Askari Monument

[[Image:Askari monument dar es salaam.jpg|thumb|right|The Askari Monument]] The '''Askari Monument''' in [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Tanzania]], is a [[memorial]] to the [[askari]] soldiers who fought in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Carrier Corps]] in [[World War I]]. It is located at the center of [[roundabout]] between Samora Avenue and Maktaba Street, a place that reportedly also marks the exact center of downtown Dar. It was unveiled in 1927. The main feature of the monument is "The Askari", a [[bronze]] [[statue]] of a soldier. It was realized in the [[United Kingdom]] by British [[sculptor]] [[James Alexander Stevenson]], who worked for [[Westminster]]'s [[Morris Bronze Founders]]. Stevenson signed the statue with [[pseudonym]] "Myrander". Before being sent to Dar es Salaam, the statue was exhibited for a while at the [[Royal Academy]], receiving critical praise. The soldier has a [[rifle]] with a [[bayonet]] pointed towards Dar's [[harbour]]. The statue stands on a [[pedestal]]. On the front side of the pedestal there is a plaque with a dedication by [[Rudyard Kipling]], both in [[English language|English]] and in [[Swahili language|Swahili]] translation. In the place where the Askari Monument is located, there used to be another statue, namely that of [[Germany|German]] explorer and army Major [[Hermann von Wissmann]], governor of [[German East Africa]] in the late 19th century. This former statue, unveiled in 1911, represented Wissmann standing, one hand on his hip and one on his [[sword]], looking towards the harbour; at his feet, an African soldier covering a dead [[lion]]'s body with a German flag. When the British entered Dar es Salaam in 1916, they demolished this statue along with those of [[Karl Peters]] and [[Otto von Bismarck]]. The monument in Dar es Salaam belongs to a group of three Askari Monuments that were all unveiled the same year in different parts of what was then [[British East Africa]]: the other two are at [[Mombasa]] and [[Nairobi]]. ==External links== * [http://www.planetware.com/dar-es-salaam/askari-monument-tza-dar-askm.htm Askari Monument (Planetware)] {{coord missing|Tanzania}}