Primary Sources

The following passage is an excerpt taken from the introduction to the journal of John Hanning Speke, an English explorer who traveled to Africa in search of the source of the Nile River. During his journey Speke, made his way through all of east Africa starting in Zanzibar. The excerpt reveals Speke’s view of the language of the Wanguana, or the freed men from slavery who will act as his porters for his expedition He is meeting them in Zanzibar Speke’s view of the “strange” language shows that he holds a view where he sees himself, an Englishman, as more superior than the natives that he encounters in Zanzibar. He is obviously not taking into account that the natives would find Speke’s language just as strange as he finds their language to be:1

The language of this people is just as strange as they are themselves. It is based on euphony, from which cause it is very complex, the more especially so as it requires one to be possessed of a negro’s turn of mind to appreciate the system, and unravel the secret of its euphonic concord…There is one peculiarity, however, that I would direct the attention of the reader most particularly, which is, that Wa prefix to the essential world of a country means men or people; M prefixed means man or individual; U, in the same way, means place or locality; and Ki prefixed indicates the language. Example: Wagogo is the poeople of Gogo; Mgogo is a Gogo man; Ugogo is the country of Gogo; and Kigogo the language of Gogo.2



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This document provides an excerpt from The Arusha Declaration of 1967, on the policy of self-reliance in Tanzania. Because it is an official document, it provides no personal opinion or bias. However, language is often on the vague side, as the tone is “looking forward” and moving beyond the past. The document lists some policies seen as mistakes in the years preceding 1967. These being the first years of Tanzanian independence, it suggests the development of the country on its own and the desire to succeed without colonial influence.3


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This document chronicles German occupation in Africa. Although the native Africans were disillusioned by the treatment by the Germans, the German soldiers did not have a pleasant time attempting to colonize Africa either. This German soldier is deprived of basic needs such as food and water. Additionally, the soldier suffers days just trekking across the terrain. This document shows that many soldiers did not want to be colonizing Africa and were merely tools of government imperialism. 4
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1. Speke, John Hanning. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile (1868). Print.

2. Speke. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. xxx.

3. Tanzania. "On the Policy of Self-Reliance in Tanzania." The Arusha Declaration, 1967. Comp. Paul Halsall. Fordham Modern History Sourcebook. N.p., July 1998. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1967-arusha.html

4."Modern History Sourcebook: Gustave Freensen: In The German South African Army, 1903-1904." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 02 Mar. 2010. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1904freesen.html