 1894. No copy of the first edition is known: Maybe there is a relation of this first edition with of our set of 50 photos which are higher resolution variants of the Sturtz photos in the Wangemann book.
2. Erinnerung an die Ostafrikanische Blockade und  meiner Reise an bord SMS Carola 1888-1890 (50 original photos, by naval officer J. Sturz, the album belonged to Emil Voelker and contains his manuscript captions on the photos)
3. Schwalbe , packende bericht von korvetten-kapitan Hirschberg beschreibt dei einsatz des kruezers Schwalbe während der Niederschlagung der Aufstände in Ostafrika. Am 20. November 1888 legt sein Schiff in Kiel ab, um Ende Januar 1889. Published 1895 

 Very rare photograph of a German expedition in the interior of East Africa.

References:

1. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost-Afrika in de 19e eeuw, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal 2003 page 123 (incl background to the events and other photo of Bushiri)
2. HGM Tullemans Pere Etienne Baur en d Arabische opstand van 1888-1889 Promotion Thesis 1982 2 volumes University of Nijmegen

Background to the German Boma in Kivinje (Kilwa)

Rare photo. The black prisoners have been chained to each other by the Germans, like slaves of the Arabs previously. The chains are connected to  steel bands around their necks.

This Boma was a customs station of Deutsch-Ostafrikanischen Gesellschaft. In 1888 two employees of D.O.A.G were killed by the uprise of the Arabs against the Germans and the Sultan. In May 1890 the D.O.A.G station was taken over by von Wissmann. The photo below shows how the ruined building looks like a few years ago, see also Ref 1 page 63.The same reference book also shows many early monuments in Kilwa and their background. Very interesting is that the architectural elements from ruins in Kilwa shown in ref 1 page 39, are also used in antique Safavid Persian copper-ware found in Nizwa Oman, see the "imports to Oman" section of our website. Ref 1 page 29 top left shows Islamic pottery similar to that found in Qalhat Oman.The common historic link is the probably seaborn kingdom of Hormuz (10-16th cent) run by Persians and Arabs (Omani).

This is how the Boma looked a few years ago

1. Karen Moon Kilwa Kisiwani  Ancienne cite portuaire de la cote d´Afrique de l´Est, Total identity, Dar es-Salam, Tanzania 2005 (French edition)
2. Karen Moon Kilwa Kisiwani Ancient port of the East African coast 2005 (English Edition)
3. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost Afrika in de 19e eeuw by Afrika museum Berg en Dal 2003.
4. HGM Tullemans Pere Etienne Baur en d Arabische opstand van 1888-1889 Promotion Thesis 1982 2 volumes University of Nijmegen

Youtube film Kilwa:

Only a small number of Germans were killed during the uprising but thousands of locals were killed....

The slavery and internal conflict had diminished the male population and by late 19th century 75% of the population was female or child. Consequentially the Germans had a chronic shortage of local men to work on their populations, resulting in various means to force people to work for them. Because of the lack of resources the German colony was also not economically successful. 

In 1897 Carl Peters was taken to court by the Germans for his brutal treatment of the local black population and stripped of all his functions and his pension. Some years later he got back his pension from the emperor, in the 1930's he was fully rehabilitated by the Nazi's.

It was an Ashkari named Duni, whose hands were chopped off by Bushiri, who showed the Germans the location of Bushiri's secret camp that resulted in Bushiri's arrest. So the man above could be Dunia.

1. Land und Leute in Deutsch Ost Afrika Wangemann (text); Sturtz (photos) There is a second edition of  1890 and a third of 1894. No copy of the first edition is known: Maybe there is a relation of this first edition with of our set of 50 photos which are higher resolution variants of the Sturtz photos in the Wangemann book.
2. Erinnerung an die Ostafrikanische Blockade und  meiner Reise an bord SMS Carola 1888-1890 (50 original photos, by naval officer J. Sturz, the album belonged to Emil Voelker and have his manuscript captions on the photos) Emil Voelker was on-board the SMS Carola during these events.

German Soldier holding early camera

Very rare photo (glass plate negative) that shows a German soldier holding an early camera between East African tribesmen. We have not yet identified the camera nor do we know who took the photograph.The Arab / Swahili man sitting on a little chair in the second photo is probably a chief. This photo was developed from an original glass negative in our collection.

Details to the arrest of  Bushiri bin Salim al Harthi

Rare and important original photo. Buschiri arrested and put  in chains and guarded by two Askari soldiers. One of the Ashkari wearing Bushiri´s pistol. A poor copy of this photo can be found in ref 2 volume 1 after page 142 (that image was copied from a photo in the Museum in Bagamoyo). Ref contains a drawing based on this photo.  According to Richelmann it was an African named Dunia who showed the German army the way to Bushiri´s camp in Nzole. He took revenge as Bushiri had chopped off both Dunia´s hands previously. The large German army attacking Bushiri´s camp in Nzole  formed a column that was  2 kilometers long!!

1. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost-Afrika in de 19e eeuw, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal 2003 page 123 (incl background to the events and other photos of Bushiri)
2. HGM Tullemans Pere Etienne Baur en d Arabische opstand van 1888-1889 Promotion Thesis 1982 2 volumes University of Nijmegen
3. F.H. Behr Kriegsbilder aus dem Araberaufstand in Deutsch-Ostafrika. Mit einem Vorwort von H. von Wissmann 1891 On page 331 you find a woodcut based on the  above photo with the arrest of Buschiri!!
4. Kapitan Hirschberg, Neunzehn Monate kommandant S.M. Kreutzer Schwalbe Ost  Afrika 1895. Contains a drawing based on this photo on page 166.

Background to the hanging of Bushiri. 

As mentioned before the revolt was started because the Arabs lost power and influence to the Germans and even their own Sultan in Zanzibar did not protect them against the German invaders.  At some point  Buschiri had kidnapped two Germans Meyer and Baumann and enchained / shackled them in his plantation named Mundo. A ransom of 10.000 Rupies was demanded for their release from the German company Hansing and co. Eventually they were released and taken on a boat  to Zanzibar. The kidnapping played an important role in the decision to hang Bushiri. The other leader of the revolt Bwana Heri was not executed. The Arab revolt confirmed the German government that the DOAG would not be able to run / defend the East African territory on its own.  Which effectively resulted in East Africa becoming a German Colony including protection by the German army.

Ref 3 contains a drawing based on this photo.

1. Slavernij en bevrijding in Oost-Afrika in de 19e eeuw, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal 2003 page 123 (incl background to the events and other photo of Bushiri)
2. HGM Tullemans Pere Etienne Baur en d Arabische opstand van 1888-1889 Promotion Thesis 1982 2 volumes University of Nijmegen Volume 1 page 67
3. Kapitan Hirschberg, Neunzehn Monate kommandant S.M. Kreutzer Schwalbe Ost  Afrika 1895. Contains a drawing based on this photo on page 167

Background to the use of Zebras instead of horses

Domesticated Zebras were used due to a shortage of horses and donkeys. Also Horses were much more sensitive to insect bites than zebra´s. The Germans even tried painting there horses like zebra´s to avoid insect bites. Anatomically zebra´s are not really  fit for carrying heavy loads as their back is rather weak. Therefore the Germans tried to cross-breed zebra´s and Muscat-donkeys.  This photo was developed from an original glass negative in our collection.

History of Sultan of Zanzibar Seyyid Hamad bin Thuwaini Al-Busaid

Sayyid Hamad bin Thuwaini Al-Busaid, GCSI, (1857 - August 25, 1896) was the fifth Sultan of Zanzibar. He ruled Zanzibar from March 5, 1893 to August 25, 1896. He was married to a cousin, Sayyida Turkia bint Turki al-Said, daughter of Turki bin Said, Sultan of Muscat and Oman. 

Hamid died suddenly at 11.40 am on 25 August 1896 and was almost certainly poisoned by his cousin Khalid bin Barghash who proclaimed himself the new sultan and held the position for three days before being replaced by the British government after the 40 minute long Anglo-Zanzibar War (shortest war ever)

1.  This photo is also found in the album Reise Erinnerungen page   in the Winterton collection. North Western University USA.138 Album 73 photo 27 (1880-1896)

The Shortest War in History

The British treated Zanzibar as a "protectorate" As Khalid did not want to protect the British interest the British were very upset. The old sultan had tolerated the growing Western influence and meddling in Zanzibar affairs. However the Omani / Arab population of Zanzibar and East Africa was already for a long time unhappy about loss of influence due to the Germans, French and in particular British undertakings in East Africa. Which already had resulted in the up rise of 1888 against the sultan and the German DOA company on the African mainland. Alarmed by the prospect of a German takeover, the Royal Navy assembled five warships off the Zanzibar coast, nearby the sultan’s palace and ordered Khalid bin Barghash to give up the throne in favor of the old sultan’s elder son. Khalid bin Barghash, not only refused but also declared war on the British. The Royal Navy opened fire on the Sultan´s ship Glasgow and the on 27^th August 1896. The Glasgow sank after fifteen minutes and the palace walls crumbled under gunfire causing numerous casualties amongst the sultan’s army, obliging him to hoist the white flag of surrender at 9:45 thereby ending the shortest war in history. Khalid bin Bargash took refuge in the German consulate and was later smuggled out to Dar es Salaam

The slide-show shows four photos of the devastation caused in Zanzibar by the war.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zanzibar_War
2. Abyssina to Zanzibar 1850s-1950s Catalogue of the photographic archive of the Winterton Africana collection Allsworth rare books 2003 page 128

"American style"  Youtube film on shortest war ever:

Printed by Muhammad Jawad? Location: al-matba'al Haydariyah (al-Matba' al-Haydari or al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah) ? 1872 / 1873. (Place of publication can be Hyderabad in India. Oman  and Zanzibar had Hyderabadi merchant communities  for several centuries. However it may also have been printed in Iraq, see below ) Let us Know If anyone knows more about the background of this very rare miniature Koran

A true miniature book has both a height and width less than 3 inches (approx. 7 cm) Octagonal shaped miniature Koran lithographed in Arabic with in manuscript English the notation by a British naval person that he "found it" in the palace of the sultan of Zanzibar immediately after the bombardment by British ships: See manuscript inscription  by the soldier in the slide-show! The miniature Koran is octagonal and it is 5 by 6 cm and the printed part is only 4 cm!  An early printed Arabic Koran printed by lithography in the Middle East (extremely rare: so far no information found on this holy Koran)

The Koran may originally have been put in a golden or silver box that was wrapped around the upper arm of travellers or soldiers as an amulet, see next item. In the past standard-bearers (sancakdār) also attached them as talisman to military flags / standards, that is why these miniature Korans are sometimes referred to as Sancak.

Comments by Yale university to this miniature Koran:

Possibly printed in Iraq or India, It was printed in 1289 /1290 of the Islamic calendar which corresponds to the year 1872/1873. Comments Yale university: The first image in the slide-show has the last chapter in the Koran (Surah 114: Surat al-Nas) with the colophon which says in transliteration "Qad hasal al-faragh min hadha al-Quran al-Majid wa-[al-]Furqan al-Hamid min yad aqall al-kuttab Muhammad Jawad fi al-Matba' al-Haydariyah fi sanat 1290" which translates: "[ The copying] of this Glorious Koran and Honorable Furqan [i.e. Koran] was concluded by the hand of the least of scribes Muhammad Jawad in al-Matba' al-Haydariyah in the year 1290 [H. i.e. 1873/1874]" However, the fourth image gives the date as the year 1289 [i.e. 1872/1873].

The name of the printing house which is given as "al-Matba' al-Haydariyah" is a bit problematic because grammatically it is not correct; it should have read either al-Matba' al-Haydari or al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah. This is important to determine where the book was printed. If the name of the printing press is al-Matba' al-Haydari (which I believe it is) - the scribe Muhammad Jawad, judging from the colophon, doesn't seem to be all that versed in using grammatically correct Arabic - then the printing house should have been somewhere in India (Lucknow, Bombay or Hyderabad) because lithographic books were produced by the these printing houses from around the middle of the 19th century. On the other hand, if the printing house is al-Matba'ah al-Haydariyah, then this printing house was in al-Najaf, Iraq but I could not see any books printed in it in the 19th century. There are some lithographed books printed in it from around the first quarter of the 20th century onward. As for the third image it is the first and second chapters of the Koran (Surat al-Fatihah and the beginning of Surat al-Baqarah). The fourth image which has the date 1289, has a phrase which translates: "It should not be touched except by the purified ones.

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Colophon: On  abudervish.blogspot.nl  there is a revised description of another copy of the same mini Koran: "On the colophone page of my Quran here, it was written: قد حصل الفراغ هذا القران المجيد وفرقان الحميد من يد اقل الكتاب محمد جواد في المطبع الحيدرية في سنه ٠ ٩ ٢ ١   "The copying of this Quran Al Majid and Furqan Al Hamid in the hand of Muhammad Jawad produced in Hyderiah Printing House in the year 1290 "  I was not aware of who was this copyist Muhammad Jawad and where was this Printing House identified as Hyderiah.  In the OmaniSilver website, similar Quran was commented by expert from Yale University believing it was a product of Iraq or India.  From a book " Al Quran The Sacred Art of Revelation" published by The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, it has a similar Quran with the same copyist but in a longer name and printed  in 1293 AH publication. See below the snapshot of this book.  The full name of the copyist given as Muhammad Jawad Ibn Mulla Muhammad Musa Kashmiri which I believe the same copyist of the Quran in this entry. The title Kashmiri indicated the copyist originally from Kashmir. The printer house was mentioned as Hyderiah however The IAMM identified it Hyderabad"

Background to the sea-battle:

The hospital ship Gascon and Scottish ship Clan Macrae came to the aid of the survivors of the Pegasus. Although Königsberg had suffered no hits or casualties, Looff′s plans to continue the offensive were soon cut short. One of her main engines failed. The British were watching the port of Dar es Salaam so she had to return to the Rufiji River delta to await the overland transport of spare parts. The British soon discovered Königsberg′s location and blockaded her. They damaged her beyond repair in the Battle of Rufiji Delta when they were able to bring up the monitors HMS Mersey and Severn.The first postcard is based on an unknown drawing / Photochemie Berlin 2841

                                                                 Konigsberg & Pegasus 1914