One of the many difficult problems in the earlier history of Africa is that of the origin and spread of the peoples who speak Bantu languages. It is complicated by the fact that Bantu speakers who cover nearly three quarters of the continent south of the Sahara, do not constitute genetically an ethnic group, for there is no homogeneity of physical type among them and they range from the Baganda, Kikuyu, Zulu, Banyole, Bagisu Ngoni, Hehe among others. We therefore study them broadly as a linguistic group and must note first that the Bantu languages are united by two outstanding features not found in any other African languages. The first is the grouping of words typical to all Bantu languages. These are UMUntu (a person) or ABAntu (people) (from which doctor Bleek coined the term Bantu 100 years ago).

Bantu” is a linguistic term describing a group of people having basic similar and interrelated languages characterised by the common root word “Ntu”. They are said to have been as a result intermarriages between Hamites and Negroes.  They were therefore a mixed race.  

It’s not certain about their origin but it is agreed that they originated from the Niger – Congo basin areas of settlement especially south-Eastern Congo river basin. Others believe their original home was North West of the Equatorial forest within the Cameroon. While some historians maintain the Bantu came from the Congo basin. The scientific evidence of their origin is that the Bantu languages have their nearest affinities with the semi- Bantu languages of the Benue – lower Niger and Cameroon areas.

What is certain is that the Bantu mainly found south of the Sahara originated from any of the above places and spread to settle in various areas of East, and Southern Africa.

They were basically agriculturists mainly crop cultivators and kept cattle as well. They also practised iron smelting and believed in ancestral worship.

They are ancestors of present East African people such as the Baganda, Bakiga, Basoga, Kikuyu, and Akamba among others.

Reasons for their migration

The reasons for the Bantu migration are not very clear but historians assume that because of their ways of life, culture, activities, they could have moved looking for some cultivation.

Land shortage led to demand for more land for grazing, settlement and farming.  The region had become too small to support sufficiently, the ever-increasing population.

Over population: This was due to the abundant food supply and high fertility rates hence causing a population pressure.

Hostile neighbours: This might have forced the Bantu tribes to migrate southwards and south eastwards in search for peaceful areas of settlement.

Internal pressure: perhaps land conflicts and succession disputes prompted migration.

Out break of diseases: Occurrence of epidemics such as rinder pest , small pox and sleeping sickness could have prompted migration

Overstocking: increase in their heads of cattle may have forced them to migrate in order to avoid overstocking and its bad effects such as soil erosion.

Iron works: Probably they moved to export their iron smelting skills and iron implements.

The Mfecane: The Bantu from Southern Africa especially the Ngoni moved into East Africa due to the Mfecane.  Mfecane was a period of wars started by Shaka.

Political advancement: They could have moved from their original homelands to East Africa to create new kingdoms in order to exert political pressure.

Natural calamities: This could have befallen the Bantu tribes in their cradle land.  This was manifested in form of volcanic eruptions, floods and also long periods of drought.

Adventure: The natural spirit of adventure might have also motivated especially the youth to explore the geography beyond their original homeland.

Finally discontented tribes might have broken away to establish settlement and empires of their own hence migrated.

New skills: The discovery of new techniques and skills of iron working and agriculture led to the need for more land for cultivation hence they had to move in search for this.

Drought: Emergence of long droughts which forced the cattle herders to look for areas with cattle pastures.

Famine: As a result of drought there was an out break of famine that made the people to leave their homeland in search of areas with food and that is the Bantu ended up in East Africa. However, it still remains a myth as to when that famine occurred.

Their Migration and Settlement in East Africa

The Bantu migrated and entered East Africa in three migration waves.  Their movement started even before AD. 1000.

The Bantu settled in many places at times temporarily and permanently. The Bantu migrated and settled in East Africa and divided into four main sections namely: The coastal Bantu, Eastern Bantu, Western Bantu and finally the southern Bantu.

The interlacustrine (western) Bantu: The western wave of the Bantu comprises of Bantu tribes that might have directly migrated from Niger Congo basin and entered East Africa between Lake Albert and Lake George.  They settled in interlacutrine region.

The western Bantu consist of tribes like the Nyamwezi and Bahaya in western Tanzania. The Baluya and Babukusu in western Kenya. The Bagisu, Banyole, Basoga and the Samia in Eastern Uganda.

The Baganda remained in the central, occupying the Northern shores of Lake Victoria. The Batoro, Banyoro, Banyankole, Bakiga and Bafumbira occupy Western Uganda. Some of these tribes might have migrated from Songea while others could have entered East Africa directly from Niger Congo area.

The Eastern Bantu/ Highland and the Coastal Bantu:

The eastern wave is believed to have entered East Africa between Lake Tanganyika and Lake George. They moved from South Congo forest, crossed the Tanganyika plateau between AD 100 – 1300 AD settled around Taita hills in present day Kenya. They are also referred to as the highland and the coastal Bantu. This seems to have been the largest group that entered East Africa. 

The Eastern and coastal Bantu moved directly to the coast and made temporally settlement at Shungwaya by AD 1000, they further dispersed. It comprised mainly of the coastal and eastern Bantu who now occupy the region East of the rift valley in Kenya and the North east of Tanzania.

The eastern Bantu consisted of tribes such as Kikuyu, Kamba, Mijikendas, Tavetas, Shamba, Pare and Chagga, Duduma, Taita, and Ngweno. Some of these groups are believed to have migrated from Songea before making up their final settlement in eastern Kenya and North-eastern Tanzania. It’s believed that they were driven by hostile Galla tribes.

Due to problems Taita became a dispersal point.  Some stayed around Taita and Kilimanjaro areas. Others moved up to Shungwaya.  This also became a dispersal point. One group moved along the coastal areas establishing settlement for instance the Nyika, Giryama and Pokomo. Others from Shungwaya settled around Mt. Kenya areas that is the Meru, Kikuyu, Embu and Kamba

The coastal Bantu consisted mainly on Pokomo and Segeju.  These are believed to have first settled at Songea before further dispersion.  Some of them fled to Lamu Island, and other group fled to Mwangea hills near Malindi while the last group settled in former Tana river valley.

The Kikuyu, Meru, Gusii, Embu, Akamba, Luyha (or alternate spelling of Luyia), Swahili and Mijikenka (which in fact is a group of different ethnic groups) constitute the majority of the Bantu speaking peoples of Kenya. In general, the Bantu have been farmers.

The Kikuyu (or Gikuyu) homeland is around Mount Kenya and it is believed they migrated into the area from East and North East Africa around the 16th century. They were neighbors of the Masai and although there were raids for cattle between them, there was also a lot of trade and intermarriage. The Kikuyu god, Ngai, resides on Mt. Kenya which they call Kirinyaga. As with other ethnic groups, the traditional healer was held in high esteem. For the Kikuyu, land ownership is the most important social, political, religious, and economic factor. They have a complex system of land ownership that revolves around close kin, The importance of land brought them into conflict with the colonial government when white settlers and farmers occupied their traditional lands. Today, Kikuyu farmers produce most of the fresh produce that is consumed in Nairobi as well as coffee and tea for export. Many Kikuyu have also been successful in economic and commercial endeavors. Traditionally, the Kikuyu were governed by a council of elders based on clans.

The Akamba (or Ukambani) migrated into their present homeland, which is east of Nairobi towards Tsavo national park, about 200 years ago. They were exceptional traders participating in commerce from the coast to Lake Victoria all the way up to Lake Turkana. Their main trade items were ivory, beer, honey, iron weapons, ornaments, and beads. Because they settled on arid land, they also traded for food with their neighbors the Masai and the Kikuyu. During colonialism, the British respected them for their intelligence and fighting skill. Many were drafted into the Army and fought in World War One. However, the British did not respect their land or right to own cattle. The British tried to restrict the number of cattle the Akamba could own and confiscated cattle above the set amount. In response, the Akamba created the Ukamba Members Association that led a peaceful march and protest to Nairobi. Like many other ethnic groups, the Akamba have a series of age sets and the men are initiated into adulthood at around age 12. Elders were responsible for administrative and judicial functions as well as overseeing religious rituals and observances.

The Luyha's traditional homeland is around Kakamega in western Kenya. They are Kenya's third largest ethnic group after the Kikuyu and the Luo. The Luyha suffer from high population density which effects their farming economy as cultivation occurs on plots that get smaller with each generation. They are important producers of sugar-cane.

The Meru are actually eight different groups of people. They migrated to the North East side of Mount Kenya around the 14th century from the coast, probably displaced by Somalis. Until 1974, the Meru were governed by a chief called the mogwe. But in 1974, the chief converted to Christianity and the practice was abandoned. Also farmers, the Meru produce tea, coffee, pyrethrum, maize, potatoes and miraa, a stimulant popular with Muslims.

The Embu are well known for their honey and also for dancing on stilts which is performed by men wearing long black coats and white masks.

The Swahili are not really one ethnic group. The term Swahili refers to different peoples who share a common link, the Swahili language, although it is spoken with different variations and dialects up and down the coast. Sub-groups of the Swahili include Bajun, Siyu, Vumba, Pate, Mvita, Shela, Fundi, Ozi, and Amu who live in Lamu. They have a long-standing trading civilization. They traded with people as far away as the Chinese for porcelain. They possess excellent ship building skills (their dhows trade up and down the east African coast), as well as renown wood carving skills. Around the 7th century, Islam became the predominant religion.

Interaction between the Bantu and the Cushites

Cushitic speaking people comprise a small minority of Kenya's population. They include the following ethnic groups: Somali, El Molo, Boran, Burji Dassenich, Gabbra, Orma, Sakuye, Boni, Wata, Yaaka, Daholo, Rendille, and Galla. The Somali tend large herds of cattle, goats, sheep, and camels in the dry, arid lands of Northern Kenya. They are politically well organized and are united by both family allegiances and political treaties. The Somali also produce exquisitely carved headrests and woven artifacts.

The following were the effects with the Cushites: Firstly, through the influence, the Cushite people became cultivators. Secondly, there was a culture of cattle bleeding to get blood as food. Thirdly, Cushites who were nomads adopted settled life. Fourth, The Galla and their movement were checked and changed by the Bantu at Shungwaya. Cushites languages were adopted by the Bantu people like the Kamba and Chagga. There was adoption of age set system from the Cushites for example riika among the Masai. There was copying of weapons, ornaments, hairstyles from Cushites. Finally, many Cushites were absorbed into Bantu communities. There was  development of Galla political union due Galla pressure.

The Southern Tanzania Bantu

The Southern Tanzanian Bantu includes: Makonde, Mwera, Yao, Nyakyusu, Sangu, Fipa  Ruguru and Zaramo. Probably came from the Southern west and settled around the coastal and southern plateau region. They were loosely organised societies living by agriculture. Between AD 1000 – 1300 the Bena, Nyindo, Pogoro and Hehe moved into the area from the west. The last Bantu movement into Southern Tanzania were the Ngoni invaders from the South around 1840. They settled at Ufipa, Songea and other areas disrupting the people of Southern Tanzania.

The last wave of the Bantu to enter East Africa came from S. Africa.  It consisted mainly of the Ngoni.  They entered East Africa in two main groups.

The first and largest group was led by Zwagendaba.  His group settled at Ufipa and later split up into five small groups.  Some members moved North East wards into Holoholo but were later driven south eastwards to Nyamwezi land.

The second group called Maseko Ngoni was led by Maputo and settled at Songea, later it was defeated by Gwangwara group and forced back into central Africa while others moved Northwards into Morogoro for final settlement.

Describe the migration and settlement of Bantu in East Africa before 1800.

From the Congo basin one group moved into the interlacustrine region between  1000 – 1300 AD. They entered between lakes Albert and Edward.

Those who settled to the central were the Baganda, Basoga, Banyoro and Batoro settled in the interior West of Lake Victoria. Far East settled the Bagisu, Basamia, and Banyankole.

Some moved eastwards along the Northern shores of Lake Victoria into western Kenya.  These include the Baluya and Gusi around Mumias area.

Some Bantu from Uganda moved to the North western Tanzania and settled at Bukoba and Karagwe.

Some Bantu entered Tanzania between Lake Victoria and North of Lake. Tanganyika between 1000 – 1500 AD. And settled in central Tanzania plateau. Some crossed the Tanzania plateau and reached the Taita Hills about 1300 AD. There was a slow dispersal in the Taita hills between 1300-1500.  The Chagga, Taita and Pare remained in the Taita region (Tanzania.)

The Pokomo, Giriama, Nyika Segeju moved Northwards along the coast to Shungwaya. There was a dispersal in East Africa dispersal from Shungwaya area due to Galla pressure.

The Nyika groups moved southwards along the coast while the Chuka, Kikuyu, Kamba, Embu moved to the Kenya highlands and were restricted to the forest by the Masai people who attacked them.

Some groups remained close to the coast and by about 1800 the Kikuyu had expanded into the Kiambu area in central Kenya. Another major movement between lakes, Tanganyika and Nyasa (Malawi) by the Hehe, Ngindo, Benu, Sangu, finally the Yao arrived from the south

 

Effects of the Bantu migration

There was population increase in East Africa: The Bantu came in large numbers which up to date make up the largest percentage of the population of East Africa

New language and culture developed in East Africa: The Bantu migration led to the introduction of new languages and culture as each tribe had its own language and culture. New cultures evolved and easily disseminated like burial of the dead, inheritance, construction of houses and cultivation of crops.

Intermarriage: The coastal Bantu who intermarried with the Arabs gave birth to a new race of people called the Swahili.  They use Swahili as their main language and have their own Swahili cultures.

Displacement: The Bantu settlers displaced some people from their original areas of settlement.  In most cases, they settled in areas with fertile soils and reliable rainfall for instance the Ngoni group displaced the Yao and the people of Ufipa.

Destruction: The Bantu migration led to the destruction of villages and people’s property and lives especially the small tribes; they came across had their villages set on fire in case of resistance e.g. Ngoni.

The Bantu introduced extensive crop cultivation in many parts of East Africa.  They were both farmers and cattle keepers.  They even introduced some new crops such as beans, yams and bananas.

In some cases the Bantu copied cultures of the tribes they came across that is practices like hairstyles, pastoralism and initiation ceremonies.

The Bantu are believed to have introduced iron working and use of tools in some places of the interior of East Africa where they found their original people using stone tools.

The Bantu introduced centralised kingdoms especially in the interlacustrine region for example Buganda, Bunyoro, Busoga, Ankole among others

Military weapons: The invasion of the Ngoni into East Africa led to the introduction of new military tactics and weapons which strengthened most of the empires up to the time of colonisation and they showed up tough resistance.

The Bantu assimilated most of the non-Bantu people in whose areas they passed.