Askari Monument In Dar Es Salaam
Askari Monument In Dar Es Salaam : The Askari Monument honors the Askari troops who served in the British Carrier Corps during World War One and is located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It is situated in the center of a roundabout between Samora Avenue and Maktaba Street, which is also thought to be the precise location of Dar’s downtown. The location designates the center of Dar’s historic and charming city. You must visit the Askari Monument if you’re in Dar es Salaam! It portrays the battle of the Askari soldiers during World War I and is of great historical value.
James Alexander Stevenson, a British sculptor who worked for Westminster’s Morris Bronze Founders, completed it in the UK. Stevenson used the alias “Myrander” to sign the statue. The statue received favorable reviews while on display for a while at the Royal Academy before being transported to Dar es Salaam. The soldier is facing the harbor in Dar es Salaam with a rifle and bayonet. On a pedestal, the statue is displayed. A dedication is written on a plaque that is attached to the pedestal’s front.
An earlier statue of German explorer and army Major Hermann von Wissmann, who oversaw German East Africa in the late 19th century, stood where the Askari Monument now stands. With one hand on his hip and the other on his sword, Wissmann was shown in this former statue, which was unveiled in 1911. At his feet, an African soldier was draped in a German flag and was holding a dead lion. Together with those of Karl Peters and Otto von Bismarck, this statue was destroyed in 1916 when the British invaded Dar es Salaam.
The Askari Monument in Dar es Salaam is one of three that were unveiled in different locations around what was then British East Africa in the same year. The other two are located in Mombasa and Nairobi. Include this on your list of Dar es Salaam attractions not to miss!
THE ASKARI MONUMENT
The bronze statue of a soldier that makes up the memorial is its main feature. The soldier is positioned on a pedestal while brandishing a gun. There are plates with various themes on each side of the pedestal. One of the plates features an engraved image of African soldiers engaged in combat, while another plate features a carrier corps. The remaining plates feature memorial tributes to the World War I combatants, two of which are in Swahili and one in English. The English version is as follows: “if you fight for your country, even if you die, your sons will remember your name.”
James Alexander Stevenson created the Monument, which was first presented at the Royal Academy of Arts before being delivered to Dar es Salaam.
PLACES NEARBY
The Askari Monument is situated close to a number of other tourist hotspots in the center of Dar es Salaam. Here are some nearby noteworthy locations in Dar es Salaam that you ought to visit:
Julius Nyerere International Convention Center: Only a few hundred meters separate this spectacular structure from the Askari Monument. Almost a thousand attendees may fit there, making it a well-known location for numerous international conventions and conferences.
Ferry Port: Your entrance to Zanzibar, one of Tanzania’s most popular tourist destinations, is the ferry terminal.
National Museum and House of Culture: Every year, the National Museum in Dar es Salaam attracts thousands of visitors. It features fascinating exhibits on the history of slavery and the evolution of man. One of the earliest human remains ever discovered is there, dating back up to 3 million years!
Azania Front Lutheran Church and St. Joseph’s Cathedral: German missionaries constructed both of these buildings at the end of the 19th century. Both of these structures are must-sees due to their remarkable architecture! Since they are only a few hundred meters apart, you can tour both structures at once. Also, they have original German works and inscriptions. You could even go to a Sunday service at the cathedral if you’re feeling up to it.
What are you still holding out for? Don’t forget to visit Dar and see the Askari Monument while you’re there!