Maji Maji Rebellion — Uprising in the south and east of German East Africa, 1905-1907.
A major anti-colonial uprising in German East Africa that killed up to 300,000 people, mostly through famine caused by scorched-earth suppression tactics.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1905 to 1907
- Estimated deaths
- 75,000 to 300,000 people
- Primary cause of death
- Famine resulting from scorched-earth policies
- Colonial governor
- Gustav Adolf von Götzen
- Post-war famine name
- The Great Hunger (ukame)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
German colonial authorities in German East Africa imposed policies forcing indigenous populations to cultivate cotton for export, generating widespread resentment and economic hardship among African communities in the south and east of the territory.
Beginning in July 1905, African communities rose in armed rebellion against German colonial rule. Governor Gustav Adolf von Götzen suppressed the uprising using scorched-earth tactics, burning crops and villages across the affected regions over the course of two years.
The rebellion ended in 1907, but was followed by a severe famine known as the Great Hunger (ukame), largely caused by the scorched-earth policies employed during suppression. Between 75,000 and 300,000 people died, and scholars have characterized the suppression tactics as genocidal.