The Chikulamayembe are a dynasty of kings established among the Tumbuka people in the Nkhamanga-Henga area of Northern Malawi. The Chikulamayembe originally ruled from around 1805, becoming weaker from the 1830s and losing power by the 1870s and their dynasty was re-established in 1907.[1]
Chikulamayembe, King of kings of the Tumbuka
Chikulamayembe, Themba la mathemba la ŵaTumbuka Saŵila
The Tumbuka people probably entered the area between the Luangwa valley and northern Lake Malawi in the 15th century. At the start of the 18th century, they formed a number of groups, most of which lived in homesteads growing Finger millet and herding goats and sheep. These were thinly scattered over the plateau between the Luangwa valley and Lake Malawi, in small, independent communities with limited central organisation. One group, the Henga, occupied the Henga Valley north of Rumphi; another, the Phoka lived south of the Nyika Plateau.[2] In the 18th century, the Luangwa valley, the plains south of the Nyika Plateau and the Henga valley had significant elephant populations and the Henga, and Phoka people of these areas had local chiefs with status but limited authority.[3][4]
The arrival of Mlowoka
In the 18th century, increasing demand for ivory in Europe led to the expansion of the ivory trade in East and Central Africa, financed by merchants based in Kilwa Kisiwani and Zanzibar. By the mid-18th century, traders dressed as Arabs although coming from the Unyamwezi region of what is now Tanzania were involved in trading for ivory as far inland as the Luangwa valley.[5] One such group, consisting of traders and possibly elephant hunters under a leader named Mlowoka, meaning "one who crossed (the lake)", arrived looking for ivory among people for whom ivory had little value.[6] Mlowoka was traditionally supposed to have landed at Chilumba on the lakeshore and moved inland to an area west of the Nyika Plateau.[7] It is not certain whether these traders intended to settle, but their control of the trade goods exchanged for ivory gave them economic power. They formed marriage alliances with local Henga chiefs and, to secure a monopoly over local ivory trading, Mlowoka established his leading followers at strategic points on the routes from the elephant-rich areas among the Henga and Phoka to the shore of Lake Malawi. Today the Mlowoka have blended with the Tumbuka such that they are indistinguishable as a separate tribe, however clan names from the original Mlowoka have survived such as 'Gondwe'. Among those to cross with Mlowoka on the same 'plank' were, Katumbi, Kabunduli, Mwahenga, Kyungu, Chipofya and Mwamlowe.
The 19th century dynasty
A son of Mlowoka, named Gonapamuhanya/Khalapamuhanya who was also (on his mother's side) the nephew of a leading Tumbuka clan head, is said to have become a paramount chief or king of the areas west and south of the Nyika Plateau around 1805 and founded the Chikulamayembe dynasty.[8] This, however, only had a loose control over a federation of small subordinate chiefdoms and what it controlled was less a territorial state than a trade route for ivory. Even the chiefdoms established by Mlowoka's followers from Unyamwezi were practically independent. By the 1830s, this Chikulamayembe dynasty was in decline as Swahili traders in slaves and ivory entered the area and took over its trading system, reducing it to a state of political disorganisation, and its existence was ended by the Ngoni invasions in the 1860s and 1870s on.[9][10] When the Chikulamayembe state ceased to exist, its people either fled or remained as unfree agricultural workers or enrolled in Ngoni regiments.[11]
Revival
Choosing a Themba
The Northern Ngoni finally accepted British rule in 1904 and the Tumbuka people ceased to be their vassals or returned from where they had taken refuge. European missionaries found the Tumbuka ready to accept Western education and supported their wish to have a paramount chief of their own. The Chikulamayembe claim to chieftainship over a wide area was supported by a history of the Tumbuka written in 1909 by Saulos Nyirenda and translated in 1931 by a missionary, which greatly exaggerated the power of the Chikulamayembe in the 19th century. This version of Tumbuka history was accepted by the colonial authorities.[12]
There were several candidates wishing to become paramount chief, all descendants of Gonapamuhanya, but the colonial administration chose Mbawuwo Mgonanjerwa Gondwe, who was westernised, and gave him the title Themba (chief) Chikulamayembe in 1907. This made him paramount chief of the Tumbuka people, and other chiefs in the area were subordinated to him.[13]
The Themba’s powers
At first, the role of the Themba Chikulamayembe was largely ceremonial, but in 1913 he was given a role in assisting the local district commissioner. However, in the 1920s the colonial administration favoured the introduction of indirect rule and proposed that the north of Malawi should be divided into three districts, each with one predominant ethnic group, each one having a paramount chief. When the Native Authority Ordinance was passed in 1933, the Themba Chikulamayembe was made native authority over all Tumbukaland, with his own budget. Native courts were also introduced following the passing of the Native Courts Ordinance, 1933, giving the Themba appellate jurisdiction over cases from his sub-chiefs.[14]
The first Themba died in 1931, being succeeded by his son Ziwange, generally known as John Hardy Gondwe, who ruled from 1932 until his death in 1977, when he was succeeded by his son Walter Gondwe. In late November 2018 Walter Gondwe died after a two-week illness and has been succeeded as Themba by his son.[15]
List of rulers of the Nkhamanga kingdom of the Tumbuka
Themba la mathemba, paramount chief for the whole Tumbukaland. He was the first colonial Chikulamayembe after the restoration of the dynasty. Witnesses of the coronation were Mayelele Gondwe, Hunga Bongololo Gondwe, Magomero Chaula, Chitupila Gondwe and Mkundajalamapiri and the District Commissioner for Koronga.[17]
^ Shadreck Billy Chirembo (1993). "Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904–1953". The Society of Malawi Journal. 46 (2): 1–24. JSTOR 29778687.
^ Shadreck Billy Chirembo (1993). "Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904–1953". The Society of Malawi Journal. 46 (2): 1–24. JSTOR 29778687.
^ Shadreck Billy Chirembo (1993). "Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904–1953". The Society of Malawi Journal. 46 (2): 1–24. JSTOR 29778687.
^ Shadreck Billy Chirembo (1993). "Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904–1953". The Society of Malawi Journal. 46 (2): 1–24. JSTOR 29778687.
^Judith Moyo (13 April 2021). "Court Removes Mtima Gondwe as Chikulamayembe Chief". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
^Owen Khamula (30 April 2022). "Chakwera Installs New Chikulamayembe King of Nkhamanga Kingdom amid Chaotic Scenes". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
Sources
S. B. Chirembo, (1993). Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 – 1953, The Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 46, pp. 1–14.
M. Douglas (1950). Peoples of the Lake Nyasa Region: East Central Africa, Part 1, London International African Institute.
J. McCracken, (2012). A History of Malawi, 1859–1966, Woodbridge, James Currey. ISBN978-1-84701-050-6.
B. Morris, (2006). The Ivory Trade and Chiefdoms in Pre-Colonial Malawi, the Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 6–23.
T. J. Thompson, (1981). The Origins, Migration and Settlement of The Northern Ngoni, The Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 6–35
H. L. Vail, (1972). Suggestions Towards a Re-Interpreted Tumbuka History. In B. Pachai (ed). The Early History of Malawi. London: Longman
January 20, 2023
chikulamayembe, dynasty, chikulamayembe, dynasty, kings, established, among, tumbuka, people, nkhamanga, henga, area, northern, malawi, chikulamayembe, originally, ruled, from, around, 1805, becoming, weaker, from, 1830s, losing, power, 1870s, their, dynasty, . The Chikulamayembe are a dynasty of kings established among the Tumbuka people in the Nkhamanga Henga area of Northern Malawi The Chikulamayembe originally ruled from around 1805 becoming weaker from the 1830s and losing power by the 1870s and their dynasty was re established in 1907 1 Chikulamayembe King of kings of the TumbukaChikulamayembe Themba la mathemba la ŵaTumbukaSaŵilaProvincial StateIncumbentJoseph Bongololo Gondwesince 30 April 2022DetailsStylehis MajestyHeir apparentTo be nominated from the House of Chikulamasinda upon the Incumbent s death First monarchKhalapamuhanyaFormation1805ResidenceBolero RumphiWebsiteN AWalter Gondwe the Chikulamayembe from 1977 to 2018 with his wife in Bolero Rumphi Malawi Contents 1 The origin of the Chikulamayembe 1 1 The Tumbuka people 1 2 The arrival of Mlowoka 1 3 The 19th century dynasty 2 Revival 2 1 Choosing a Themba 2 2 The Themba s powers 3 List of rulers of the Nkhamanga kingdom of the Tumbuka 4 References 5 SourcesThe origin of the Chikulamayembe EditThe Tumbuka people Edit The Tumbuka people probably entered the area between the Luangwa valley and northern Lake Malawi in the 15th century At the start of the 18th century they formed a number of groups most of which lived in homesteads growing Finger millet and herding goats and sheep These were thinly scattered over the plateau between the Luangwa valley and Lake Malawi in small independent communities with limited central organisation One group the Henga occupied the Henga Valley north of Rumphi another the Phoka lived south of the Nyika Plateau 2 In the 18th century the Luangwa valley the plains south of the Nyika Plateau and the Henga valley had significant elephant populations and the Henga and Phoka people of these areas had local chiefs with status but limited authority 3 4 The arrival of Mlowoka Edit In the 18th century increasing demand for ivory in Europe led to the expansion of the ivory trade in East and Central Africa financed by merchants based in Kilwa Kisiwani and Zanzibar By the mid 18th century traders dressed as Arabs although coming from the Unyamwezi region of what is now Tanzania were involved in trading for ivory as far inland as the Luangwa valley 5 One such group consisting of traders and possibly elephant hunters under a leader named Mlowoka meaning one who crossed the lake arrived looking for ivory among people for whom ivory had little value 6 Mlowoka was traditionally supposed to have landed at Chilumba on the lakeshore and moved inland to an area west of the Nyika Plateau 7 It is not certain whether these traders intended to settle but their control of the trade goods exchanged for ivory gave them economic power They formed marriage alliances with local Henga chiefs and to secure a monopoly over local ivory trading Mlowoka established his leading followers at strategic points on the routes from the elephant rich areas among the Henga and Phoka to the shore of Lake Malawi Today the Mlowoka have blended with the Tumbuka such that they are indistinguishable as a separate tribe however clan names from the original Mlowoka have survived such as Gondwe Among those to cross with Mlowoka on the same plank were Katumbi Kabunduli Mwahenga Kyungu Chipofya and Mwamlowe The 19th century dynasty Edit A son of Mlowoka named Gonapamuhanya Khalapamuhanya who was also on his mother s side the nephew of a leading Tumbuka clan head is said to have become a paramount chief or king of the areas west and south of the Nyika Plateau around 1805 and founded the Chikulamayembe dynasty 8 This however only had a loose control over a federation of small subordinate chiefdoms and what it controlled was less a territorial state than a trade route for ivory Even the chiefdoms established by Mlowoka s followers from Unyamwezi were practically independent By the 1830s this Chikulamayembe dynasty was in decline as Swahili traders in slaves and ivory entered the area and took over its trading system reducing it to a state of political disorganisation and its existence was ended by the Ngoni invasions in the 1860s and 1870s on 9 10 When the Chikulamayembe state ceased to exist its people either fled or remained as unfree agricultural workers or enrolled in Ngoni regiments 11 Revival EditChoosing a Themba Edit The Northern Ngoni finally accepted British rule in 1904 and the Tumbuka people ceased to be their vassals or returned from where they had taken refuge European missionaries found the Tumbuka ready to accept Western education and supported their wish to have a paramount chief of their own The Chikulamayembe claim to chieftainship over a wide area was supported by a history of the Tumbuka written in 1909 by Saulos Nyirenda and translated in 1931 by a missionary which greatly exaggerated the power of the Chikulamayembe in the 19th century This version of Tumbuka history was accepted by the colonial authorities 12 There were several candidates wishing to become paramount chief all descendants of Gonapamuhanya but the colonial administration chose Mbawuwo Mgonanjerwa Gondwe who was westernised and gave him the title Themba chief Chikulamayembe in 1907 This made him paramount chief of the Tumbuka people and other chiefs in the area were subordinated to him 13 The Themba s powers Edit At first the role of the Themba Chikulamayembe was largely ceremonial but in 1913 he was given a role in assisting the local district commissioner However in the 1920s the colonial administration favoured the introduction of indirect rule and proposed that the north of Malawi should be divided into three districts each with one predominant ethnic group each one having a paramount chief When the Native Authority Ordinance was passed in 1933 the Themba Chikulamayembe was made native authority over all Tumbukaland with his own budget Native courts were also introduced following the passing of the Native Courts Ordinance 1933 giving the Themba appellate jurisdiction over cases from his sub chiefs 14 The first Themba died in 1931 being succeeded by his son Ziwange generally known as John Hardy Gondwe who ruled from 1932 until his death in 1977 when he was succeeded by his son Walter Gondwe In late November 2018 Walter Gondwe died after a two week illness and has been succeeded as Themba by his son 15 List of rulers of the Nkhamanga kingdom of the Tumbuka EditTerm Incumbent Notesc 1795 Foundation of Nkamanga state to Gonapamuhanya a k a Nkhalapamuhanya 16 Chikulamayembe to Kampungu Chikulamayembe to Pitamkusa Chikulamayembe to Bwati I Chikulamayembe Originally Cayeka to Bwati II Chikulamayembe to Bamantha Chikulamayembe18 to 1855 Mkuwayira Chikulamayembe1855 to 18 Interregnum18 To 1880 Mujuma Chikulamayembe1880 to 1907 Interregnum1907 to 1931 Chilongozi Mbawuwo Mgonanjerwa Gondwe Themba la mathemba paramount chief for the whole Tumbukaland He was the first colonial Chikulamayembe after the restoration of the dynasty Witnesses of the coronation were Mayelele Gondwe Hunga Bongololo Gondwe Magomero Chaula Chitupila Gondwe and Mkundajalamapiri and the District Commissioner for Koronga 17 1932 to 1977 Ziwange John Hardy Gondwe 18 1977 to 2019 Walter Gondwe 19 2019 to 2021 Mtima Gondwe 20 Acting Claims should be the legitimate successor to Walter Gondwe 2022 to present Joseph Bongololo Gondwe 21 Official reign may have started earlier in 2019References Edit Chirembo 1993 pp 1 14 Douglas pp 52 3 Morris 2006 p 11 Chondoka and Bota 2015 McCracken 2012 pp 22 26 Morris 2006 p 11 Chirembo 1993 p 4 Chirembo 1993 pp 5 6 McCracken 2012 p 22 Morris 2006 p 12 Thompson 1981 pp 19 22 Vail 1972 pp 158 63 Chirembo 1993 pp 8 10 Chirembo 1993 pp 13 14 Chirembo 1993 p 15 Shadreck Billy Chirembo 1993 Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 1953 The Society of Malawi Journal 46 2 1 24 JSTOR 29778687 Shadreck Billy Chirembo 1993 Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 1953 The Society of Malawi Journal 46 2 1 24 JSTOR 29778687 Shadreck Billy Chirembo 1993 Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 1953 The Society of Malawi Journal 46 2 1 24 JSTOR 29778687 Shadreck Billy Chirembo 1993 Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 1953 The Society of Malawi Journal 46 2 1 24 JSTOR 29778687 Judith Moyo 13 April 2021 Court Removes Mtima Gondwe as Chikulamayembe Chief Nyasa Times Retrieved 13 May 2022 Owen Khamula 30 April 2022 Chakwera Installs New Chikulamayembe King of Nkhamanga Kingdom amid Chaotic Scenes Nyasa Times Retrieved 13 May 2022 Sources EditS B Chirembo 1993 Colonialism and the Remaking of the Chikulamayembe Dynasty 1904 1953 The Society of Malawi Journal Vol 46 pp 1 14 Y A Chondoka and F T Bota 2015 The History of the Tumbuka 1400 1900 Bloomington XLibris Corporation ISBN 978 1 4990 9627 9 self published source M Douglas 1950 Peoples of the Lake Nyasa Region East Central Africa Part 1 London International African Institute J McCracken 2012 A History of Malawi 1859 1966 Woodbridge James Currey ISBN 978 1 84701 050 6 B Morris 2006 The Ivory Trade and Chiefdoms in Pre Colonial Malawi the Society of Malawi Journal Vol 59 No 2 pp 6 23 T J Thompson 1981 The Origins Migration and Settlement of The Northern Ngoni The Society of Malawi Journal Vol 34 No 1 pp 6 35 H L Vail 1972 Suggestions Towards a Re Interpreted Tumbuka History In B Pachai ed The Early History of Malawi London Longman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chikulamayembe dynasty amp oldid 1134195499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
