Hello folks 👋,
First of all, I am super psyched to let you that we have now surpassed the 100 subscribers mark. I want to thank all of you for making that possible. I look forward to hitting the next target. With your help off course 😉.
Any feedback or thoughts are highly welcomed.
The Kitara Kingdom - One of the oldest empires in Africa that still exists (940 AD to date)
Bunyore Kitara is a kingdom in western Uganda ruled by Omukama of Bunyoro, a remnant of one of the most powerful empires in central and eastern Africa from the 13th to 19th century, the Bunyoro Kitara empire. The current Omukama(king) is Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, who has been on the throne since 1994.
The people are known as Bunyoro or Nyoro, and they speak a language called Nyoro(Runyoro).
The Kingdom was founded around 940 AD after the disintegration of the Aksum empire into smaller empires. A kingdom split southwards to form the Kitara kingdom. According to oral literature, it was founded by the Batembuzi people.
The Batembuzi would rule over the empire until around the 1200s, when the Bachwezi, the Chwezi people, invaded and took over. The Bachwezi would rule the kingdom for another four centuries.
Little is known of what happened that forced the Bachwezi invaders to abandon the throne in the early 16th century. What is certain is that it was Babiito-Luo who assumed Kingship over the remnants of the Chwezi empire. Some sources claim that the Luo were invited by the Bachwezi to take over as rulers, while others claim the invasion of the Luo is what forced the Bachwezi to flee the empire.
The kingdom of Bunyoro was established in the 16th century by Rukidi-Mpuga of the Babiito Dynasty (who still rule to date), out of the northern portion of the Chwezi/Kitara empire.
At its height, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom expanded from Uganda, Eastern parts of DRC, and parts of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. However, due to internal rifles, the kingdom would later break off into present-day kingdoms and chiefdoms such as Ankole, Buganda, Toro, Busoga, Bagisu, Rwanda, Burundi, Bunyoro and Karagwe.
Malik Ambar: From slave to an African King in the heart of India
Malik Ambar was born in 1548 in central Ethiopia with the birthname of Chapu. He is thought to have been of Oromo heritage. However, some sources indicate that he was of Maya descent (an extinct ethnic group).
At the age of 12, Chapu was captured by the Arab traders and put on auction at a port on the coast of Yemen. He was then sold to a merchant Mir Qasim, who took him to the restored cultural centre of Baghdad. Qasim gave him an Arabic name, Ambar, and also taught him to read and write.
In 1571 after a decade in Baghdad, Qasim and Ambar would travel to Deccan on the west coast of India. The place where the young boy would later leave a mark.
Deccan was a land defined by political strifes, and coups were the norm. It was divided into five sultanates namely; Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Berar, Bidar and Bahrani, which were ruled by Muslim elites (Sultans).
Ambar was sold once more to Chengiz Khan, the chief minister to the Sultan of the Ahmednagar sultanate, who coincidentally was a Habshis just like Ambar.
NB: Africans were known as Habshis in India.
Meeting Khan motivated Ambar and made him realize that with hard work and passion, even an African slave could rise to the top of the Indian political system.
He quickly caught Khan's eye with his quick wit and impressive knowledge. Soon enough, Khan decided to make him his aide, grooming him for leadership.
Ambar's sense of security would be shattered three years later when Khan was executed by the Sultan. Members of the court who were jealous of Khan's power conspired and had him framed for working against Ahmednagar.
The death, however, came with some good news. Ambar was now a free man according to the law of the land, which stated that all slaves became free after the death of their masters.
He travelled south to the Sultanate of Bijapur and joined the local army. It was at this time that he met his wife Karima, a fellow Habshi, who he married and had four children. Ambar would rise through the ranks of the Bijapur army through sheer hard work, eventually being bestowed the symbol title Malik(an Arabic word for chieftain or king) by the Sultan of Bijapur.
Amber is fondly remembered for introducing a tactic called Bargi Giri. A guerilla warfare tactic involving striking the enemy when they least expected it and then retreating to wait for the next opportunity. This tactic would frustrate the enemies, more so the Mughals, to the extent that their soldiers would end up switching sides.
He is also known for founding the city of Khirki. His heir would later change the name to Faterpur after his death in 1626. The Mughal emperor invaded the city in 1653 and renamed it to the present name, Aurangabad.
It would be great to see a movie or television series made out of the amazing life of this Abyssinia king.
Special Mentions
West African Folk Tales by William H. Barker
Swala Nyeti: Layman and Lawyer Discuss Legal Questions
Do you have a story, podcast, documentary that we should feature? Let us know by replying to this email.
The Kamba People of Paraguay
The Kamba people in Paraguay form two groups: Kamba Cuá and Kamba Kokue. They arrived in Paraguay as members of a regiment of 250 spearmen ('lanceros de Artigas'), men and women, who accompanied General Jose Gervasio Artigas in his exile in Paraguay in 1820.
The Kamba Cuá are famous for their traditional African ballet, hailed as the "central cultural identity of the Afro-Paraguayan community".
PROVERB OF THE WEEK
Døø wøk adhienga teek. (Anyuak)
Translation: The beer is difficult to strain.
Meaning: The proverb emphasizes not getting involved in the affairs of others if not invited to do so.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Mutongoi (Kamba)
Meaning: A leader
Example: mutongoi ailite utongosya na mwelekeo museo ni kana kila mundu amuatiiye
Translation: A leader leads by an example
By: Nimo
Special thanks to Stephanie for editing this issue.
Have a great week. Until next time 💪. - Mike
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