Nabongo Mumia Shiundu | |
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King of Wanga Kingdom | |
In office 01 May 1882 – 24 April 1949 | |
Preceded by | Nabongo Shiundu |
Succeeded by | Nabongo Shitawa |
Paramount Chief of Sub-district No.1 of East Africa Protectorate | |
In office 05 June 1913 – 19 October 1926 | |
Monarch | Edward VII |
Preceded by | (position created by gazettement of East Africa Protectorate) |
Succeeded by | (position regazatted by Kenya Colony) |
Paramount Chief of North Kavirondo district of Kenya Colony | |
In office 19 October 1926 – 24 April 1949 | |
Monarch | George V |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1849 in what is today Kenya |
Died | April 24, 1949 | (aged 99)
Occupation | king of Wanga Kingdom |
Known for | leading the Wanga Kingdom at a time of its peak influence in pre-colonial Kenya |
Nabongo Mumia Shiundu (c. 1849 – 1949) was a prince who became 17th King of the Wanga Kingdom, a pre-colonial kingdom in Kenya and Uganda prominent for being a centralised, highly organised kingdom and the most advanced form of government in terms of politics, economy and military in pre-colonial Kenya. He later became paramount chief of an expansive region of Kenya and Uganda at the beginning of British imposition of colonial rule in East Africa.[1][2]
He is regarded as the greatest ruler of the Wanga Kingdom for his management of the British colonial transition leading to British occupation in Kenya in the 20th century. He led a kingdom that was famous for trade with Arabs in slaves at a time when the Wanga Kingdom was under extreme military pressure from the Luo-Nyanza.[2][3] This slave trade between the Arab and the Wanga led to capturing of non-Wanga tribes into slavery such as Luo-Nyanza and Bukusu who were also enemies of the Wanga kingdom because of their repeated insurgents against the kingdom.[3] This constant insurgents and military attacks led Nabongo Mumia to collaborate with the British who made him a paramount chief of an expansive region of East Africa with various chiefs reporting to him such as Chief Chabasinga who managed Jinja Busonga, Lenan Tenai who managed the Maasai and chief Odera Akang'o who managed Luo Nyanza.[2][4]
At the time the Wanga Kingdom extended from present day Jinja, Uganda to present day Naivasha, Kenya with the main ruling town present day Mumias. Nabongo Mumia's gazetement as a paramount chief in 1913 legitimized his rule as a king of the Wanga and paramount chief.[2][5] In 1926, the British colonial government regazetted his region of management to North kavirondo equivalent to western region of Kenya today. This regazetement led to the eventual loss of political relevance of the Wanga Kingdom, although Nabongo Mumia remained a powerful and influential figure until his death in 1949. His prominence, power and influence was evident in during his burial in 1949 when high-ranking members of the colonial government were in attendance.[6]
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