Plural of askari; multiple native soldiers, police officers, or military personnel in East Africa.
The plural form of askari (Arabic askari in plural becomes askaris in English). Used in historical and colonial texts referring to groups of local soldiers under colonial command.
The askaris' historical records reveal a complex reality: some were loyal to the colonial power, some secretly sympathized with independence movements, and many faced persecution on both sides—their stories complicate the simple hero/villain narrative we often learn!
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