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.

HISTORY FORM I---IV TOPICS / SUB--TOPICS

History  Form 1
1.1.0 Sources and importance of history
1.1.1 Meaning and importance
1.1.2 Sources of history
1.2.0 Evolution of man, technology and environment
1.2.1 Evolution of man
1.2.2 Early Stone Age
1.2.3 Middle Stone Age
1.2.4 Late Stone Age
1.2.5 Iron Age
1.3.0 Development of economic activities and their impact
1.3.1 Agriculture
1.3.2 Handicrafts, industries and mining in pre-colonial Africa
1.3.3 Trade in pre-colonial Africa
1.4.0 Development of social and political systems
1.4.1 Kinship or clan organization
1.4.2 Age-set system
1.4.3 Ntemiship
1.4.4 State organization

Form 2
2.1.0 Interactions among the people of Africa
2.1.1 Social and economic factors for interactions
2.1.2 The coming of the Ngoni
2.2.0 Social-economic development and production in pre-colonial Africa
2.2.1 Social organization and production
2.2.2 Types of social organizations and production
2.2.2.1 Communalism
2.2.2.2 Slavery
2.2.2.3 Feudalism
2.3.0 Africa and the external world
2.3.1 Early contact with the Middle East and Far East
2.3.2 Contacts with Europe
2.3.2.1 The Portuguese
2.3.2.2 The Dutch settlement at the Cape
2.3.2.3 Slave trade in the Indian Ocean and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade
2.4.0 Industrial capitalism
2.4.1 Demands of industrial capitalism
2.4.2 Agents of industrial capitalism
2.4.3 Abolition of the slave trade
2.4.4 British occupation of South African via the Cape.

Form 3
3.1.0 Establishment of colonialism
3.1.1 Scramble for and partition of Africa
3.1.2 The Berlin Conference (1884-1885)
3.1.3 Establishment of colonial rule
3.1.4 African reactions to colonial rule
3.2.0 Colonial administrative systems
3.2.1 Direct rule, indirect rule, assimilation and association
3.2.2 Colonial military and legal institutions
3.3.0 Colonial economy
3.3.1 Establishment of the colonial economy
3.3.2 Sectors of the colonial economy
3.3.3 Colonial labour
3.4.0 Colonial social services
3.4.1 Colonial education
3.4.2 Colonial health services
3.4.3 Provision of water and housing services during the colonial era
Form 4
 
4.1.0 Crises in the capitalist system
4.1.1 The First World War
4.1.2 The Great Depression
4.1.3 The Second World War
4.2.0 Nationalism and decolonization
4.2.1 Nationalism in Africa
4.2.2 The rise of social and welfare associations
4.2.3 The rise of protest and religious movements
4.2.4 The rise of mass nationalism and political parties in Africa
4.2.5 Decolonization through constitutional means
4.2.6 Decolonization through armed struggle
4.2.7 Decolonization through revolution
4.3.0 Changes in political, social and economic policies in Africa after independence
4.3.1 Changes in political, ideological and administrative systems
4.3.2 Changes in economic development policies and strategies
4.3.3 Provision of education in Africa after independence
4.3.4 Changes in the provision of health services
4.3.5 Changes in the provision of water services
4.3.6 Changes in the provision of housing
4.3.7 Establishment of national military and national legal institutions
4.3.8 Problems hindering development in Africa after independence
4.4.0 Africa in international affairs
4.4.1 Continental cooperation
4.4.2 African regional cooperation
4.4.3 Africa in International affairs

NGONI WARRIOR

A SKETCH MAP OF EAST AFRICA.

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IN EAST AFRICA

Introduction

Christian missions were organised efforts to spread the Christian faith for the purpose of extending religious teaching at home or abroad. Christian missionaries were among the early external people to get into contact with the people of East Africa. Their coming to East Africa and Africa in general was based on a number of motives which were humanitarian, economic, political and social in nature. They carried out a number of activities such as Agriculture, exploration, evangelism, etc. whose impact on the people of East Africa is still evident today.

By the 19th century, a number of missionary groups worked in East Africa and these included;

1. The Church Missionary Society
   
2. The Holy Ghost Fathers
   
3. The University Missionary Society to Central Africa
   
4. The White Fathers
   
5. The Methodist Fathers
   
6. The Mill Hill Fathers
   
7. The Verona Fathers
   
8. The Comboni Fathers
   
9. The London Missionary Society  
   

 The pioneer missionaries in East Africa were the Church Missionary Society led by the Germans John Krapt and Johann Rebmann who arrived in East Africa around 1844 and 1846 respectively. In 1863, the University Mission Society to Central Africa moved to Zanzibar where a mission was started from Re-union and later to Bagamoyo. Cardinal Lavigerie’s formation of the White Fathers Mission in Algeria (1863) extended to other parts of Africa.

In 1877,the Church Missionary Society mission arrived in Buganda while the white fathers arrived in 1879. In 1898, the Church of Scotland Mission arrived at Kikuyu, and in 1902, the Friends Missions arrived at Kaimosi.

The roles of these missionaries varied enormously depending on the colonial context and their relations with the colonial authorities.
 
The study about Christian Missionaries in East Africa is intended to help learners conceptualise the motives, activities, challenges which early missionaries faced as well as their impact on the people of East Africa.

Q. Explain the activities of Christian missionaries in East Africa

ANSWER:

·         Christian missionaries carried out a number of activities in East Africa. Their activities had various impacts on the social, political and economic conditions of East Africa. The following were the activities carried out by the Christian missionaries in East Africa.

·         Missionaries carried out evangelization. Here they tried to convert and baptize many people into Christianity from their paganism and Islam.

·         Christian missionaries carried out linguistic research and came up with new developments in language. Dr Kraft for example translated the Bible into Swahili and wrote a Swahili dictionary and grammar hence making it easy for people to understand the Bible more.

·         The Christian missionaries built many churches in East Africa many of which are still in existence. They for example set up a church at Zanzibar, Rubaga and Rabai missionary station near Mombasa. .

·         They carried out exploration work into the discovery of various East African physical features. For example, Kraft was the first European to see Mt. Kenya in 1849 while Rebman was the first to European see Kilimanjaro in 1848. 

·         Christian missionaries set up stations for free rehabilitation services for example in 1868 the Holy Ghost Fathers set up a home for the free slaves at Zanzibar.

·         Christian missionaries participated in opening up various mission stations. Such mission stations could help in enhancing evangelization into the local population. For example Rebman set up one at Rabai near Mombasa.

·         Christian missionaries participated in skill development in East Africa. They for example participated in modernizing Agriculture and carpentry by setting up agricultural institutions and carpentry workshops for training.

·         Christian missionaries were also influential in establishing educational institutions and training efficient class of African clergy (catechists) who were close and more understandable to the local communities. This helped and enhanced the propagation of faith.

·         Christian missionaries were at times involved in political processes that were beyond spiritual jurisdiction. They for example participated in the overthrow of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda.

Q.Explain the role of Christian missionaries in the colonization of East Africa.

ANSWER

----Missionaries signed treaties which were later used by colonialists to take over colonies e.g. Tucker, a British Missionary interpreted the 1900 Buganda Agreement to the regents of Kabaka Daudi Chwa II. This led to loss of political, economic and social powers to the British protectorate government. Sir Harry John stone who signed on behalf of the British government confessed that;

---“I John stone shall be bound to acknowledge the assistance offered to me by the missionaries especially the CMS. Without their assistance on my side, I do not think Uganda’s chiefs would agree to the treaty which practically places their country and land in the British hands”.

----(From partition of Africa by Prof Sempebwa).

------Missionaries supplied information to the colonialists which they utilized to plan how to effectively impose their colonial rule on how to crash the African resistance. In the religious wars in Buganda, the British fought behind the Protestants. Colonel Saddler a British commander once said;

------“The CMS was the first in the field …. Its connection with the political history of early days, the difficulties, it successfully surpassed and the assistance it rendered to the colonial government at the time of the rebellion are too well known to need recapitulation. There has been complete accord between the colonial government and Christian missionaries and in no single instance has there been a friction of any kind. I would wish to thank them for willing fully placing at my disposal a fund of information they have regarding the country and its people”.

------In fact there was a reciprocal relationship between missionaries and the colonialists that is why missionaries laid the ground work before the partitioners offered missionaries protection for the success of their evangelization mission. It’s here that words Reverend Willis are partnent;

-------“We as missionaries are indebted to the presence of the colonial government in this country and we would not forget when we reckon upon the triumph of the cross in Uganda. In how large a measure, these victories have been paved for us by others in the colonial government with its officers around us. We owe a peaceful country”.

-------The Church missionary society managed to raise enough funds for Imperial British East African Company for its staying in Uganda for at least 2 or more years. The church missionary society and Captain Lugard viewed that the company’s withdraw would live the British and the protestant party in a dangerous position versus Moslems.

----------Missionaries enhanced the growth of tropical raw materials like coffee, cotton to satisfy the British industrialists urge but disguising everything in Christianity. Bishop K. Boroup for example introduced cotton in Uganda.

-------They appealed to their home governments for protection in case of attack. It is in this light that Britain came to Uganda during the religious wars of 1884-1892 and later occupied Uganda.

------They created a collaborating class by luring it religiously and materially. This class helped colonialists to fight resistors despite the fact that they were all Africans.    

------In their evangelization role, they brain washed Africans with biblical teachings as “love your neighbor as you love yourself”, “blessed are the humble for the kingdom of God is theirs”, etc. With these preaching’s they made potential resistance important.

--------Religion was a mechanism of divide and rule. The converts and the non-converts hated each other which caused division to the advantage of the Europeans.       

-----Collaboration with chattered companies, European Christian missionaries and their converts worked hand in hand with the Imperial British East African Company to defeat Kabalega’s resistance.

------Missionary stations served as military bases from where the European colonial forces launched attacks on the resisting Africans. African Lugard used old kampala hill as a military base against Kabalega.

-------Mission stations served as colonial government headquarters. The established mission infrastructure was used to help in the establishment and sustenance of European colonial rule. 

--------Colonialists lacked skilled manpower, so the missionaries by design or accident were very faithful servants of the colonial government i.e. they were Colonial government servants.

-------They created a peaceful atmosphere for the germination of colonialism in areas of hostility. This is because they emphasized the centralized leadership where peace and obedience were expected.

--------Missionaries also trained manpower through introduction of education which was used by colonialists. This was done through teaching those academic subjects and manual skills like use of a plough and how to grow coffee. 

         --------They acted as interpreters e.g. Tucker in the 1900 Buganda agreement. 

--------Through conversion of the Buganda chiefs and pages before Buganda commoners it meant that each party i.e. the Church Missionary Society and France had gained converts. This was a political security of sympathy to the Christian missionaries as against the Kabaka in Buganda’s leadership. This indirectly undermined the Kabaka’s authority and respect i.e. his traditional power base was being eroded.