Nyamwezi: Encyclopedia II - Nyamwezi - History

Nyamwezi - History

According to oral tradition, the Nyamwezi are thought to have settled in west central Tanzania (their present location) some time in the 1600s. The earliest evidence comes from the Galahansa, and confirms their presence there in the late 1600s. They were once fisherman and nomadic farmers due to the poor soil quality of the area. Their travels made them professional traders, and by 1800 they were taking caravans to the coast to trade in Katangan copper, wax, salt, ivory, and slaves. Arab and Indian slave and ivory traders reached the Nyamwezi by 1825. They also started to acquire guns, and establish regular armies, with some intra tribal wars and some conflicts with Arabs on the coast throughout the 1800s.

From 1860-1884, the Nyamwezi were ruled by a military leader and Mtemi (king) named Mirambo. He blocked the Arab trade routes for a time, but his empire broke up soon after his death in 1884.

German colonists controlled Tanzania from the late 1800s, calling it German East Africa. Britain took control after World War One, and conducted a campaign of forced relocation of Africans to make way for white farmers.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki