Chapter 166: Cultural Extinction
In Ernst's perspective, North Africa, particularly Egypt, was distinct from the rest of Africa. He subconsciously excluded North Africa, which was separated from the rest of the continent by the vast Sahara Desert. To him, the indigenous people in the wilderness of East Africa were not part of the civilized world; their way of life was wild and seemed to belong to the larger, untamed African continent.
Ernst was aware that the indigenous people living in the wild had their own ancient traditions, including practices like dancing with beasts. He hesitated to disrupt these ancient ways of life, driven by a sense of conscience. However, he also recognized that other Western colonists would inevitably intrude upon this world, transforming it in their wake.
The Western colonists forcibly integrated Africa into the global system, introducing concepts of human society that were previously foreign to the indigenous people. The colonists brought with them negative aspects of the so-called civilized world, including lies, fraud, selfishness, and greed, while neglecting to impart the great thoughts and moral values of human sages.
Ernst, despite his own dark past, was now in a position of power in East Africa. He understood the impact of colonization on indigenous cultures and recognized the need to destroy the remnants of these cultures. He believed that this was essential to secure the future land jurisprudence of East Africa.
He understood that people often cherished the concept of "since ancient times." Some Arabs might use the remnants of Arab civilization in East Africa, such as cities and buildings, as a basis to make territorial claims or seek explanations from East Africa in the future. Ernst was determined to prevent any such disputes.
Ernst knew that throughout history, ambitious nations and cultures often sought to claim the legacy of previous civilizations. For example, European countries claimed to be the successors of Rome. Italy, in particular, harbored dreams of restoring the Roman Empire, which was met with skepticism from other European nations. Turkey, too, engaged in similar claims, simultaneously asserting connections to both Rome and Arab civilization.
With the passage of time, such claims often grew more extravagant. However, Ernst was focused on preserving East Africa's future. He had no interest in cultural relics and historical narratives that could complicate the region's development.
He recognized that even in the 21st century, archaeologists were still finding traces of ancient Arab civilization in East Africa, particularly along the coast. While these architectural remnants were significant cultural heritage, Ernst was willing to sacrifice them for the sake of East Africa's future.
Fisher, who had come to East Africa as part of the immigrant workforce, found himself directing demolition work in Dar es Salaam. All buildings left by the Zanzibar Sultanate were to be demolished, making way for new German-style construction. This demolition and reconstruction effort was taking place simultaneously in areas like Mombasa and Buganda.
Ernst's objective was clear: to replace the characteristic Arabic architecture, including mosques, with new German-style buildings. This transformation aimed to create a fresh image for East Africa, one that would serve as a new window for its foreign interactions.
Fisher's journey to Africa had been unexpected, as he had stumbled upon a job opportunity advertised in the "Stuttgart Evening News," which was run by Ernst. While it was initially thought that East Africa might not be appealing to urban Germans due to modest salaries and Africa's poor reputation in Europe, Ernst underestimated the dire living conditions faced by some at the bottom of society.
For individuals like Fisher, who struggled to secure employment in a saturated job market and had low educational qualifications, leaving their hometown for East Africa became a necessity. Fisher's situation was further exacerbated by having a family to support.
The southwestern region of Germany, where Fisher resided, had become a hotspot for East African immigration, particularly after witnessing peasant groups successfully immigrate to East Africa. This development only fueled Fisher's desire to seek opportunities in East Africa and start anew.