摘要
Examinations of the German colonial empire often focus on questions of ideology, metropolitan politics, or seek to address questions related to the ＂special path＂ of German history. All too often, the German invaders are portrayed as omnipotent and intellectually superior to their African allies and opponents. This paper argues for the primacy of ＂events on the ground＂, and instead focuses on the initiative and choices made by local African actors during the protracted conflict between the Germans and the Hehe in German East Africa （modem Tanzania） in the 1890s. During this conflict, African elites sought to maximize their own power, wealth, and prestige by utilizing German resources to their own ends. Overall, this work argues for the centrality of African politics and policy-making during early colonialism.
