TUMBUKA NKHAMANGA KINGDOM

Background Information 

The people of Nkhamanga kingdom were mostly the Tumbuka people. The Tumbuka speaking people were a people of varying  cultural and even religious thought.  The Tumbuka occupied a small territory and each settlement was dominated by a certain clan group such as the Luhanga and the Mkandawire clans.

The Tumbuka were basically peaceful people.  They had no strong centralised political system. There was no taxation or tribute, though the chief might be given a leopard skin or a lion skin as a special tribute.

Balowoka

These people came in around 1770 – 80. They were a group of traders and they were led by kakalala Msawira Gondwe. They were basically from Nyamwezi. They came to Nkhamanga in search of Ivory. TheTumbukaland had plenty of elephants from which they could get ivory. The area was renowned as an elephant built because of the elephants.

They were called the Balowoka because they crossed Lake in dhows in 1750 when coming to Nkhamanga. Actually the word Balowoka in Tumbuka means those who crossed the lake. They settled in Henga valley, Hewe and Nkhamanga. They made peaceful penetration into the Tumbuka.

THE CREATION OF THE NKHAMANGA STATE

The Balowoka created the Nkhamanga State.  There are two theories that explain how the Balowoka established their political authority in the Tumbuka area. These are the trade theory and the invader theory.

1. The Trade Theory: This theory argues that Mlowoka, a wealthy trader came into the area to conduct trade. Oral tradition from the Luhanga family indicates that Mlowoka came into the region and began obtaining Ivory and leopard skins from the local people in exchange for clothes, beads and hoes. It is also narrated that mlowoka made friends with local chiefs such that he could bring them gifts. This friendly approach allowed Mlowoka to establish a conducive environment for trade.The theory further stipulates that Mlowoka married from the powerful family clans such as the Luhanga and Kumwenda. These families dominated the central Nkhamanga plain which was rich in Elephants and was on a trade route to Bisa country to the west of the kingdom. The other Balowoka also married local women which made them have good relations in the area. The relations strengthen their economic power in the Tumbuka Country.When Mubila Luhanga, Mlowoka`s father in law and ruler of central Nkhamanga plain died, Mlowoka`s son, Gonapamuhanya was enthroned king. This theory argues that the kingdom mainly comproside of the Nkhamanga-Henga areaThough the theory is highly celebrated some historians have opposed it.  For example, Leroy Vail (1968) argues that Mlowoka was not a political leader. He was simply a merchant trying to make a fortune in the Tumbuka country. He therefore did not establish a kingdom argues Leroy.
2. The Invader Theory: among the proponents of this theory are Saulos Nyirenda and Culen Young. These writers argue that Nkhamanga was established by the Mlowoka who was basically a political leader. The argue that Mlowoka married from the Luhanga and Kumwenda and began to politically influence the region. They argue that the influence was in terms of administration and coronation. Mlowoka helped establish peaceful nations among the Tumbuka. It is further argued that Mlowoka sent his soldiers to Chiwuluntha in Mzimba, Hewe, kajumbo in Bisa country, mwahenga, Mwalweni, Mwamlowe Jumbo in South Rukuru and Usisya.It is argued that the extent of the Kingdom during this time was from South Rukuru River and from Bisa country in the west to Lake Malawi in the east. It is further argued that when Mlowoka died his son Gonapamuhanya succeeded him.

HOW MLOWOKA WON THE SUPPORT OF THE TUMBUKA PEOPLE

1. He was giving clan leaders gifts hence they liked him and gave him their support.
2. Intermarried with the Tumbuka by marrying from the Luhanga and Kumwenda families and therefore they began consider him as a relative.
3. He won the trust of people by being honest and generous in trade.
4. He did not interfere with Tumbuka customs. For example, Mlowoka also paid an annual tribute of cloth to the shrine of Mwadandambi at chikhang`ombe hill.
5. He honoured clan heads with a blue-black turban or headband to their authority
6. The holes that he was distributing were a very valuable resource for the local people hence they loved him. This made Mlowoka be honoured with the name of Chikulamayembe which meant the distributor of holes.

 

Organisation of the Tumbuka Nkhamanga Kingdom

1. There was economic organisation in the kingdom
2. Msawira ensured that people were conducting organised trade near Thulwe forest
3. After the death of Mlowoka and Mubila between 1805 and 1810, Gonapamuhanya the son of Mlowoka became the first Chikulamayembe.
4. Gonapamuhanya introduced tax of an elephant task for each elephant killed and also got lions and leopards skins from the people. This allowed him to control trade and become rich. He used hi worth to buy cloth and distribute it freely to the sub chiefs and clan leader to win their support and loyalty.
5. However Gonapamuhanya did not control the sub chiefs. The sub chiefs were as follows:

• Mwamlowe in lakeshore region
• Katumbi in the hewe region
• Mwalweni and mwahenga in the central valley

6. The kingdom was also on a trade route to Bisa country in the west and some of the trade goods were cloth, beads, hoes and mphande shells
7. There was little religious activity connected to Chikulamayembe,.
8. The kingdom did not have a standing army. A standing army is an army that is trained and is always ready to fight. The Nkhamanga kingdom had an adhoc army. This was a kind of army that is only active when there is danger.
9. The Chikulamayembe controlled an area from chiweta / chilumba through Henga valley in Zambia.

 

Impact of Tumbuka Nkhamanga Kingdom

1. It introduced centralised political systems in the Tumbuka People
2. It introduced long distance trade in the Tumbuka land
3. It introduced patrilineal marriage among the Tumbuka who were at first matrilineal

 

Decline of the Tumbuka Nkhamanga Kingdom

1. Loss of trade monopoly: from the 19^th century, the Swahili Arab joined in ivory trade and dealt directly with the people. This way some sub chiefs stopped being loyal to king and his way the king lost revenue and control over people.
2. The kingdom had no standing army to defend itself e,g from the Arabs and the Nyirenda in 1820s
3. They were invaded by the Ngoni: The kingdom was completely destroyed by the Ngoni of Mmbelwa as they were returning from Tanzania. The Ngoni made the Tumbuka their captives and killed Chikulamayembe Mujuma then settled in the Henga valley temporarily where Mmbelwa was crowned as Inkosi in about 1855. The title was revived by the British hence Chikulamayembe Chilongozi.
4. British colonisation