Askari Monument

The Askari Monument stands at the junction of Samora Avenue and Azikiwe Street in the centre of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. The bronze statue depicts an askari, an African soldier, holding a rifle with a bayonet raised, set on a stone plinth in a small roundabout-style plot. It commemorates the African soldiers and carriers who served and died in the First World War, and inscriptions on the base in English and Swahili honour their sacrifice. The monument marks a point of reference in the old city centre and is often used as a meeting place or a landmark for directions. Visitors usually see it as a short stop of 15 to 20 minutes, walking around the plinth to read the inscriptions and look at the sculpted figure from different sides. Reliefs on the base depict scenes of soldiers on the march, which add detail to the story of the East African campaign. Because it is an outdoor monument, it can be visited at any hour, although the best photographs are taken in the morning, when the sun lights the bronze from the side and traffic is lighter. The surrounding streets are busy, with BRT buses, taxis, motorbikes and pedestrians, so crossing carefully and keeping bags secure is advisable. It is a convenient first stop on a walking route through the old centre: the National Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Old Boma and St. Joseph's Cathedral are all within a short walk. The BRT Posta stop is about three minutes away. There is no admission charge and no formal opening hours. Crowds are never a problem at the site itself, but street activity peaks during weekday rush hours, so early morning or mid-morning visits are the most pleasant.