This presentation is enlightens on recovered/discovered human remains, animal remains, plant remains and cultural materials that were collected from Tanzania and thereafter transported as well as stored in Germany during German colonial rule. Of importance to note is that German scientists led the way in scientific research undertakings in many disciplines in Tanzania that included geology, geography, anthropology and many others and owing to some reasons including scientific and technical ability, they shipped such remains to Germany. There are initiatives by leaders of the United Republic of Tanzania and Germany Federal Government aimed at repatriation of materials taken from Tanzania to Germany but very few materials have been returned to Tanzania. Essentially, the two countries have firm/strong diplomatic ties with cooperation between government bodies, as well as private entities for socio-economic developments. There is government will on both sides, Federal Government of Germany and United Republic of Tanzania, on aspirations to repatriate as well as undertake reparation for materials collected by Germans during colonial rule and as a result, there is a window of hope for such positive measures.
Dr. Charles Saanane is former academic member of staff at the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam. Presently, Dr. Saanane is an adjunct fellow in Department of Archaeology and History, University of Dodoma with areas of specialization that include History, Archaeology, and Palaeontology (encompassing human evolution, dinosaur research works and Forensic Anthropology). He is founding and Executive Committee member of Eastern African Association for Palaeoanthropologists and Palaeontologists (EAPP) and his research collaborations with international scientists have carried him as far as at world famous palaeoanthropological sites in Tanzania, namely, Tendaguru dinosaur sites, Olduvai Gorge, Laetoli and Makuyuni.
