The leader of the Maji Maji Rebellion was a man named Kinjikitile Ngwale. He was a local healer and prophet in the southeastern region of what is now Tanzania. Kinjikitile emerged as a leader during the rebellion against German colonial rule, which started in 1905 and lasted until 1907.
Kinjikitile claimed to have received a divine revelation that his people would be protected from bullets if they used water from a sacred river to bless themselves. This belief gave the rebellion its name, ‘Maji Maji,’ which means ‘water water’ in Kiswahili, representing the water that his followers believed would grant them protection.
The rebellion was a significant uprising against oppressive colonial policies, particularly the harsh forced labor imposed by the Germans. Although the Maji Maji Rebellion ultimately failed, it became a symbol of resistance and is an important part of the history of anti-colonial movements in Africa.