Wanga | |
|---|---|
Kingdom | |
 TheWanga Kingdom is located inKakamega County,Western Province, Kenya. Kakamega County is shaded red on this map | |
| Tribal Kingdom |  Kenya |
| Seat | Mumias |
| Government | |
| • Nabongo | Peter Mumia II |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Culture of Kenya |
|---|
 |
Historic peoples
Modern ethnicities
Diaspora |
| Cuisine |
Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers |
The Wanga kingdom is aBantukingdom withinKenya, consisting of theWanga (Abawanga) tribe of theLuhya people (Abaluyia). At its peak the kingdom covered an expansive area fromJinja in west toNaivasha in theEast African Rift.[1] The Wanga kingdom was a significantAfrican empire and the most organized structure of government in pre-colonial Kenya politically, economically, and militarily.[2][3]
In 2016 the Wanga numbered around 700,000, mostly occupying theKakamega County,Western Province, Kenya.[4] Theseat of power is located inMumias.[4] The Wanga are one of 19 tribes of theLuhya people. There are 22 clans that comprise the Wanga tribe. The Wanga retain theNabongo, as their monarch. TheAbashitse clan holds the royal lineage of the Nabongo.[5][6] The current Nabongo isPeter Mumia II.[4]
The name Wanga is eponymous, originating from the name of the kingdom's founder,Nabongo Wanga.[7] The name Wanga refers to the people as well as their descent and geographical location.[4]
The origin of the title Nabongo is uncertain, however Kenyan Historian, Prof.Gideon Were refers to the pre-Wanga ruler, Muima as "Nabongo Muima" indicating that the title may predate the formation of the Wanga Kingdom.[7]
The early history of the Wanga Kingdom is unclear, with various conflicting traditions as to their origins. One tradition holds that they are descendants ofancient Egyptians.[1][unreliable source?] Their ancestors are said to have migrated, from Egypt to Ethiopia, where they were under the leadership of Simbi and Nangwera before moving to help form theBuganda Kingdom where they were ruled by theKabaka of Buganda for many generations before relocating toLela in the present-dayNyanza around the 10th century.[1][unreliable source?]
The kingdom was founded in the16th century by Nabongo Wanga, a descendant of the rulers of the Buganda Kingdom. The Nabongo Wanga initially settled inNyanza Province before moving the capital toMumias,Western Province.[8]
After the death of Wanga, there was a dispute between his sons over succession. Wabala, Wanga's appointed successor quarreled with his elder brother, Murono over succession rights.[1] Wabala was assassinated in Bukhayo, allegedly at Murono's instigation. Murono was briefly Nabongo before Wabala's son, Musui defeated him in battle. Following his defeat, Murono crossedNzoia River and established a separate centre near present-dayMatungu around 1679–1706.[7]
Nabongo Netya reigned over the Wanga Kingdom c.1760-1787. During this time there were several clans in the Wanga kingdom. They included Murono's clan on the right bank of River Nzoia, Abamuima's clan at Imanga (Between modern day Mumias andButere) another atMatungu and Netya's in Elureko (modern day Mumias). Netya attempted to bring all these centers under his control with varying degrees of success.[9]
During the reign of Nabongo Netya, land disputes lead to conflict between the Wanga and their neighbors like the Teso, Bukusu, Jougenya.[10] Nabongo Netya is said to have struck an accord with theUasin Gishu trading cattle and grazing land in exchange forMaasai military assistance. The death of Netya, c.1787 ushered in a period of increased external conflicts with the Maasai.[7]
Nabongo Osundwa made peace with the Maasai and consolidated power in Mumias making it the administrative centre of Wanga while Matungu became the Nabongo's primary residence. Following the death of Nabongo Osundwa, a succession dispute arose between Osundwa's sons, Kweyu and Wamukoya, around 1814.[7]
It is claimed that Osundwa's choice of Kweyu as a successor was actively contested by elders because they did not like him. They therefore enthroned Wamukoya in Kweyu's absence, a decision which Kweyu rejected and seceded to Eshimuli with his followers. Here, Kweyu established another center for his new Wanga Mukulu confederacy (upper Wanga).[11]
Nabongo Shiundu inherited leadership from his father Nabongo Wamukoya in the 1850s and these are the years in which the Arab-Swahili traders arrived in Buluyia land.[12] At the same, the situation was no better at Eshimuli where Kweyu had paved way for his son, Nabongo Sakwa to rule. Here, Nabongo Sakwa's main enemies included the Abanyala, and Ababukusu with whom the Wanga occasionally clashed over grazing land. Earlier during the reign of Kweyu, Wanga Mukulu had been repulsed from extending her authority over Abanyala and their Abatsotso allies. Thus, Sakwa fled to seek refuge in Kabras from where he was to be bailed by the Abarama.[7]
Nabongo Mumia Shiundu (Nabongo Mumia) was the 17th Nabongo and became king (paramount chief) of an expansive region of Kenya at the beginning ofBritish imposition of colonial rule inEast Africa.[5][6] Nabongo Mumia is regarded as the most powerful and well known ruler of the Wanga Kingdom, coming to power during theEast Africa Protectorate in the 20th century.[13] Nabongo Mumia Shiundu's rule was heavily influenced by an alliance with Arab/Swahili slave traders and conflict with the neighbouringLuo peoples which escalated after the completion of theUganda Railway by British colonisers.[14] Arab/Swahili slave traders formed an aliance with Wanga to raid neighboring tribes to be sold into theAtlantic slave trade including the Luo andBukusu[13] Constant conflict led Nabongo Mumia to collaborate with theBritish who made him a paramount chief of an expansive region of East Africa with various chiefs reporting to him such as Chief Chabasinga who managedJinja, Uganda, Lenan Tenai who managed theMaasai and chief Odera Akang'o who managedLuo Nyanza.[6][15]
In 1926, the newColony and Protectorate of Kenya redefined the Wanga Kingdom's territory to be the equivalent of the modernWestern Provence in Kenya today. This act led to the eventual loss of any meaningful political power the Wanga Kingdom had possessed, although Nabongo Mumia remained powerful and influential until his death in 1949.[16][17][18][19]
During the colonial period, other tribes in Kenya such as theKikuyu people, theKamba people, theKalenjin people underKoitalel Arap Samoei, and theGiriama people underMekatilili Wa Menza all initially resistedBritish rule.[20] Due to their resistance to colonial rule the British did not extend comparable influence in colonial Kenya during the Scramble for Africa, the British alliance thus led to the prominence of the Wanga kingdom.[21][22]
The Anglo-Wanga collaboration and trade with Arab/Swahili slavers became profound at a time when most communities of north and central interior of east Africa were not affected by international trade. Other Kenyan tribes did not have any direct dealings with foreigners from the coast, and in most cases many were unwilling to welcome these foreigners into their societies.[23]
The prominence of the Wanga kingdom led to rapid territorial and political expansion by the British in the later years of the 20th century in their quest to conquer Kenya. The British, in their later conquest of the region, found the centrally organized political and social structures attractive and supported them in order to get allies in the imposition of colonial rule.[24]
In 1926, Nabongo Mumia was forced to retire by the British colonial government, he refused to take a 250 shilling monthly pension he was offered as compensation by the British until the colonial leaders threatened to arrest him. Nabongo Mumia died in 1949 and was succeeded by his sonNabongo Shitawa. Mumias was originally known as Lureko, but was renamed in Nabongo Mumia's honour.
.jpg)
Today Kakamega District is inhabited predominantly by Wanga people - one of 17 sub-ethnic groups of theAbaluyia of Western Kenya.[7]
In recent times Mumias has been dominated by thesugar cane industry, with theMumias Sugar Company Limited being the largest sugar manufacturer in Kenya,[25][26] producing around 42% Kenyas annual sugarcane output.[27]
In 2008 theNabongo Cultural Centre and shrine was opened, preserving cultural traditions and artifacts. The grounds also house a mausoleum containing the graves of previousWanga kings. The opening was attended byNabongo Peter Mumia II, Prime MinisterRaila Odinga, Deputy Prime MinisterMusalia Mudavadi, and ministersJames Orengo andFred Gumo.
