The Ngoni Migration into East Africa (Songea)

The Ngoni Migration into East Africa 1820 - 1860

 

Who were the Ngoni?

The Ngoni people are an ethnic group living in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, in southeast-central Africa. The Ngoni trace their origins to the Nguni and Zulu people of kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The displacement of the Ngoni people in the great scattering following the Zulu wars had repercussions in social reorganization as far north as Malawi and Zambia.
History

The rise of the Zulu nation to dominance in southern Africa in the early nineteenth century (~1815–~1840) disrupted many traditional alliances. Around 1817, the Mthethwa alliance, which included the Zulu clan, came into conflict with the Ndwandwe alliance, which included the Nguni people from the kwaZulu-Natal. One of the military commanders of the Ndwandwe army, Zwangendaba Gumbi (c1780–1848), was the head of the Jele or Gumbi clan, which itself formed part of the larger emaNcwangeni alliance in what is now north-east kwaZulu-Natal. In 1819, the Zulu army under Shaka defeated the Ndwandwe alliance at a battle on the Umhlatuze River, near Nkandla. The battle resulted in the diaspora of many indigenous groups in southern Africa.

Reasons forthe Ngoni Migration

Ngoni Culture

The Ngoni migration was primarily caused by Shaka's expansionist wars. He had embarked on an a vigorous policy of expanding his empire at the expense of his neighbors.

He created a period of wars (Mfecane) that forced many people to migrate and find new areas for settlement. The Ngoni found themselves moving northwards into East Africa.

They may have also migrated because of population pressure. The growth in Ngoni population may have therefore forced them to move northwards into East Africa ..

Internal conflicts may have been a cause for the Ngoni migration. These may have been clan or land conflicts that made their stay in South Africa unbearable. There were also civil wars in Zulu land

Since they were farmers, the Ngoni may have migrated as a result of land pressure. They may have been looking for fertile lands that could support agriculture.

Their migration may have also been a result of the influence of good leaders like Zwangendaba who did not want his people to be subjugated by Shaka. Other leaders included Chief Maputo and Zulu Gama. These organized war against the Ngoni enemies.

Diseases like small pox, malaria and sleeping sickness are also assumed to have been the reason behind the Ngoni migration.

Love for adventure may have also forced the Ngoni to migrate especially the youth who wanted explore the lands north of River Limpopo.

The Boer invasion of South Eastern Africa (Natal), from the Cape made many people including the Ngoni to lose their lands. This is perhaps what forced them to move northwards into East Africa. This long journey by the Boers is historically known as "the great trek".

The Ruthless army training started by Shaka made the Ngoni escape to East Africa. All young men had to undergo training in order to become good fighters.

Being pastoralists, the Ngoni might have migrated into East Africa looking for pastures and water for their animals.

Since they were a warrior and pastoral society, the Ngoni migrated to East Africa to loot and increase on their herds.

The hostile climate also forced the Ngoni to move northwards. i.e. they were tired of the extreme winters

Severe famine might also have hit their area forcing them to look for areas that could give them food.

Note; the most important of these factors was the need to escape Shaka's tyranny. 

The Ngoni Migration and Settlement (Course)

The Ngoni migration had its origins in South Eastern Africa and was primarily sparked off by Shaka’s expansionist, wars that created a period of troubles historically called Mfecane.

There were several waves of migration from South Africa but two groups came to East Africa around the 1820s. Each group took a different direction.

The first and biggest group was led by Nduna (chief) Zwangendaba. These moved through Central Africa, destroying the settled Shona communities in 1831.

They crossed River Zambezi on 19th November 1835 (solar eclipse day), travelled through Malawi and finally settled around Ufipa (Fipa) plateau in 1840.

This was after destroying the small disorganized Fipa communities. The Ngoni settled around Fipa because the soils were fertile and the people were easy to conquer.

However, around 1848, Zwangendaba died. Without his strong leadership his group split into five small groups. Three of these went back to Central Africa, settling in present day Malawi and Zambia.

The remaining two groups decided to remain permanently in Tanzania, These were the Tuta and Gwangwara Ngoni.

The Tuta Ngoni moved north wards into the land of the Holoholo on the Eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika but were driven out, forcing them to change course and settle in North-eastern Tanzania among the Nyamwezi around l850s.

This group took the young Mirambo captive (in Bugomba) and disrupted trade caravans between Tabora and Ujiji.

The Gwangara group too, under Zulu Gama decided to leave Fipa and moved eastwards, destroying Hehe and Sangu settlements.

Meanwhile the second and smaller group led by Maputo had reached East Africa travelling up the Eastern side of Lake Nyasa until they reached Songea around 1840.

At Songea the Ngoni absorbed and intermarried with local inhabitants they found there - the Yao

By 1860, the Gwangwara had reached Songea where they clashed with the Maseko Ngoni defeating them and forcing them to flee

The defeated Maseko split into two groups. One group under Chief Maputo moved backwards crossing River Ruvuma and settled in Mozambique and South-western Malawi,

The other group fled northwards to Morogoro and these came to be the Mbuga Ngoni and others scattered to Tunduru, Masaai and Newale

From Songea, this Gwangara group raided the land between Lake Malawi and the coast, creating a period of instability, uncertainty and chaos. However, their activities were brought to an end by the Germans around 1886, •

Reasons for the Success of the Ngoni Migration

Ithe Ngoni managed to defeat the societies they met with relative ease because;

During their movement they always captured young men and women. The young men served as warriors and women as wives. This meant that the Ngoni always had a large force compared to their enemies.

The Ngoni had an outstanding military organization inherited from Shaka. They divided their army into fighting units called impis .

They also had a strong standing army that was always ready to crush the enemy. They also had an age set system as the basis of their military regiments

They were also equipped with superior weapons compared to the people they met. Such weapons included the Assegai (short stabbing spear) and large cow-hide shields.

They had good military tactics of attacking their enemies like the cow - horn tactic which enabled them to encircle their enemies easily.

They also preferred fighting in the open and barefooted which facilitated easy mobility. They also carefully planned each battle.

Most of the Ngoni enemies were weak and small societies that were organized on a clan basis and therefore could not challenge the military might of the Ngoni. These societies were also disuniting and often at war with each other

Societies that could have resisted the Ngoni invasion were always attacked unprepared. This was because the Ngoni used surprise attacks.

The Ngoni always used the scorched earth policy on those that tried to resist them, e.g. burning villages, food stores and gardens. This kind of severe treatment scared small societies forcing them to flee on seeing them.

Unlike other tribes, the Ngoni fighters were professionally trained and free of any work. This meant that their entire lives were dedicated to fighting.

The Ngoni had great experience in large scale warfare which many of the interior tribes lacked. The many wars they had fought gave them immunity to small bloodshed.

The Ngoni commanders kept the morale of the army high by promising them rewards after victory hence making them work harder.

The Ngoni fighters were also loyal and united under their leaders and commanders.

They were also aggressive and determined because they could not go back to South Africa in case of defeat. They therefore, had to fight hard to ensure that they remained in East Africa.

The Ngoni warriors were not affected by famine because they always looted for food wherever they passed.

The long march from South Africa (almost 2000 miles) gave them military discipline and strong endurance.

Effects of the Ngoni Migration

The Ngoni invasion had many effects on the peoples of East Africa. These were political, economic and social, but many of them were destructive and damaging than positive.

Their migration created a period of wars in areas that were previously peaceful. The settled Fipa communities were for example destroyed and devastated.

It also led to massive loss of lives. Many people who tried to block their movements were killed and others taken captive. Hence many areas where they passed were left desolate and depopulated

The conquered were absorbed into their ranks and most of them adopted the Ngoni culture and language hence losing their cultures.

There was also massive destruction of property, burning of villages and general breakdown of society. This resulted into a period of insecurity, turmoil and chaos,

There was increased slave trade because of the Ngoni confusion, chaos and disorganization. This caused untold suffering, bloodshed and a period of uncertainty .

There was heavy depopulation especially in southern Tanzania due to the Ngoni slave raids and wars they fought with the local people.

Famme broke out in many societies since no farming and harvesting could take place because of the Ngoni raids. Cows were looted, food stores and field destroyed, resulting into wide spread famine.

The Ngoni invasion disrupted the Long distance trade caravans. The Tuta Ngoni for example disrupted trade caravans along the central route (between Tabora and Ujiji). This resulted into poverty as the war could not allow trade to flourish.

Many people copied the Ngoni military tactics (the cow - horn tactic) and adopted their weapons (the short stabbing spear) for defence against the slave traders and local enemies.

Their weaponry and tactics were later used against them. The Holoholo for example managed to learn their military tactics and used them to defeat them (the Ngoni) in 1850s forcing them to change course and finally settle among the Nyamwezi .

Mirambo who had been taken captive in Bugomba by the Ngoni managed to learn their tactics in capitivity and later used them to build a strong military empire.

He also copied some of their fearful customs like wearing ornaments made of people's teeth. This was intended to instill fear among their enemies. Nyungu ya Mawe also used the same tactics to build his empire.

Their migration therefore created a new generation of warlords and leaders like Nyungu Yamawe, Mirambo and Munyugumba.

Their mass movement also resulted into the spread of diseases in Southern and Central Tanzania. For example, malaria and small pox.

The Ngoni terror and confusion forced many societies to regroup, unite and form bigger chiefdoms e.g. Chief Munyugumba managed to create a strong centralized empire in Tanzania between 1850 - 1870.

In the same way their terror and tactics hardened and prepared many tribes to resist the European zaperialists e.g. Mkwawa of the Hehe used this advanced political organization to resist the Germans for some time.

Their migration also led to the decline of some states especially those that had no capacity to resist their aggreression. For example, the Bena and Sangu were defeated by Munyugumba using the Ngoni tactics.

There was the formation of warrior: groups like the Mavitt and Rugaruga. These were banits who lived by looting and plundering. Mirambo later used these bandits to build a powerful commercial empire.

Their invasion also led to the displacement of people. For example, the Yao lost their lands to the Ngoni and were forced to settle in unfavorable areas.

Initially, there was population increase in Southern Tanzania where Ngoni settled. This was so because they absorbed their conquered people into their society.

There was deculrurization and detribalization. For example the Ngoni displaced people from their original homelands making them lose their culture.

ATTRACTIONS ABOUT THE  SONGEA.. 

 
Tourism can be simply be referred as travelling from one place to another for study or leisure. In asking yourself concerning the best place to visit among the adorable places to take a tour would be Songea. It is the provisional administration office of the Ruvuma being about 976 km south of Dar- es-salaam(Tanzania's commercial city).
Songea would be a treat for both natural and cultural service. The former includes forests, game reserves, rivers and beaches while the latter includes historical sites and museums. The following are the features and historical background about this place;
    
     MAJI MAJI WAR:
     Songea own in particular, and Ruvuma region in general is unique placed and its historical perspective centered on the 1905-07 bloody resistance war against Germans occupation better known as Maji maji war. The name came by from a local healer's magic charms. The healer, Kinjekitile Ngwale,had promised the fighters that his portion of magic could turn Germans firearms(bullets) into mere water!! and the societies involved were Ngoni,Pogoro,Sagara etc.The reasons for the war included the following:
   1.Land alienation i.e. confiscated the natives' land for production of cash crops.
   2.Forced labour mostly in the plantations.
   3.Low wages in terms of payment from German employers in plantations.
   4.Harshness and brutality of the German appointees i.e. Akidas and Jumbes.
   5.Monopolization of trade.
  
   Due to the causes above, Africans had to resist against the Germans but unfortunately Africans failed  due to lack of military techniques, advanced technology and lack of cooperation like how shown by some Hehes allying with Germans due to the enemity with the Pogoro and Ngoni.
   The war also caused death of many people both fighters, innocent women and children from East and Southern regions of Tanzania. Captured fighters including sub chief Songea, were convicted by the enemy's court and executed in public as strategy to dampen/weaken their fighting spirit against colonization by Germans. The chief was executed on 30th Feb 1906,three days after a contingent of nearly one hundred troops, were executed and buried in a mass grave at a site that has been declared preserved location within township.Despite the public executions ,Maji maji fighters stepped up ferocious attacks against the aggressors until 1907.February 27,has been set up special for the commemoration day of the gallant sons and daughters of the land who fell during the colonization resistance.

The grave where Songea mbano was buried alone.
    
  Preserved historical sites:
     The war , however , left behind some historical monuments , features , sites and structures as testimony to Germans' brutality against innocent "Waafrika" who resisted foreign occupation. They include a mass grave, an execution site Boma(an administrative office) and prison and court house, as instruments of German power and oppression. The grave contains the remains of over sixty slain people. Adjacent to it is the resting place of Sub chief Songea Mbano who was buried in a separate grave.
      The court house and German Boma ,the citadel of the Dutch Ostafrika rule that incorporated Rwanda and Burundi on the west, was built in the early 1900s.sometime later ,the Boma was converted into a post office. When the British defeated the Germans during the 1st World war(WW1)they inherited the edifice and its postal services. However ,authorities in the region re-changed it into a public service use. These sites , including the common wealth war memorial cemetery, provide fascinating history and attractions to both domestic and foreign tourists.
      Maji maji memorial museum
      It is located about 500m northeast of the town and it is the only museum house in Ruvuma in which some of the traditional tools and weapons used by the Wa-Ngoni and Wa-Matengo warriors during the war are kept. Shields,clubs and photographs of the troops.
      In 1980 an Askari monument was built in front of the museum building as tribute to the Ruvuma born soldiers who died during the 1978-79 Kagera punitive war against Idi Amin of Uganda. Similar monuments were built almost country wide in Tanzania. The site is currently known as Heroes' Square.
 

      The German soldiers during Maji maji war(Resistance)
     
      The Great cave
      This was used as a hide-out from which Chief Songea and his fighters sprung fatal attacks against the Germans. Chief Songea also used the "Spandau" as an arsenal and warehouse for the fighters' clothing and rations and a range of 'gifts' he could receive from the Germans, before their 'honey moon' was over.The cave is located deep in Msamala forest,at a distance about 4.5kmfrom the Songea municipal hall.
       Warm and amiable to interact:
       Songea,like any other towns and cities in Tanzania and Africa largely is a multi-ethnic community whose members lead different lifestyles and perform unique traditional dances to entertain themselves, especially during bumper harvest, marriage and even burial ceremonies. However the most dominant groups in Songea town in particular and Ruvuma region/province in general include the Ngoni , Matengo , Yao, Ndendeuli , Manda and Ndonde.What  could be most impressive and attractive for the first time visitor in Ruvuma or Songea town, is the hospitality and warmth of the host people. Naturally social and ready to interact, they would make any visitor far away from home,..Feel at home.
 
DID U KNOW!?
The name Songea came as a result of honour for Songea Mbano who was a leader in the Maji maji"Magic water" war.