Episode 24 (English) with Dr Nancy Rushohora

The guest on this episode is Dr Nancy Rushohora (University of Dar es Salaam), an internationally renowned Tanzanian archaeologist and heritage scholar, whose work deeply engages with memory, colonial history, and cultural legacies. Her academic research focuses, to a certain extent, on the era of German colonial rule in East Africa, particularly the Majimaji war. Contrary to other scholarly opinion, Dr Rushohora shows that this exceptional case of inter-ethnic struggle against foreign occupation lasted from 1904 to 1908, leading to 300.000 to 500.000 African victims of direct and indirect violence perpetrated by Germany. She speaks at length about the crucial role of women in anti-colonial resistance as well as present practices of remembrance by descendants, communities and the state. Criticising the apology of German president Steinmeier for colonial crimes at Songea Museum in November 2023 as a hollow gesture, she calls for substantive steps by the former colonial power to acknowledge historical injustice. The conversation took place on 3rd June 2026 in Berlin.