A native soldier or policeman in East Africa, especially during the colonial period; a local military or police officer.
From Arabic askari (سكري), meaning soldier. The term was widely adopted by British colonial authorities in Kenya, Tanganyika, and other East African territories for local military personnel.
Askaris were essential to maintaining British colonial control in Africa, yet they're almost invisible in Western history books—understanding their role is crucial to understanding how colonialism actually functioned on the ground!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.