Witu Sultanate Wituland | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1810[1]–1905/1923 | |||||||
 .svg) Left:Flag of Sultan Fumobakari (1890) Right:Flag as a British protectorate (1893–1920) | |||||||
.png) Map showing the location of Witu on the Indian Ocean coast | |||||||
| Status | c. 1810–1885: Independent state 1885–1890: German protectorate 1890–1905/1923: British protectorate | ||||||
| Capital | Witu | ||||||
| Common languages | Swahili · Arabic | ||||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Mafulme | |||||||
• 1810s - 1848 | Bwana Mataka | ||||||
• July 1895 – 1923 | Fumo `Umar ibn Ahmad | ||||||
| History | |||||||
• Established | c. 1810[1] | ||||||
• Disestablished | 1905/1923 | ||||||
| |||||||
Wituland (alsoWitu,Vitu,Witu Protectorate orSwahililand) was a territory of approximately 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) inEast Africa centered on the town ofWitu, just inland from theIndian Ocean port ofLamu, north of the mouth of theTana River in what is nowKenya.
Founded in the 1810s and then becoming fully independent from nominalPate rule in 1858 after several abortive moves to the mainland, the nativesultanate of Wituland was a haven forslaves fleeing theZanzibarslave trade and thus a target of attacks from theSultanate of Zanzibar (ruled by a branch of theOmani dynasty, under British protectorate).[2] Facing an increase in slaving raids from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the Sultan of Witu formally requested German protection so that he "finally has relief from the attacks of Zanzibar warriors."[3]
TheGeledi Sultanate was a powerful Somali state based in the inter-riverine region in southernSomalia that held sway over theJubba andShabelle rivers. Witu Sultans had strong ties with SultanYusuf Mahamud Ibrahim as both states were mutually antagonistic towardsZanzibar and had shared commercial interests. On the island ofSiyu the Sultan of Witu Bwana Mataka had been faced with an insurrection and was deposed in the 1820s. The defiant islanders alongside someSomalis who were more loyal to the prior administration called for Omani occupation of the island. Yusuf would intervene and Witu would prove victorious as it would bring the Sultan to engage a newly emerging militant group inBardera which was a key trade hub and where the Siyu Somalis drew their strength. Both states were interested inivory trade through the Jubba river continuing to flourish as a great source of revenue for the region. Later following their victory at Siyu over the militant Somalis and Omani sympathisers the Witu Sultan sent aid before Yusuf engaged and ultimately lost against the Omani alignedBimaals in 1848 at theBattle of Adaddey Suleyman.[4][5]
In 1885, theGerman brothersClemens andGustav Denhardt negotiated a treaty withAhmed ibn Fumo Bakari, the firstmfalme (Swahili forsultan or king) of Witu who ceded, on 8 April 1885, 25 square miles of territory to the brothers' "Tana Company",[2] and the remainder of the Wituland became the GermanProtectorate of Wituland (Deutsch-Witu) on 27 May 1885. The Reich was represented there by the GermanResidents: Gustav Denhardt (1856–1917; in office 8 April 1885 – 1 July 1890) and his deputy Clemens Andreas Denhardt (1852–1928).German rule was relatively mild, and the territory continued being a haven for escaped slaves.[3]
In 1889, Wituland issued a number ofpostage stamps although their postal usage has not been verified.
In accord with the 1890Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty, on 18 June 1890 a British protectorate was declared, and on 1 July 1890 imperial Germany renounced its protectorate, ceding the Wituland toGreat Britain to become part ofBritish East Africa. There were widespread protests from the inhabitants of the territory, who wished to remain under Germany's protection.[6]
Shortly afterwards several German merchants were murdered,[7] and a mixed British & Zanzibaripunitive expedition was sent out. The troops landed and descended onWitu on October 26, 1890. After a series of shoot-outs, SultanFumo Bakari ibn Ahmad fled from the town, with roughly 3,000 of his remaining gunmen. He was deposed by the British and died soon afterwards.[8]
After a short reign byBwana Shaykh ibn Ahmad, the rulership (now reduced to a shaykhdom and made a vassal of theZanzibar Sultanate) was given toFumo `Umar ibn Ahamd. Slavery was also formally abolished in Witu in March 1891, and Indian police were brought in to enforce the new agreement.
A brother ofFumo Bakari, by the name ofFumo Oman, resisted the new regime and began leading increasingly violent raids on villages and farms around the nearby town ofJongeni, northeast of Witu. A brief attempt at diplomacy failed, and the British and Zanzibari governments prepared a second naval expedition to sail to Witu.
A small expeditionary force landed at Witu in July and a second request to negotiate was sent to Fumo Oman. It was rejected and the marines marched on the principal towns under rebel control. Thick forest and camouflaged pits with sharpened stakes surrounded the strongly fortified towns, and the rebel gunmen had prepared defensive positions that allowed for heavy fire. However, after prolonged and intense shoot-outs, the naval marines fought their way into each town, and destroyed the fortifications.[9] Fumo Oman fled and Fumo 'Umari bin Hamid was reinstated.
Fumo 'Umari moved the capital to Jongeni, but the growth of British power and of the regional importance ofZanzibar saw Witu's position and influence gradually decline.[10]
In 1905 oversight for Witu was moved from theForeign Office to theColonial Office, and following this Witu was administered as a part of Tana District of theKenya Coast Protectorate. After the 1923 death of Umari bin Hamid the question of Witu as a distinct entity was finally closed.
The known ruling Sultans (styledmfalume inSwahili) are:
Media related toSwahili Sultanate at Wikimedia Commons
