THE TUTA NGONI KINGDOM OF EAST AFRICA!

  'A FORGOTTEN NGONI NATION'.

The shores of Lake Victoria  house a mighty Ngoni Nation that has its roots in the GREAT Zwangendaba empire. This Ngoni Nation is one the smallest Zwangendaba break away factions. The Kingdom is called the Tuta Ngonis and is domiciled at Ushirombo in the district of Kahama, south of Lake Victoria. But just who are the Tuta Ngoni people and how did they find themselves so far away from the other  Zwangendaba groupings? Who led them to where they are today?

The Tuta Ngonis are natives of the village of Engwenyameni, which was the home village of Ntabeni Jele, the young brother of uZwangendaba. But its not Ntabeni (whose name means 'Mountain') that founded the Tuta Ngoni empire for he died when his village and people were still under the larger Zwangendaba society.

Its his first born son, Ngodoyi and his cousin Shenge who certainly deserve the royal salutations for the Tuta Ngonis. But wait a  minute, Ngodoyi belonged in this village since it was his father's. But what about Shenge KaMafu?

Shenge was certainly not a native of this village. Its the constant quarrels between him and his young brother that would drove him to seek aslum in the village of Ntabeni. The hatred between Shenge and his brother, Mgai was visible for all to see. In this village, Shenge plotted revenge to Mgai for having forced him to leave his own village.

The choice to relocate to Engwenyameni and not the other villages under Zwangendaba was well thought as Shenge knew that Ntabeni also hated Mgai. Besides, Shenge knew very well that Mgai would not dare attack Ntabeni's village as that was a near treason charge when Zwangendaba was still alive.

When Zwangendaba died in 1845, Ntabeni knowing too well the mischievous character of Mgai, managed to hold onto the throne of his brother but not for a long time. A year and some months after the death of Zwangendgaba, Ntabeni died in quite suspicious style; the hand of Mgai is at times implicated in his death.

Shenge and Ngodoyi knew that the buffer that was protecting them had suddenly collapsed. They acted cunningly and strategic. Ntabeni's death needed to be announced to the whole Ngoni nation starting with Gwaza Jele and Mgai. But Shenge hurriedly buried Ntabeni without the knowledge of the other Ngoni villagers and more shockingly without informing Mgai and Gwaza of the death of Ntabeni.

This denied Ntabeni a royal funeral but it was necessary for Shenge to prepare for Mgai. But it was impossible for Mgai not to find out about the death of Ntabeni. And when he did, he considered the action of Shenge as an insult and a revolt. Quickly the regiments of Mgai set forth to thrash the same insubordination.

Upon hearing of the impending army of Mgai, the main body of Engwenyameni fled, without waiting for Mgayi, to the north, led by Ngodoyi, the heir of Ntabeni, and fortified by the presence of Mahokoza, better known as Sidwawa, the war doctor of the Ngoni, not to halt until they reached far to the north where their descendants are now found.

But Shenge and a few impis lay in hiding until the forces of Mgayi had passed, and then fell upon the defenseless Emacakazeni village of Mgayi, slaving all the wives of Mgavi and all his children excepting only the youth Ndawambi otherwise known as Mtenji, who was away on a visit. Then Shenge also fled to the north, to join Ngodoyi. However, it appears that although Shenge did manage to reach East Africa,he did not manage to unite with the Ngodoyi people. The Bagina clan of Eastern Burundi are pointed as the likely descendants of Shenge and his people.

As the Tuta Ngonis started their Northern trek, the fought and crashed with the Holoholo near Lake Tanganyika, they disrupted the trade route between Tabora and Ujiji. In the1850s they invaded the Nyamwezi capturing many and incorporating them in their ranks. They finally settled at Kahama South of Lake Victoria. Currently, their allegiance is to King Mphezeni of Eastern Zambia.

 

 Attached: Map shows the movement  of the Tuta Ngonis to reach their current home on the shores of Lake Victoria.