German East Africa is now known as Tanzania. In the early 1900’s the natives of this land were subjected to German rule and soon sought to rid themselves of the imperial shackles.
A spirit medium named Kinjikitile Ngwale become the voice of the oppressed natives. He changed his name to Bokero after he claimed to be possessed by a snake spirit. His largest contribution to the cause was his claim to have a medicine for the people which would turn German bullets into water (the “medicine” turned out to be water mixed with castor oil and millet seeds). Needless to say, the mixture didn’t work and German machine guns made quick work of the uprising.
The incident is known as the Maji Maji Rebellion. The term maji, in Swahili, means “water.”
