Mbegha
Encyclopedia
Mbegha was the first "Lion King" (Shambala language: Simba Mwene) of the Shambaa people, modern-day Northeastern Tanzania
, who lived during the first half of the 18th century. While his existence is undisputed among historians, his biography is mainly based on oral traditions. Numerous legends have made him a mythic hero.
Mbegha was born to the Ngulu people from the hilly area of the Nguru Mountains
. Because of disputes with relatives and because considered supernaturally dangerous, he was condemned from his homeland. He fled to Kilindi
, where he became a hunter, hunting bush pigs with the local chief's son. While on a hunt, the chief's son was accidentally killed. In order to escape punishment from the chief, Mbegha had to flee again, this time further north into the Usambara Mountains
. He lived in the open near a place called Ziai, in caves and camps, hunting wild animals.
Upon learning that Mbegha was a skilled pig hunter, the locals asked him to rid their village of pigs, which kept on destroying their agricultural produce. He killed all pigs and was welcomed by the Shambaa. He was invited to live in Vuga, near modern-day Bumbuli, then chief town of the Shambaa people. Mbegha also helped the people of Vuga and all the other villages and was awarded with the kingship. He became known as a lion slayer after killing a lion on the way to their village. The grateful farmers gave him wives from each major clan and the respective firstborn sons were placed in charge of all clans, thereby also forging regional unity.
Mbegha's son Buge grew to become the chief of Vuga and when Mbegha died, Buge succeeded him as king.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, who lived during the first half of the 18th century. While his existence is undisputed among historians, his biography is mainly based on oral traditions. Numerous legends have made him a mythic hero.
Mbegha was born to the Ngulu people from the hilly area of the Nguru Mountains
Nguru Mountains
The Nguru Mountains are a mountain range in Morogoro District, Tanzania, Africa. The mountains are predominantly covered with rainforest, are abundant with 83 species of bird life , and are the home of African violets...
. Because of disputes with relatives and because considered supernaturally dangerous, he was condemned from his homeland. He fled to Kilindi
Kilindi
Kilindi is one of the eight districts of Tanga Region in Tanzania. It is bordered to the east by the Handeni District, to the north and west by the Kilimanjaro Region and to the south by the Morogoro Region...
, where he became a hunter, hunting bush pigs with the local chief's son. While on a hunt, the chief's son was accidentally killed. In order to escape punishment from the chief, Mbegha had to flee again, this time further north into the Usambara Mountains
Usambara Mountains
The Usambara Mountains are a mountain range in North-East Tanzania, approximately long and ranging from 20 to in width. Mountains in the range rise as high as 8,000 ft ....
. He lived in the open near a place called Ziai, in caves and camps, hunting wild animals.
Upon learning that Mbegha was a skilled pig hunter, the locals asked him to rid their village of pigs, which kept on destroying their agricultural produce. He killed all pigs and was welcomed by the Shambaa. He was invited to live in Vuga, near modern-day Bumbuli, then chief town of the Shambaa people. Mbegha also helped the people of Vuga and all the other villages and was awarded with the kingship. He became known as a lion slayer after killing a lion on the way to their village. The grateful farmers gave him wives from each major clan and the respective firstborn sons were placed in charge of all clans, thereby also forging regional unity.
Mbegha's son Buge grew to become the chief of Vuga and when Mbegha died, Buge succeeded him as king.