Gangilonga Rock (The talking stone, a description in Hehe tribe)
A site
just outside of the town, is a legendary spot where the Hehe Chief at
that time, met with senior Hehe tribesmen to mediate on how to fight the
Germans. Today, the rock provides an excellent views of the town and
the surrounding countryside. Historically, Iringa was also the site of
several battles during the first and second world wars, and commonwealth
war graves are located just at the town centre. The Germans who were
the colonial powers up to the end of the first world war, realized the
strategic importance of the town and as a result there are few old
colonial buildings they had left. There are some of the original
colonial buildings which can be seen in the town strongly built in
stone, among them is the Court House and the District Commissioner’s
Office. A mix of faded Bavarian and vibrant African architecture
distinguish Iringa town from most Tanzanian towns since the place has a
rich history in southern region of Tanzania. It was near here that in
1894, The Hehe’s Chief Mkwawa built a 8 km long and 12 meter high
stockade in an attempt to fight off the advance of German colonization.
The German suffered a humiliating defeat despite of the poorly armed
Hehe soldiers who depended on spears and other fiercely traditional
weapons and few rifles which they had, but still they ambushed a German
battalion.
Toa Maoni Hapa Chini
