East African Flag - Abushiri Revolt of 1888 - 1889

East African Flag - Abushiri Revolt of 1888 - 1889

This small handmade cotton flag inscribed with an Arabic inscription was gifted to San Francisco's de Young museum by Hermann Schussler on 5 April 1919. The accession records indicate that it was, "- carried by Mohammedan Swahilis at the insurrection at Kilwa, East Africa."

This is doubtless a reference to the Abushiri Revolt of 1888 - 1889 when Arab and Swahili tribesmen, at Kilwa in German East Africa, rebelled against the German colonial rule. The revolt quickly spread along the coast as the rebels killed or expelled German officials. The insurrection was quickly put down by the Imperial German Marines with British help.

Strict Muslims believe that it is improper to represent living beings. Therefore it has been traditional for Islamic flags to bear only geometric patterns and/or inscriptions. This is also encouraged by the emphasis on the Koran and Haddith (Traditions), which are sources of guidance for good Muslims. It is not surprising, therefore, to find extensive inscriptions on Muslim flags like this one.

Islamic societies exist from the Atlantic coast in northwest Africa through the Near East to the Indonesian archipelago. Without a translation of the inscriptions on this flag identification of those who originally used it is difficult.

The donor, Herman Schussler (1842-1919) was a German water engineer who worked all over the globe, and presumably acquired this flag in German East Africa before gifting it to de Young. . He is perhaps most famous for his work on both the Comstock water systems of Virginia City in Nevada, and for his remarkable water system for San Francisco, CA, the Crystal springs Reservoir.

ZFC Significant Flag

Provenance:
• Made in Kilwa, in German East Africa during Abushiri Revolt of 1888 - 1889.
• Acquired in Kilwa, German East Africa by Herman Schussler.
• Gifted to de Young Museum, 1919.
• Sold via Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions, SF, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997


Sources:

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History of the de Young Museum, de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 18 November 2011:
http://deyoung.famsf.org/about/history-de-young-museum

Hermann Schüssler, Wikipedia, 18 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Schussler

Herman Schussler and the Comstock Water System, On Line Nevada, 18 November 2011, from: http://onlinenevada.org/herman_schussler_and_the_comstock_water_system

The Qur'an, Hadith, and the Prophet Muhammad, Islam and Islamic Studies Resources, 18 November 2011, from:
http://islam.uga.edu/primsourcisl.html#hadith

Abushiri Revolt, Wikipedia, 18 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abushiri_Revolt

Abushiri ibn Salim al-Harthi, Wikipedia, 18 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abushiri_ibn_Salim_al-Harthi

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	65
Length of Fly	28

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	23.5
Length of Union/Canton	40.5

Stripes
Size of Hoist	0.75

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Fabric
Fabric	Cotton

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Thread
Thread Material	Cotton

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Sleeve with rope

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Bad
Damage	Flag contains holes on the lower 1/4 of the fly, as well as stains.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	Late 19th century