Attraction
National Museum and House of Culture
Tanzania's first modern museum, on Shaaban Robert Street beside the Botanical Gardens, covering human origins, ethnography, colonial history, art and natural history.
Askari Monument
A 1927 bronze statue of an African soldier on a roundabout at the centre of downtown Dar es Salaam, honouring the askari and carriers of the First World War.
At a glance
- Type
- War memorial
- Area
- Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Good to know
- Free
- Outdoor
- Bronze statue
Why we recommend it
The Askari Monument is a bronze statue of an African soldier, or askari, standing on a stone pedestal in the middle of a roundabout where Samora Avenue meets Maktaba Street and Azikiwe Street. The spot is often described as the centre of downtown Dar es Salaam, and the figure, rifle and bayonet in hand, points towards the harbour.
The statue was unveiled in 1927 to commemorate the African troops of the King's African Rifles and the men of the Carrier Corps who fought and served with British forces against Germany in East Africa during the First World War. It was made by the British sculptor James Alexander Stevenson, who signed it with the pseudonym "Myrander", and was shown at the Royal Academy in London before being shipped to Tanzania.
Look closely at the pedestal. The narrow sides carry dedications in English and in Swahili, the Swahili written in both Arabic and Latin script, and the English text includes a line attributed to Rudyard Kipling: "If you fight for your country even if you die your sons will remember your name." The two wider sides have bronze relief panels, one showing soldiers in combat and the other the Carrier Corps on the march.
The site has a layered history. Before the askari, the roundabout held a statue of Hermann von Wissmann, the German explorer and governor of German East Africa, unveiled in 1911. When British forces took Dar es Salaam in 1916 they removed it, along with statues of Karl Peters and Otto von Bismarck, and the askari later took its place.
A visit takes only ten or fifteen minutes, and the monument is free to see at any time, but traffic circles constantly, so view it from the pavement rather than trying to cross to the island. It sits at the heart of a compact walking area: Azania Front Lutheran Church is about a block away, St Joseph's Cathedral, the Kivukoni waterfront and the National Museum are all within a few minutes on foot, and the Clock Tower is further along Samora Avenue. Early morning or late afternoon light is best for photographs, and Sundays are the quietest time to walk the city centre.
Askari Monument FAQs
What does the Askari Monument commemorate?
African soldiers of the King's African Rifles and the Carrier Corps who served with British forces in East Africa in the First World War.
When was it unveiled?
In 1927.
Who made the statue?
The British sculptor James Alexander Stevenson, who signed it as Myrander.
Where exactly is it?
On the roundabout where Samora Avenue meets Maktaba Street and Azikiwe Street in the city centre.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. It is a public monument and free to view.
What stood there before?
A statue of the German governor Hermann von Wissmann, unveiled in 1911 and removed by the British in 1916.
How long do I need?
About ten to fifteen minutes, or longer as part of a walk around the old centre.
What is nearby?
Azania Front Lutheran Church, St Joseph's Cathedral, the Kivukoni waterfront and the National Museum.