Category: General
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Who were the Bacwezi ?
When the subject of Kitara history is adressed, a name always came back in the discussion : Cwezi. Oral accounts recall the Cwezi (or Abacwezi/Bacwezi) as the ruling dynasty of the Kitara empire during his most glorious period. However the traditions are scanty and unclear : who were the Bacwezi ? Gods, heroes,…
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The Kitara empire in external sources – The legend of Monemugi
When we study the history of East Africa, several legends and testimonies recall an important kingdom which has existed in the interior of the continent several centuries ago, and goes by the name « Monemugi » or « Kingdom of the Zanj ». Are these testimonies only myths or is there some historical reality…
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Umuganura, an African sacred festival
In East Africa, nowadays, religious communities celebrates differents religious days and feast : Christians celebrate Easter, Muslims celebrate the Ramadan, Jewish communities celebrates Pessah. But few generations ago, in the Great Lakes region, there was a major festival whose significance and importance were comparable to those celebrations : the Umuganura,…
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The Mwami, sacred king of Kitara
The Great Lakes region, by the end of the 19th century, comprised a large number of kingdoms headed by powerful kings. Generally bearing the titles Mwami, Mukama, Mugabe, or Kabaka, these men were not merely war chiefs or figures of authority, but sacred kings. Throughout the region, one finds the…
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The Ngoma, symbol of Kitara
When we study African societies, we found drums among many of them : Ceremonial drums, war drums, communication drums… In Kitara, the drum is more than a musical instrument, it’s a sacred symbol. For the peoples of the region, the Universe is a total, spiritual reality in which everything is…
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Muntu, the African Adam
According to Great Lakes region oral tradition, who were the first man and first woman ? Who were the first humans ? What are our origins and where do we come from ? We found different stories about the first man of the first couple in the region, each one specific to each…
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Bantu series 12 – Conclusion : a new proposal, the Nyika theory
Disclaimer : this article presents an explanatory study on African history, based on current state of the scientific knowledge. It should not be taken as an authorative and final work. The author is not an academic historian nor specialist but proposes this study as a passionate of history. Thank you.…
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Bantu series 11 – Who were the pre-bantu populations inhabiting the Bantu area and where are they now ?
The previous artices have demonstrated that the Bantu area was not empty before the supposed Bantu expansion and was inhabited since several millenias by a pre-bantu populations. But who are these pre-bantu people ? When studying the questions of the populations inhabiting the Bantu area prior to the supposed Bantu…
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Bantu series 10 – Who is responsible for the ancient prehistoric cultures in the Bantu area ?
In this article, we will consider the material elements related to Bantu populations to see if it matches the Bantu expansion model, and we will investigate to understand who are the responsibles for these ancient cultures. Sangoan industry : This is one of the first lithic industry of Subsaharan Africa,…
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Bantu series 9 – Why no clear genetic proof of the Bantu theory ?
In this article, we will analyze what genetic studies tell us regarding the Bantu populations and their history and if there are elements supporting a mass migration from Mount Cameroon. Genetic studies indicate : Genetics and Demographic History of the Bantu. Rocha, Fehn. 2016 This article discuss the genetic panorama…
Empire of Kitara 