Arusha

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Arusha was first settled in the 1830s by the agro-pastoral Arusha Maasai, who traded grains, honey, beer, and tobacco with the pastoral Kisongo Maasai in exchange for livestock, milk, meat, and skins.

Demand for Arusha's foodstuffs increased substantially during the 1860s when the Pangani Valley Arab trade route was extended through Old Moshi, Arusha, and ultimately to western Kenya.

Arusha was conquered by the Germans in 1896 and in 1900, they established a permanent presence with a military fort (boma) and garrisoned soldiers. A gruesome account of the German administration of the time:

"In 1899 the Germans began construction of a strong fortification, a boma, which they forced the Arusha to build. Maasai in Arusha still remembers the humiliation of this task: the new colonists took pleasure in riding around on the backs of the Arusha and Maasai men, egging them on with whips. One Maasai recorded the growing resentment at this form of transport in his memoirs. He was particularly enraged by an unusually heavy cargo; passing the river with his charge set heavily across his back, his patience snapped and he tossed his 'master' into the water. Fearing the consequences, many Maasai went into hiding in the bush, until a Maasai chief was sent to find them. The chief explained to the mutinous group that he was acting as a mediator and that if the group returned to work all would be forgiven. The runaways marched back into the new town in a column of about 400 men; as they strode down Boma Road, the entire troop was gunned down in the street - one of history's many warnings never to trust a 'safe conduct'. It is said that the 'mediator' was promptly promoted. The bloodstained fort was completed in 1900 and became a barracks for 150 Nubian soldiers, later being made the regional government offices until 1934. when it was turned into the Arusha Museum of Natural History." ^[1]

Subsequently, The Germans persuaded the Indian traders from the coast to open businesses near the new bomas.

Sajan and Sher travelled to Zanzibar from Bombay via Oman. From Zanzibar they first went to Pangani and then to Arusha on foot with a party of 25 people. They had to carry food stuff and gifts to tribal leaders for permission to march ahead. The gifts which they gave out include items like beads, cigarettes, matches, candles, etc.
When they reached Arusha they were impressed by its beauty and cool weather. They decided to set up their tents near the Themi River to rest for a few days before continuing their journey to Nairobi. The German officials who met them at Arusha convinced them to abandon their trip to Nairobi and instead start business in Arusha. As an incentive, they were asked to choose any plot near the Boma and construct their houses there. They would also be given official permission to start any business related to food, a large variety of strategic products and import and export of most goods. After a long thought, Sajan and Sher agreed to the offer. The German official started calling Sher as Shermohamed after noticing the name on the passport and after being told that it meant the Lion of Mohamed.
Shermohamed chose a piece of land of roughly 20 acres about 200 meters south of the Boma. They built a large six-bedroom house with plenty of space at the back for vegetable farm and living quarters of their workers. The construction of the house was completed in 1902/03 and the family moved into that house in 1903. Thus started the settlement of the first family in Arusha, Tanganyika.
Shermohamed started going to Tanga to buy food and other products. They also started importing stuff from India, and exported some agro and other products, including hides and skins to India, UK and Germany.^[2]

A steady influx of traders and farmers into Arusha in the 19th century, notably Indian traders, private German farmers and immigrant Africans, stimulated economic growth, prompting the German administration to conceive an 'idealistic' vision of a vast white settlement of their own construction. The Germans came up with several schemes to import settlers-from bizarre backgrounds.^[3]

Subsequently, in 1916, the British captured Arusha during the European War and German officials fled the area whilst the British deported the remaining German missionaries and settlers leaving only a skeletal military administration of the town.

During the 1920s', civilian administration was implemented and Europeans in the form of missionaries from the United States, British businessmen and Greek farmers were invited to settle.

It was not uncommon to see Greek hoteliers in those days, the success of their hotels founded on their position at the hub of local Greek social life. The Greeks had been farming in Tanganyika for some time but after the First World War, when the existing farms and estates were taken off the Germans, many Greeks and Cypriots bought them at an extremely good price. Once settled, their families came over and a substantial Greek community grew up, with their own churches and schools. In modern Tanzania, most large towns have an Orthodox Greek Church and Hellenic schools and there is one town in Central Tanzania, Kimamba, that has such a Greek influence that it is known as "Ulaya Ugiriki" (Greek Europe) by the Tanzanians.^[4]

The new settlers reoccupied the former German farms and the town grew. British Indians subjects were barred by law until much later from acquiring these farms. But more Khoja traders established themselves at this time.

In 1928-29,the extension of the railroad from Moshi to Arusha greatly increased commerce. The prominent Natha Hirji family set up in Arusha during this period. See Mohamedali Natha Hirji

The Great Depression thereafter however squelched commerce and Arusha in 1940 had less than 2,000 residents. Growth resumed during World War II and by 1948 the population had increased to more than 5,000.

In the 1960s', parts of the movie Hatari! with John Wayne were filmed at Momella Game Lodge, later owned by the famed businessman, Akber Mohamedali Rajpar, also known as 'Lord Rajpar'

Arusha

References & Notes

Photo Gallery of Colonial Arusha

Photo Gallery of Khoja Arusha

Personal Histories of Arusha residents in Khojawiki (2024)