History book 3

The Yao

  • Origins:
    • North West Mozambique, between Ruvuma and Luambala Rivers.
    • Developed trade with Swahili-Arabs before arriving in Malawi.
  • Migration:
    • Entered Malawi in small groups, settling in southern Malawi around 1830.
    • Spread to various districts, including Machinga, Mangochi, and Zomba.
  • Reasons for Migration:
    • Drought and famine, leading to raids by neighbors.
    • Conflicts with the Makuwa due to accumulated wealth.
    • Maseko Ngoni invasion.
    • Better trade opportunities.
    • Internal succession disputes.
  • Settlement Factors:
    • Rich in trade items like ivory and slaves.
    • Lake Malawi facilitated movement.
    • Weakness of the Mang’anja.
  • Yao Groups:
    • Mangochi Yao: First group, dispersed by Machinga Yao.
    • Machinga Yao: Militant, involved in slave trade. Chiefs: Mponda, Malemia.
    • Masaninga Yao: Involved in fishing. Chiefs: Mataka, Makanjila.
    • Chisi Yao: Skilled in iron-working. Chief: Katuli.
  • Socio-Political Org:
    • No single leader, organized around sororities (mbumba).
    • Hierarchy: Mwenye/Sultan, Mwenye/sub T/A, Mwenye Wandu.
  • Impact on Locals:
    • Positive: Economic integration, Spread of Islam.
    • Negative: Raids, political instability, cultural suppression, expansion of slave trade.

The Lomwe

  • Origin:
    • North West Mozambique, around Namuli Hill and Upper Lujenda River.
  • Migration:
    • Entered Malawi in small family groups.
    • Settled first in Phalombe and Mulanje, then spread to Thyolo and Chiradzulu.
  • Reasons for Migration:
    • Portuguese oppression.
    • Employment in tea estates and railway construction.
    • Conflicts among Lomwe groups.
    • Political instability in Mozambique.
  • Settlement Factors:
    • Employment opportunities in Shire Highlands.
    • Peaceful co-existence with the Mang’anja.
    • British colonial rule brought stability.
  • Groups:
    • Various sub-ethnic groups, names derived from places of origin or settlement.
  • Socio-Political Org:
    • No single leader.
    • Matrilineal society.
  • Impact on Indigenous People:
    • Land problems worsened in Shire Highlands.
    • Adoption of Lomwe culture.

The Ngoni

  • Origin:
    • Product of Mfecane (political instability in Natal, South Africa, 1816-1819).
  • Conflicts Among Major Nguni People:
    • Zwide defeated the Mthetwa, leading to Shaka's rise.
  • Shaka's Military Innovations:
    • Short stabbing spear (Assegai).
    • Great cowhide shields.
    • Cow horns formation.
    • Dusk and dawn attacks, spies, and swift runners.
  • Migration of the Jere Ngoni:
    • Originated from northern Zululand, led by Zwangendaba.
    • Defeated by Soshangane and Nxaba.
    • Crossed Zambezi River in 1835, entered Malawi in 1840.
    • Settled at Mapupo in 1845.
  • Succession Crisis of the Jere Ngoni:
    • Power struggle after Zwangendaba's death in 1848, leading to fragmentation.
    • Groups formed under Mpezeni, Ntabeni, Zulu Gama, Chiwere Ndhlovu, and Gwaza Jere.
  • Gwaza Jere Ngoni:
    • Led by M’mbelwa, settled in Mzimba due to good grazing land and water.
    • Mzimba became part of British protectorate in 1904.
  • The Maseko Ngoni:
    • Led by Ngwane Maseko, migrated from Swaziland to Zimbabwe.
    • Crossed Zambezi River, entered Malawi in 1837, and settled at Domwe Hills.
    • Chidyaonga led the group to Dedza-Ntcheu uplands around 1867.
  • Maseko Ngoni Succession Crisis:
    • Division between supporters of Chikuse and Chifisi.
    • Conflict with colonial administration, leading to Gomani's death in 1896.
  • Socio-Political Org of the Ngoni:
    • Hierarchy: Inkosi ya Makosi, Makhosi, Makosana, Balumuzana, Makhanda.
    • Patrilineal system of inheritance.
    • Society divided into Zansi and Abafo (assimilated tribes).
    • Military state with age regimental system.
  • Reasons for Migration:
    • Instability due to Shaka's rise.
    • Desire to create own state.
    • Pressure on land.
    • Search for resources.
  • Impact of the Ngoni on the Local People:
    • Positive: Centralized government, judicial system, protection, expansion of agriculture.
    • Negative: Cultural suppression, destruction, displacement.

The Ndebele

  • Mzilikazi and the Ndebele:
    • Led by Mzilikazi, son of Moshobane.
    • Fled Zululand in 1821.
    • Settled at ‘Ekhupumuleni’ in 1824.
  • Reasons for Abandoning Ekhupumuleni:
    • Constant threats from the Pedi.
    • Need to be far from Shaka.
    • Poor grazing land and drought.
  • Migration Patterns:
    • Moved to central Transvaal, established capital at Emhlahlandlela.
    • Met Robert Moffat in 1829.
    • Moved to Egabeni and Mosega.
  • Reasons for Abandoning Mosega:
    • Tribal alliances against them.
    • Constant raids by Dingane.
    • Attacks by the Boers.
    • Lack of pastureland.
  • Arrival Into Zimbabwe:
    • Split group into two before crossing Limpopo River.
    • Settled at Ntaba-ye-Zinduna.
    • Mzilikazi killed Gundwane for crowning Mkulumane.
    • Established capital at Inyati.
  • Ndebele Society:
    • Monarch (king) controlled affairs.
    • Army was a special group.
  • Division of the Society:
    • Zansi (original Ndebele).
    • Enhla (assimilated people).
    • Maholi (indigenous people).
  • Sources of Unity:
    • Common language (IsiNdebele).
    • Army involvement.
    • King marrying into different clans.
  • Decline of the Ndebele State:
    • Succession disputes.
    • Treaties with Europeans.
    • Defeat by the BSA Company in 1893.
    • Disrespect by Christian converts.
  • Impact of the Ndebele on Local People:
    • Suppressed cultures.
    • Created instability.
    • Encouraged unity.
    • Contributed to colonization.

Growth of Trade in Pre-Colonial East and Central Africa

  • Portuguese Factor:
    *East African coast known as the land of Zanj.
    *Contact with Arabs, Persians, Indians and even Chinese since the 19th century.
    *New culture called “Swahili” from Arab and local women intermarriages.
    *Islam became the predominant religion of theregion..
  • Trade Between Arabs, Swahili, and Africans: *Gold extracted from Mwenemutapa kingdom. *Wealth towns developed from Mogadishu to Mozambique Island. *The Gold trade passed on to the Kilwa rulers by the 13th century. Portuguese contact *Portuguese came into contact with east Africa during their search to India. *The first Portuguese to visit east Africa was Vasco da Gama in 1497 *The Portuguese capture some of the towns and defeated the Arabs. *Organized the gold trade between locals; Arabs and Portuguese. *Caused a tough completion between the Arabs and Portuguese over the gold trade. Portuguese and Arabs conflict *The Arabs befriended African chiefs to the interior. *Africans preferred Arabs goods which were of high quality than those from thePortuguese. In central Africa *The death of Da Silveira gave an excuses to Portuguese to colonize Mwenemutapa. Portuguese expulsion *Changamire, destroyed Portuguese settlement at Dambarare and killed all Europeans How the Arabs regained east Africa *The sultan of Oman, Seif attacked seized Fort Jesus in 1969 and the Portuguese surrendered. Factors to the decline of east Africa *Portuguese lostcontrol to trade in india and Indian to the Dutch and British. *Poor navigation and unhealthy climate for many African to come. *Spain colonized Portugal *Hostile local tribes against the Portuguese *Slave trade hindered missionary work
    • Locals rebelled
      *Impact of Gold Trade on Central Africa
  • Positive impacts:
    Spread of Christianity
    Stimulation of Mining- foreign traders intensified miningactivites.
    Introduction of New crops- Such as cassava, maize and groundnuts
    Wealth- Mwenematapa accumulated a lot of wealth
    Security- Chief got protection from the Portuguese and Arabs.
  • Negative impact
    Increase conflicts in the region
    Slave trade expanded to the east Africa Coast.
    Depletion to African resources-

The Missionary Factor in Malawi Islam

*The roles of various groups in the spread of Islam
*The Swahili Arabs
spread Islam in searching ivory and slaves.
Jumbe declared sultan and used influence to spread Islam Among Chewa Chonzi.
Nkotakota first district to be Islamized in Malawi.
*the Yao became the first to adapt to Islam inMalawi
Rapid spread of religion among Yao
_Desire for increase with trades
_Similarities to Islam and Yao culture(jando circumcision) and monotheistic belief.
British colony led to a mass convert to Islam
Efforts of Muslim missionaries
quadriya's competition led to a number increase of muslims
Asians began to employ muslin so the number increased
*Decline of Islam in Malawi
No leaders
No organisational structure
Christianity challenge.
Western Educations
Impact of Islamic conversion in people's ways of living
new Islamic rites of passage's
New Islamic dressing culture