# Great Hanging at Old Moshi

The Great Hanging at Old Moshi also known as Great Chagga conspiracy and the hangings of 1900 (Unyongaji wa viongozi wa jadi pale Old Moshi mwaka 1900, in Swahili) was a mass execution that took place on March 2, 1900, during the German colonial occupation of Tanzania, 19 suspected Chagga, Arusha, and Meru leaders were publicly hanged and shot in Old Moshi for alleged conspiracy by German Captain Kurt Johannes. Some prominent leaders that were executed were Mangi Ngalami of Siha, Mangi Molelia of Kibosho, Mangi Lobulu of Meru, Mangi Lebanga of Arusha, Rawaito of Arusha, Marai of Arusha, and Mangi Meli of Moshi, Mchili Thomas Kitimbo Kirenga and Mchili Sindato Kiutesha Kiwelu. The mass execution is considered one of the tragic events in Chagga history.

## Background

The event began as a series of rumors. Captain Johannes of the German Military stationed at the Moshi Boma warned the Kibosho Mission of a conspiracy involving the Warusha people of Arusha Juu (modern Arusha) against the German government. These rumors, instigated by Mangi Marealle, suggested that leaders Mangi Molelia of Kibosho and Mangi Meli of Moshi, both in their twenties, were at the center of the plot.
The alleged conspiracy was, in fact, a fabrication orchestrated by Mangi Marealle of Marangu, who sought to undermine his rivals by discrediting them in the eyes of the German authorities. Marealle, along with his accomplices—Funde, Mangi Shangali of Machame, and Mangi Kisarike of Uru—managed to convince Captain Johannes of the plot's authenticity, despite its fictitious nature.
Unbeknownst to Johannes, Molelia, Meli, and their supporters were aware of the true circumstances and the potential threat they faced. However, both chiefs were youthful and self-assured, dismissing the danger. Molelia even disregarded a prophecy from his seer, Irumba, which foretold his hanging, indicating that such prophetic warnings were typically revealed only after significant events had transpired. The impending consequences for the young chiefs were inevitable as Johannes awaited an opportune moment to act.

## Events

The subsequent events were documented by the Roman Catholic Mission Fathers in Kibosho, who maintained regular contact with Captain Johannes in Moshi Boma. In response to the alleged conspiracy, Captain Johannes organized a punitive expedition to Arusha, intending to execute the two kings, Mangi Molelia and Mangi Meli, on his return. The expedition commenced on February 4, 1900. Notably, warriors from Machame, Uru, and Marangu were ordered to participate, while most fighters from Kibosho and Moshi remained absent.
During the expedition, the Warusha were defeated at the battle of Arusha, and the Chagga were permitted to seize cattle as spoils of war. However, upon returning to Moshi, Captain Johannes decided to postpone the executions of the chiefs. On February 27, shortly after their return, a soldier informed Mangi Molelia that he was to present himself in Moshi the following day. The following morning, Molelia stopped by the mission and was noted by the Fathers to be visibly frightened.

### The trial and mass execution

Upon their arrival at the Boma, Captain Johannes imprisoned Mangi Molelia and his companions, executing one individual who attempted to escape. The following day, March 1, Johannes demanded that Molelia, Meli, and 17 other Chagga, Rwa and Arusha leaders and noblemen confess to conspiring against the German government. On the morning of March 2, these 19 individuals were executed.
On a tree that still stands near the Msangachi River, the accused men were hanged in front of the Boma. In front of everyone in Moshi and a few other kingdoms, they waited their turn to ascend the tree one by one. According to those who witnessed it, it was the most terrible thing they had ever seen on the mountain. Eyewitness testimony During reliving the incident in 1959, Moshi and Kibosho made a point of mentioning that Mangi Meli died bravely. This is a very rare instance of the Chagga using this term to describe any individual's deed. By 4:00 PM that same day, the Roman Catholic mission in Kibosho received notification from Captain Johannes that the executions had been carried out.
There was no pretense of a trial, as Johannes had already predetermined the guilt of the accused. This is evident from the events leading up to the executions. After imprisoning Molelia's group on February 28, Johannes informed the Roman Catholic Fathers later that night that he had appointed Molelia's uncle, Sianga, as the new chief of Kibosho. The next day, March 1, Johannes dispatched Sianga and Marealle, accompanied by troops, to Kibosho, where they occupied the mission for safety. From this secure location, Marealle announced Sianga's installation as chief, sending messengers in all directions to inform the community of the leadership change.

## Aftermath

The methods and priorities of German and British colonial officers in Chagga diverged significantly. The German administration employed harsh tactics, including public executions and corporal punishment, which instilled a sense of fatalism among the Chagga, who were accustomed to the authoritarian practices of their own leaders. However, the Germans' use of open violence against local leaders was unprecedented and particularly shocking to the Chagga, who were more familiar with covert methods of political elimination, such as using a relative or wife to discreetly eliminate an enemy.
Despite their brutality, German officials were proactive in fostering economic, educational, and social development, employing skilled personnel in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, botany, and geology. In contrast, British officials, who arrived in 1916, did not govern through intimidation. Instead, they adopted a paternalistic approach, which subtly influenced the political dynamics among local leaders.
Significantly, the Germans' most notable mass hanging of the leaders in 1900 was a clear act of commission, while the British negligence of Kibosho represented an act of omission. As a result, the Chagga developed a fear of the Germans, which later shifted to a lack of fear towards the British administration.