African Entrepreneurship Record

October 3, 1868.

The ”Stuttgart Evening News” published a job advertisement.

Urgently needed: construction workers.

Requirements: Skilled workers.

Familiar with various German-style architectures.

More than five years of work experience.

Family members can accompany them.

Work location: Overseas.

Benefits: Housing allocation, free education for children, eight-hour workday, monthly salary of 3 Taylors and 5 Groschen.

Such an advertisement might be considered a scam in any era, but its content is indeed very tempting for workers in the Württemberg area.

Opportunity always visits the unlucky ones, but whether they can grasp it is uncertain; in this era where systems are not yet perfect, workers live in great hardship.

Especially unemployed workers who were dismissed by their bosses for various reasons; Fisher was one such worker abandoned by his boss due to age.

Fisher is actually not that old, just in his thirties, but bosses always prefer the young and strong.

With the industrialization of Europe and the rise of capitalist agriculture, landless German farmers went bankrupt one after another.

Especially in the southwestern regions of Germany, yields have been poor these past years, making life even harder for the farmers.

Many farmers were forced to leave their homes in search of a way out; cities would absorb a batch of farmers turning them into industrial workers, naturally, Stuttgart, being a major city in the southwest of Germany, attracted many farmers.

The labor market was flourishing, and the bosses in Stuttgart began to be choosy along with it.

But the city cannot solve the livelihood issues of so many people, especially in the southwestern regions of Germany that are primarily agricultural.

The remaining people had to find another way out, and at this moment, the East African colonies and America appeared; the Heixinggen consortium took the initiative in creating a six-month-long wave of German immigration to East Africa.

Fisher was not a farmer; his family had been construction workers since his grandfather’s time, living on a meager salary.

However, it was clear that Fisher’s grandfather was not a particularly capable person; moreover, he had four sons.

The eldest inherited the house, the second and third shared the remaining inheritance, while Fisher’s father inherited only the ancestral craft from his grandfather.

Fisher’s father lived up to expectations, joining the Württemberg Kingdom’s army and participating in the war against Napoleon, luckily catching the final battle.

Fisher made a small fortune with the Allies in France, saving a sum of money, and after retiring, bought a small house in Stuttgart and married Fisher’s mother, the widow of a comrade who sacrificed during the war.

Fisher’s father and mother had Fisher when they were in their thirties; Fisher was the only child of his father, so he had a relatively good start compared to his father.

After the parents passed away, Fisher inherited his father’s possessions, a small house, some furniture, and the ancestral craft.

Moreover, Fisher was quite lucky, marrying the girl next door; however, life was always very tight, especially after having children, making things even harder for the family.

Two years ago, during the Prussia and Austria War, the situation all over Germany was tense; Fisher had thought of replicating his father’s old path, making a fast buck off the war to support the family.

As it turned out, the Prussia and Austria War had big talk but little action, especially in southwestern Germany, with almost no combat, and the war ended in a mere two or three months.

Fisher barely entered the recruit camp and hadn’t received any military pay before being discharged, leaving him jobless entirely.

...

”Anna, what do you think about going to East Africa for development?” Fisher asked his wife, holding the recruitment advertisement from the Heixinggen consortium.

”Is this reliable? We don’t know the situation in East Africa; if we get cheated over there and it’s false, we won’t have the power to return to Europe!” Anna said worriedly.

Fisher gently stroked his wife’s hair and said, ”But right now, I have no job, and I can’t just sit idle; our family has to eat.”

”Can’t you really find any work? There’s no choice if we have to struggle a bit; after all, Europe is much better than Africa, isn’t it?”

”There are a few factories hiring, but I’ve heard the working conditions are bad, working day and night, and bosses often delay wages.

A friend of mine says those are sweatshops, pushing people to the brink, and even if wages can be received, it’s hard to support a family; one person could barely make it.

But we have a family of four; even if you go out to do more work, it still wouldn’t be enough,” Fisher said with a frown.

After Fisher spoke, the room fell into a brief silence.

Anna leaned against Fisher with a bittersweet smile and said, ”Seems like we have no choice but to try our luck at this East African colony then!”

Fisher hugged his wife tightly and consoled her, ”Darling, don’t be too pessimistic; Africa might not be as people describe it, a den of cannibals.

A few months ago, many people had gone to East Africa for development, mostly rural farmers, and I heard East Africa has been recruiting immigrants. I’ve seen several groups headed for East Africa at the Stuttgart station; there should be a fair number of Germans there.”

Fisher obviously had done his research, as East African immigration from Württemberg naturally had to transit through major cities like Stuttgart, so seeing immigrants heading to East Africa in Stuttgart wasn’t uncommon.

”Honey, if you’ve genuinely decided, I’ll always support you.” Anna understood Fisher’s thoughts; her husband was moved but hesitant, so he asked for her opinion.

Fisher was touched and said, ”If East Africa is really as the newspapers say, I will certainly let you live a good life.”

...

Soon it was December.

Fisher’s family arrived in the East African colony in neat order, as East Africa had always welcomed family immigration, especially for ”high-end talent” like Fisher.

Under the guidance of Heixinggen consortium staff, Fisher’s family boarded a ship dedicated to family immigrants, with conditions much better than ordinary ships.

Without encountering any major storms, they smoothly reached the East African colony.

Fisher’s work location was also confirmed, right in Dar es Salaam.

Ernst never left any room regarding certain East African matters, such as the issue of the natives—it was sure to end with none remaining.

Similarly, if you’re going to colonize, then do it thoroughly. For the healthy future development of East Africa, all evidence of crimes from the colonial era must be destroyed. Future East Africa doesn’t wish to have disputes with the descendants of victims; any relics of native civilizations in East Africa must be eradicated cleanly.