10,006 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points

Rank: Unranked Obibini

When (Nana)Okello arrived in Pemba, he moved with a contingent of heavily armed followers in about three land rovers. They were a mixed group of mainlanders and Shirazi but mostly ASP [Afro-Shirazi Party] supporters from Unguja. (Nana)Okello started the punishment of caning and whipping people; he would give orders, and his proteges would obey. (Nana)Okello liked, in particular, to humiliate arabs from oman, called manga arabs. The sultans and the ruling class were of mostly omani origins, so (Nana)Okello believed it was their turn to be humiliated. (Nana)Okello rounded up arabs and ordered them to sing words like uhuru na jamhuri, meaning freedom and the republic, over and over again. They were forced to praise Karume, and then he would order their beards to be shaved without water, just dry. I personally saw this take place in Wete in February 1964.
Even when (Nana) Okello passed by on the road, all the people had to come out and wave, and often when he saw an arab with a beard, he would immediately stop his car and start to abuse him. For arabs from oman, their beards were a status symbol and a sign of respect; if they were shaved dry and in public, it was a great humiliation. Under normal circumstances, they would have fought to defend their honor, but at the time they were subdued and forced just to take it.
(Burgess 2009: 187-188)