Q. Elaborate six consequences of Ngoni migration into East Africa in the 19th century.

Answer:

Who were the Ngoni?

The Ngoni were Bantu-Nguni speaking people of Northern Zululand in South East Africa. They were originally Ndwandwe people under Zwides leadership. But when Shaka defeated Zwide, one part of his group, the Ngoni moved to East Africa under Zwangendaba.

In origin, the Ngoni, were close relatives of the Zulu. They were full- time warriors and cattle plunderers hence disliked by other tribes, so they forced them away. They were pushed further north and eventually reached southern Tanzania.

They were forced out of South Africa by the “Mfecane” wars led by Shaka the Zulu. They came to be known as the Ngoni having absorbed the Thonga, Shona and Cewa on their way to East Africa.

The Ngoni migration began among the Bantu peoples of South Africa, who entered into E. Africa in the 1840’s. They were the last Bantu migrants to come to East Africa. They migrated into two largest groups of the Maseko and Tuta Ngoni.

The Ngoni broke the Monomotapa Kingdom, settling respectively on the eastern side of Lake Nyasa  (Malawi) at Songea, and on Ufipa plateau.

They moved to Tanzania from Natal and Swaziland between 1820 and 1840 due to the Mfecane (time of trouble).  They are direct descendants of the Zulu.  They are currently settled in South West Tanzania around Songea town.   

The Ngoni invasion illustrates the influence of external forces on the lives of the indigenous people.   The Ngoni brought innovation and changes such as military techniques, skill and weapons.  A study of the Ngoni would enable students appreciate the current settlement patterns and way of the life of the people of Southern Tanzania.

Reasons for the Ngoni migration

1.      It was due to fear of being absorbed into the empire of tyrant Shaka.

The Ngoni migrated due to the tyrannical and dictatorial rule of Shaka, the Zulu ruler who was everything in his kingdom. His cruelty was shown when he lost his mother, and put people under severe signs of mourning. Those who refused to cry for his mother’s death were killed,so they decided to seek refuge by migrating to other areas.

2.      They moved because of external pressure from the British and the Boers in the South who were moving northwards occupying their land.

3.      It was due to over population, which was caused by the fertility of soils and reliability of rainfall between Drakensberg Mountains and the Indian Ocean.

4.      Due to overpopulation there was land shortage hence land disputes, which led to forcing them to migrate to other areas.

5.      Some owned large herds of cattle hence moved northwards looking for pasture and water for their animals. So, they wanted to look for more fertile land for grazing their cattle.

6.      It was also due to epidemic diseases such as smallpox and sleeping sickness that affected them.

7.      They could have moved because of famine and drought that led to lack of food and water.

8.      It was because of influence of men like Zwangendaba, Maputo and Zulugama who provided good leadership. This encouraged them to move on wards.

9.      They migrated because of the spirit for Adventure.(Need to see what was beyond them).

10.  The leaders wanted to take over power in the areas they defeated, which was not acceptable to Shaka forcing some groups to migrate to other areas.

11.  They were fed up with the old traditional political system, which encouraged dictatorship and therefore wanted change, which could be achieved through migration.

12.  It could also have been due to overstocking of their animals. They migrated due to their spirit of cattle rustling, i.e they had great desire to steal other people’s cattle. For example, they went on driving away and confiscating other people’s cattle during their conquest and expansionist wars.

13.  They migrated due to the increased knowledge of military tactics by the age regiments. These were powerful military forces and dedicated to professional war, which was their livelihood.  They believed that they could other territories through migration.

MOVEMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF THE NGONI INTO EAST AFRICA

===They began their movement from South – East Africa in Northern Zululand under the leadership of Zwangendaba in 1820.

===The Ngoni migration took place in the 19th century, and was the last major movement of Bantu people into East Africa.

===There were 3 groups of the Ngoni in East Africa i.e. the Ngoni Tuta, the Ngoni Gwangara and the Ngoni Maseko.

===They then crossed River Zambezi and River Limpopo and moved northwards in search of new areas.

===Later in 1835, they divided into two groups. One group under the leadership of Zwangendaba passed west of Lake Malawi and settled at UFIPA in 1840. They were attracted to this area here because of the many herds of cattle around.

===Zwagendaba led the biggest Ngoni group that entered East Africa. They crossed the Zambezi River, moved through Malawi and Zambia until they reached the Fipa plateau in around 1840’s. Zwagendaba died here in about 1845, and his followers  splint up into five sections. Three sections returned south to Zambia and Malawi, while the other two, i.e , the Tuta and Gwangara sections remained at Ufipa.

===Another group under the leadership of Induna Maputo (Maseko Ngoni) passed East of Lake Malawi and settled at Songea.  When Zwangendaba died around 1845, the Ufipa ngoni disagreed and plit in to five groups.

===Two groups remained in East Africa,i.e Tuta and Gwangara Ngoni

===Three groups moved out of East Africa that is to say, one group moved to Malawi and the two moved back to Zambia.

===The Tuta Ngoni, the smallest group left Ufipa, moved northwards fighting and clashing with the Holoholo near Lake Tanganyika. They disrupted the trade route between Tabora and Ujiji.In the 1850s they invaded the Nyamwezi capturing many and incorporating them in their ranks. They finally settled at Kahama South of Lake Victoria.

===The Gwangara Ngoni under the leadership of Zulugama moved eastwards to
Songea    where they met the Maseko Ngoni. The two groups fought and the
Maseko Ngoni were defeated and pushed out of Songea in 1860s.

===Some of the Maseko moved back to Mozambique while others moved to Kilombero valley where they became known as the Mbunga.

===Another splinter group moved to Newala, Masasi and Tunduru.

===From Songea the Ngoni raided widely, finally settling in Southern Tanzania among the Bena, Hehe and Sangu. The Ngoni migration, which started around 1820’s, had ended by the year 1860s.

WHY WERE THE NGONI SUCCESSFUL IN DEFEATING / CONQUERING THE PEOPLE OF EAST AFRICA.

===The Ngoni came in big numbers and were strong. On their way they absorbed or fought off the people they encountered, capturing young men for warriors and young women for wives.

===They had good military organization with age-regiments called “impis”. (strong army)

===The Ngoni had a large, well-trained and disciplined army. They were grouped in age-regiments which were maintained for long periods. The Ngoni did not cultivate but rather lived by plundering from others. This enabled them to have a standing army always ready for battle.
They had superior weapons such as the short stabbing spear (Assegai) and big cowhide shields, which only left a soldier’s face exposed to the enemy, protected the warriors. Instead of the long-throwing spears which had to be thrown one by one, the Ngoni adopted short-stabbing spears and clubs known as Assegai, copied from Shaka the Zulu.
                           
On the other hand their enemies used long –throwing spear. They used these for close hand to hand combat, and the warriors could be protected by large cow-hide shields which left only a warrior’s face exposed to the enemy.

===They had superior military tactics such as the cow horn method (semi-circle), which was unfamiliar in E. Africa. They fought in organized age-regiments and could attack their enemies using the cow-horn formation. They also chose clear open spaces for fighting and liked attacking their enemies by night.

===They met small and fragmented societies, which were unable to challenge their military organization. Slave trade had undermined most of the communities of Southern Tanzania.

===The Ngoni were successful due to their determination. They were determined to conquer and obtain places for settlement. This was due to the fact that they were already being chased away from their homeland, and their only alternative was to get determined and fight any people they came across.

===The East African people were caught unaware and therefore did not offer much résistance. The Ngoni were successful because the local people whom they were fighting with were so weak and lived in small groups, which could not resist/challenge the sudden and unexpected Ngoni invasions.

===Disunity among the East African people living in isolated societies, made it easy for the Ngoni to defeat them. The inhabitants were living in isolated societies which made it easy for the Ngoni to defeat them.

===The Ngoni were fully united under their commanders. They were successful because of their unity and solidarity. They mixed freely with the non-Ngoni speaking people.

===They had strong military leaders e.g. Zwangendaba, Induna and Maputo who were able to unite and command the Ngoni.

===Applied the scorched earth policy hence taking people unaware. They burnt and destroyed crops.

===They used assimilation policy, i.e. they absorbed the people they defeated. They would force the captured men from other tribes to join them and become Ngoni warriors.

===They also made themselves fearful to their enemies by wearing the skeletons of their victims.

THE NGONI MILITARY ORGANISATION

The Ngoni were a small group of people but were able to make their presence and authority fell by the local people because of their leadership, outstanding military efficiency and their capacity to absorb conquered people into their armies.

Militarily the Ngoni were organized in large standing armies and age regiments; People of the same age trained together, which brought unity and efficiency.

They used the short- stabbing spears called assegai rather than the long- throwing spears which meant that the warriors could attack more effectively at a close range.

They used large cowhide shields, which could not be easily penetrated by spears.

They used the cow horn method of surrounding an enemy and attacking from all sides giving the enemy little chance to escape.

They often fought on their feet and in open areas for easy movement.

They moved in large numbers which helped them to outnumber their enemies who were often caught unaware

They used to absorb and assimilate all conquered people.  

EFFECTS OF NGONI INVASIONS IN E. AFRICA

Positive effects

===The Ngoni invasion led to the rise of outstanding leaders to prominence. These included Mirambo, Nyungu ya Mawe and Mkwawa, who used the Ngoni military tactics to build their states.

===Many small Ntemi chiefdoms came together (united) and formed larger political units under strong leaders to fight the Ngoni e.g. Sangu and Hehe. (re-organization)

===There was formation of new societies (tribes) like the Mbunga.

===The Hehe under Mkwawa were able to resist the Germans.

===There was spread of Ngoni customs and culture. e.g Initiation ceremonies where girls were taught sex education and circumcision.

===It led to formation of a larger Ngoni society in E.Africa as they absorbed many people.

===It led to formation of some societies by those who used Ngoni tactics e.g. Nyamwezi under Mirambo.

===It led to introduction of new weapons e.g. Assegai, cowhides and shields.

===From the Ngoni invasion, people learnt how to get organized from smaller disorganized societies, to well organized bigger political systems. These were to be under the control and leadership of organized, strong and efficient rulers such as the Sangu chief, the Hehe, e.t.c.

===There were intermarriages between the Ngoni and Nyamwezi,which subsequently led to improved relationships between the invaders and indigenous peoples, and an increase in population.

Negative effects

===They caused wide spread loss of lives leading to depopulation in some areas where they got warriors this was especially in southern Tanzania. This was due to the killing of people in the expansionist wars, e.g., the Mariti remnants of Rugarugas killed so many people.

===They introduced military organization and tactics to such an extent that the Ngoni lost their superiority e.g. Holoholo were able to defeat the Tuta Ngoni when they re- attacked them.

===Their movement led to widespread devastation, depopulation and displacement of people.

===They destroyed the economy of the people of southern Tanzania when they grabbed their cattle. (The Ngoni were cattle plunderers). The Ngoni invasion led to poverty, i.e., it led to the creation of a class of poor people as their property continued to be destroyed and persistently looted during the wars.

===The Ngoni led to formation of refugees who lived by plundering and killing i.e. the Mariti and Rugaruga who were later used by ambitious men like Mirambo, Nyunguyamawe to make their empires.

===The Tuta Ngoni, on their movement northwards, disrupted the trade particularly between Tabora and Ujiji.

===There was loss of peoples’ language, culture and customs (Detribalisation of people). i.e., The raids caused many people to become homeless and tribe less. This led to people losing their identity. In addition, such groups became terrorists who lived by war, plunder, and hunting for ivory. They included the “ Ruga-ruga” who began hiring their services as mercenaries to any chief willing to pay them.

===Ngoni disturbance disrupted normal cultivation leading to famine. There was widespread famine due to the scotched-earth policy of fighting. This included destroying crops and houses by burning. Under such circumstances, crops could neither be planted nor harvested, and people were forced to abandon farming.

===They led to insecurity since the new weapons and military tactics increased warfare and aggression in East Africa.

===The Ngoni intensified slave trade in East Africa, this was because they displaced people from their homes and so making it easy for slave raiders to get them and sell them.

===It led to increased war-fare among the African societies, including those areas that had been peaceful before.

Conclusion:

At the end of the 19th century, Germany colonised Tanganyika. The Ngoni were one of the groups that fought hard against the Germans. But in 1907 all the Ngoni chiefs were hanged for fighting. Today the Ngoni have married into the tribes they conquered. It is now difficult to know who is Ngoni and who is not. But their traditions and way of life continue.