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| 1887 |
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| The British East Africa Company secured from the sultan of Zanzibar a 50-year lease along the coast between the Umba and Tana Rivers. By 1888, the British East Africa Company was granted a charter to develop the territory in the British sphere. | 1 |
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| 1888–90 |
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| An insurrection of Arabs in the German territories was organized by Abu Shihiri. | 2 |
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| c. 1890 |
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| An outbreak of rinderpest epidemic was followed by pneumonia and smallpox epidemics. | 3 |
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| 1890, Aug. 1 |
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| The sultan of Zanzibar signed an antislavery decree. | 4 |
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| Nov. 4 |
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| A British protectorate over Zanzibar was proclaimed. | 5 |
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