NGONI MIGRATION

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 19^th 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.

1. Militarily the Ngoni were organized in large standing armies and age regiments People of the same age trained together, which brought unity and efficiency.
2. 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.
3. They used large cowhide shields, which could not be easily penetrated by spears.
4. They used the cow horn method of surrounding an enemy and attacking from all sides giving the enemy little chance to escape.
5. They often fought on their feet and in open areas for easy movement.
6. They moved in large numbers which helped them to outnumber their enemies who were often caught unaware
7. 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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