www.elateafrica.org/elate/history/ngoni/ngonimigrationintro.html
BOOK. Textbooks- Odhiambo E.S A.; Ouso, T. I, Williams, J. F. M (1977). A History of East
Africa. Longman Group;
THE NGONI
MIGRATIONS AND SETTLEMENT IN EAST AFRICA
(Migrated from South Africa to
Tanzania between 1820- 1840)
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.
Reasons for the Ngoni
migration.
- It was due to fear of being absorbed into the empire
of tyrant Shaka.
- They moved because of external pressure from the
British and the Boers in the South who were moving northwards occupying
their land.
- 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.
- Due to overpopulation there was land shortage hence
land disputes, which led to forcing them to migrate to other areas.
- Some owned large herds of cattle hence moved
northwards looking for pasture and water for their animals.
- It was also due to epidemic diseases such as smallpox
and sleeping sickness that affected them.
- They could have moved because of famine and drought
that led to lack of food and water.
- It was because of influence of men like Zwangendaba, Maputo and Zulugama
who provided good leadership.
- They migrated because of the spirit for Adventure.
(Need to see what was beyond them).
- 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.
- They were fed up with the old traditional political
system, which encouraged dictatorship and therefore wanted change, which
could be achieved through migration.
- It could also have been due to overstocking of their
animals.
- They migrated due to the increased knowledge of
military tactics by the age regiments.
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 Maseko Ngoni.
- 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 Tutu 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 theMaseko 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?
Ø
The Ngoni came in big numbers and were strong.
- They had good military organization with
age-regiments called “impis”. (strong army)
- The Ngoni had a large, well-trained and disciplined army.
- 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
§
They had superior military tactics such as the
cow horn method (semi-circle), which was unfamiliar in E.
Africa.
- They met small and fragmented societies, which were
unable to challenge their military organization.
- The Ngoni were successful due to their determination.
They were determined to conquer and obtain places for settlement.
- Disunity among the East African people living in
isolated societies, made it easy for the Ngoni to defeat them.
- The Ngoni were fully united under their commanders.
- They had strong military leaders e.g. Zwangendaba who
were able to unite and command the Ngoni, Induna Maputo.
- Applied the scorched earth policy hence taking people
unaware. They burnt and destroyed crops.
- 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.
§
Their movement
led to the rise of ambitious men like Mirambo, Nyunguyamawe who copied their
tactics and created their empires.
§
Many small
Ntemi chiefdoms came together (united) and formed larger political units under
strong leaders to fight the Ngoni
§
There was
formation of new societies (tribes) like the
Mbunga.
§
Many people
copied their military organization and tactics to such an extent that the Ngoni
lost their superiority
§
The Hehe under
Mkwawa were able to resist the Germans.
§
However there
was spread of Ngoni customs and culture.
§
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.
§
There were
intermarriages between the Ngoni and Nyamwezi,whichsubsequentlyled to improved
relationships between the invaders and indigenous peoples, and an increase in
population.
Negative
effects.
1. They caused wide spread loss of lives leading to depopulation in some areas where they got warriors this was
especially in southern Tanzania.t
2. Their movement led to widespread devastation,
depopulation and displacement of people.
3. They destroyed the economy of the people of southern
Tanzania
when they grabbed their cattle. (The Ngoni were cattle plunderers).
4. 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.
5. The Tuta Ngoni, on their movement northwards,
disrupted the trade particularly between Tabora and Ujiji.
6. There was loss of peoples’ language, culture and
customs. However (Detribalisation of people). The Ngoni invasion led to detribalization
7. Ngoni disturbance disrupted normal cultivation
leading to famine.
8. They led to insecurity since the new weapons and
military tactics increased warfare and aggression in East
Africa.
9. 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.
10. It led to increased war-fare among the African
societies, including those areas that had been peaceful before.
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