Kingdom of Karagwe

Karagwe Kingdom is in north-western Tanzania between Rwanda and Lake Victoria. Karagwe Kingdom was influential kingdom in the history of East Africa led by a hereditary of Kings and chief said to have descended from the Bacwezi. It enjoyed prosperous trade with merchants from all corners of Africa including Arabs towards the end of the 20th century.

History

The Karagwe kingdom was part of the many Great Lakes Kingdoms in East Africa. The kingdom reached its apex during the 19th century. The growth occurred during the early part of the 1800s with King Ndagara who came to power around 1820 and ruled until 1853 at which time he was replaced by King Rumanika.^[1]

Economy

During the height of the Karagwe kingdom agriculture played an important role in local economics. Many Karagwe were cattle herders and so cows were a measure of wealth and power.

Iron production also played a key part in the economic balances within the kingdom. The location of Karagwe land in what is today north-western Tanzania allowed them to participate in regional trade routes that connected the Ugandan,and Rwandan states and merhants from the Eastern coast and the rest of eastern Africa.

Bahaya people

Haya or Bahaya are a Tanzanian branch of Banyankole-Banyoro-Batoro of Uganda. Part of a group of Banyambo who occupied the Kingdom of Karagwe in what is now districts of Bukoba and Mwanza in North West Tanzania around the south western shores of lake Victoria.

Art

The most famous works of art from the Karagwe kingdom are iron objects. Some are utilitarian, while others are thought to be symbolic cows and hammers which were used symbolically to link the king with iron production.

Royal House

Karagwe was ruled by a line of Kings said to have descended from the Bacwezi and Babiito clans. The kingdom is said to have been established by Ruhinda, a son of Njunaki, son of Igaba, grandson of Wamala.

References