NIMR-Amani Centre researchers, together with their partners from Stade Museum in Germany, today 12 September, 2024 presented the initial results of their joint research project, ” 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒍 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒛𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂”,to different national institutions, which include the National Museum of Tanzania, Division of Antiquities Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Amani Nature Reserve, Urithi Museum -Tanga, Goethe Institute, University of Dar es Salaam, among others
Launched in May 2022 and extending until 2025, this project, led by researchers from the NIMR-Amani Centre and Germany’s Stade Museum, dives deep into the origins of ethnographic objects collected by Karl Braun at the Amani Institute from 1904 to 1920. The aim to uncover the historical and ecological impacts of the Amani Institute on local communities and the environment during the German colonial era.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Said Aboud, Director General of NIMR, emphasized the significance of this project not just as historical research but as a foundation for a transformative vision for the Amani Institute’s future. He highlighted the ongoing renovations and future plans to establish Amani as a center for international and local research, tourism, and education, thanking all participants for their support and collaboration.
The two-day workshop hosted at NIMR Headquarters gathered key stakeholders, including the National Museum of Tanzania, the Division of Antiquities Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Amani Nature Reserve, and more. Discussions covered the historical significance of these artifacts and plans to transform the Amani Research Centre into a major historical and tourist destination.
Supported by the German Centre for the Loss of Cultural Property, this project promises to enrich our understanding of colonial-era ethnobotany and heritage. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore and reveal the rich history of Tanzania!