Our Heroes - Social Studies - Standard Four
Introduction of Heroes
A hero is a person who won a fight or an attack such as war, battle or freedom fighting.
Heroes protect lives and wealth of their people or societies.
Examples of heroes in our nation are Chief Mkwawa, Chief Mirambo, Kinjekitile Ngwale, Sultan Kimweri, Songea Mbano, Abushiri, Isike Mwana Kiyungi.
A female who has done something very brave is called a heroine.
Heroes and heroines fought against exploitation, oppression and colonial powers.
(a) Chief Mkwawa
Chief Mkwawa was a leader of the Hehe society of Iringa region. His father was called Munyigumba.
Chief Mkwawa was born in 1855 at Kalenga Iringa. He was nicknamed Nyundo (hammer).
He killed himself in 1898 rather than being captured by the German. He was buried at his headquarters in Kalenga, Iringa. After his death, the Germans took his skull to German but later in 1954 the skull was returned to Tanganyika and is now kept at Kalenga Museum in Iringa.
Chief Mkwawa is regarded as a hero who fought against German rule in Tanganyika from 1891 to 1898.
His army killed a German commander called Emil von Zelewski.
(b) Chief Mirambo
Mirambo was a chief of the Nyamwezi society of Tabora. He was born in 1840. His headquarters were at Urambo in Tabora.
Mirambo with his army (soldiers) which was called Rugaruga fought against Arab traders who were travelling to Uganda and Kigoma through Tabora. Chief Mirambo died in 1884.
(c) Sultan Kimweri
Kimweri was a Sultan of the Sambaa people of Tanga region. The Sambaa are people around Usambara mountains in Tanga region.
He was also called Simbamwene (Kinglion).The headquarters of Kimweri were at Vuga in Lushoto,Tanga.
He assisted his people not to be oppressed or mistreated by foreigners.
(d) Hassan bin Omari Makunganya
Resisted the Germans but was captured and hanged on a mango tree in public at Kilwa Kivinje.
(e) Bwana Heri
He led the Zigua people to resist the German rule in Tanga in 1890.
(f) Abushiri bin Sultan
He fought against the Germans along the Coast.
He was hanged to death at Pangani in 1889.
(g) Mangi Meli
Mangi Meli led the Chagga people to fight against colonial invaders.
He was captured and hanged to death in public in March 2, 1890.
(h) Mangi Sina
This was a leader of the Chagga of Kibosho.
He led them to fight against the Germans.
(i) Mtemi Isike
Isike led the Nyamwezi people to resist against the Germans in Unyanyembe in Tabora in 1891.
The Germans allied with Arabs to defeat him.
He blew himself up along with his family to avoid being captured by the Germans.
(j) Chief Machemba
He led the Yao to fight against the Germans in 1890.
He organized a battle in Masasi and Tunduru.
He opposed hut tax imposed by the Germans.
(k) Kinjekitile Ngwale
Kinjekitile means “it has responded to me “ in Matumbi language (Lindi).During colonialism, the German were very cruel to the people. They forced them to work on farms and many were beaten and killed.
People became angry and started to uproot cotton crops in the farms and therefore the war started between the people of Tanganyika and the Germans.
The war was called “Maji maji war” because Kinjekitile Ngwale made people to believe that Germans bullets would turn into water so they would not harm them.
During the war, German bullet did not turn into water. At last many people were killed.
The tribes involved in the Maji maji war were the Matumbi, Mwera, Ngindo, Bena, Sangu,Yao and Ndereko.
Kinjekitile is regarded a freedom fighter and a hero as he was able to unite the people by making them believe in water.
(l) Abushiri and Bwana Heri
These were leaders along the coastal areas. Coastal areas are the areas along the Indian Ocean. They are regarded as heroes since they killed several German officers.
(m) Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was the first President of Tanganyika after independence in 1961. He is regarded a hero because he was able to unite the people of Tanganyika to fight for their independence and remove the colonialists.
Role of women in fighting colonial intruders
Women were taking care of children and livestock when men were fighting. Some were administering protective medicines to the fighters.
Challenges and lessons we learn from our heroes and heroines Challenges
1. Africans had crude weapons and weak armies.
2. Some Africans betrayed their fellows.
3. Colonialists did not want to leave Tanganyika peacefully.
4. Many Africans believed in magic power that never worked.
5. Some leaders fought against the invaders on their own without involving other tribes.
Lessons
1. African leaders did not want to retreat.
2. Africans did not want to be colonised.
3. Germans became less oppressive.
4. Africans learned the dangers of disunity.
5. Unity is very important for success.
Contribution of heroes
1. Made the Germans change their administrative system.
2. Wages of the labourers in German farms were raised.
3. Their contribution led to independence of Tanganyika.
4. Helped other
Ways of remembering and honouring heroes and heroines
1. Composing songs about them.
2. Having memorial days such as Karume and Nyerere Day.
3. Writing books and short stories about them.
4. Naming buildings, streets and roads after them.
5. Building st
