Heia, Safari! (English/German Lyrics, Alternate)

"The parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) voted in 1964 to fund the back pay of the askaris still alive. The West German embassy at Dar es Salaam identified approximately 350 ex-askaris and set up a temporary cashiers office at Mwanza on Lake Victoria.

Only a few claimants could produce the certificates given to them in 1918; others provided pieces of their old uniforms as proof of service. The banker who had brought the money came up with an idea: as each claimant stepped forward he was handed a broom and ordered in German to perform the manual of arms. Not one of them failed the test."
Lyrics:
Wie oft sind wir geschritten
Auf schmalem Negerpfad
Wohl durch der Steppen Mitten,
Wenn früh der Morgen naht.
Wie lauschten wir dem Klange,
Dem alten trauten Sange
Der Träger und Askari:
Heia heia Safari!

Steil über Berg und Klüfte
Durch tiefe Urwaldnacht,
Wo schwül und feucht die Lüfte
Und nie die Sonne lacht.
Durch Steppengräserwogen
Sind wir hindurchgezogen
Mit Träger und Askari:
Heia heia Safari!

Und saßen wir am Feuer
Des Nachts wohl vor dem Zelt,
Lag wie in stiller Feier
Um uns die nächt'ge Welt.
Und über dunkle Hänge
Tönt es wie ferne Klänge
Von Trägern und Askari:
Heia heia Safari!
----
How often we have walked,
On narrow African paths
Amid the steppes
When early the morning came.
How we listened to the sound
The old and grand songs
Of the porters and Askari
Heia, Heia Safari!

Over steep mountains and clefts,
Through deep jungle night,
Where the air is humid,
And failing the sun's light.
Through waves of steppe grass
Have we broken through?
With porters and Askari
Heia, Heia Safari!

And we sat by the fire,
At night before the tents,
In quiet celebration,
In the night world's content.
And over dark slopes,
Are the distant sounds,
From porters and Askari,
Heia, Heia Safari!