Empire of Kitara
The Empire of Kitara or Chwezi Empire (Empire of the Sun, Empire of the Moon, Empire of the Light), refers specifically to the Kingdom of the Bakitara, at the time of its greatest expansion, it had rulership that stretched throughout the Nile valley and beyond. When the Kingdom of Aksum disintegrated around 940 AD into kingdom of Makuria, the Zagwe kingdom, the Damot kingdom and the Shewa kingdom in Northeast of Africa, Another kingdom broke away in the south to form the Empire of Kitara.
Founding
According to historical records, The Empire was founded by a man called Kintu who is believed to have came from Abyssinian(current Ethiopia) after the disintegration of Aksum Kingdom around 940 AD. Kitara comes from two words. A Bantu prefix Ki, and the word Tar, Meteoric(old Egyptian Script) meaning King, hence Kingdom.
Kintu is believed to have come with a White Cow, In Bunyoro-Kitara, a White Cow is Called Kitara, and is a Symbol of Kingship.
Kintu and his wife kati had three sons but it was very confusing for them not to have names. They all shared the name "Kana" (meaning little child) Whenever the father called one, they could all come and whenever he gave one child a present, they all quarreled declaring it was intended for them, So, he asked Ruhanga if they could be given names. Ruhanga agreed but he proposed two tests to help him select the boys names.
In the first test, the boys had to select some items that were placed along a path.
In the second test, the boys had to keep bowls of milk on their lap during a night until morning.
For the first test, Potatoes, millet, leather thong/strap and a ox’s head were placed along the path, As the children walked, they found the things in the path, the eldest son picked up the potatoes and millet, the second pick up the leather thong and the youngest, picked the ox’s head.
For the second test, they sat down on the ground, with their legs stretched out, each holding on his lap a full wooden milk pot. At midnight, the youngest boy started to dose and spilled half of his milk: He greatly feared and turned to his brothers and begged them to fill up his milk pot, so the two brothers filled up their young brother milk pot. But at cock crow the eldest spilled all his milk, and when he asked his brothers to pour from their pots into his, they refused, saying that he would need so much to fill up the empty pot.
At dawn Ruhanga came and told each to uncover his milk pot. With the eldest, he found it empty; with the second, half full; while the youngest had his full.
So Ruhanga called Kintu that he had found the names for his three children.
The oldest son was named Kairu, which means “little peasant” for he had shown that he knew nothing about the value of cattle or milk. He had spilled all his milk, and he had chosen potatoes and millet from the items along the path. He and all his descendants forever would be farmers and servants.
The second he named Kahuma which means (little herdsman), This is because he had chosen the leather thong/stap, used for tying up cattle, and only half of his milk was missing
The youngest son had all his milk. And he had chosen the head of an ox in the first test. Ruhanga named him Kakama, which means “little mukama.” A mukama(Omukama) is a ruler. hence Kakama went on to become the second ruler of the Empire of Kitara
The Kitara Empire included what corresponds to modern Uganda, northern Tanzania, eastern Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.
According to oral tradition in the area of the Great Lakes of Africa (also known as Bachwezi, Bacwezi, or Chwezi empire, Empire of the moon) was ruled by a dynasty known as the Bachwezi (or Chwezi), successors of the Batembuzi Dynasty.[1]
Territory
Decline
The collapse of the Kitara empire came along a prophesy that said when the sacred cow (Bihogo) Died, it would mark the end of this empire. Many believed in this prophecy and so in the 1300 there was an invasion from the North and the descendants of those who ruled this empire moved south to the present Rwanda, Burundi, Ankole and Eastern Congo. Small chiefdoms arose from this in the region.
Abakama (Kings)
Dynasty | King/Omukama | Clan | Father | Mother | Mother's Clan | Reign | Burial Place | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Batembuzi (Reign of the gods) | Kintu | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | late 900 | Unknown |
2 | Kakama | Bagabu | Kintu | Kati | Unknown | early 1000 | Unknown | |
3 | Itwale | Bagabu | Kakama | Unknown | Unknown | early 1000 | Unknown | |
4 | Hangi | Bagabu | Itwale | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1000 | Unknown | |
5 | Ira lya Hangi | Bagabu | Hangi | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1000 | Unknown | |
6 | Kabengera Kazooba ka Hangi | Bagabu | Hangi | Unknown | Unknown | late 1000 | Unknown | |
7 | Nyamuhanga | Bagabu | Kazooba | Unknown | Unknown | early 1100 | Unknown | |
8 | Nkya I | Bagabu | Nyamuhanga | Nyabagabe | Unknown | early 1100 | Unknown | |
9 | Nkya II | Bagabu | Nyaka I | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1100 | Unknown | |
10 | Baba | Bagabu | Nyka II | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1100 | Unknown | |
11 | Kamuli | Bagabu | Baba | Unknown | Unknown | late 1100 | Unknown | |
12 | Nseka | Bagabu | Kamuli | Unknown | Unknown | late 1100 | Unknown | |
13 | Kudidi | Bagabu | Nseka | Unknown | Unknown | early 1200 | Unknown | |
14 | Ntozi | Bagabu | Kudidi | Unknown | Unknown | early 1200 | Unknown | |
15 | Nyakahongerwa | Bagabu | Ntozi | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1200 | Unknown | |
16 | Mukonko | Bagabu | Nyakahongerwa | Unknown | Unknown | mid 1200 | Unknown | |
17 | Ngozaki Rutahinduka | Bagabu | Mukonko | Unknown | Unknown | late 1200 | Unknown | |
18 | Isaza Waraga Rugambanabato | Bagabu | Ngozaki Rutahinduka | Unknown | Unknown | late 1200/early 1300 | Unknown | |
19 | Bukuku Omuranzi | Baranzi | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | early 1300 | Kisegwe kya Nyinamwiru, Birembo Sub County, Bugangaizi | |
20 | Bachwezi (Reign of the demi-gods) | Ndahura Kyarubumbi | Bachwezi | Isimbwa | Nyinamwiru | Unknown | 1320 - 1350 | Unknown |
21 | Mulindwa Nyabweliza Ngango | Bachwezi | Isimbwa | Nyakwahya | Basaigi | 1350 - 1360 | Unknown | |
22 | Wamara Bwigunda | Bachwezi | Ndahura | Nyante | Unknown | 1360 - 1400 | Unknown | |
23 | Babiito (Reign of the Kings) | Isingoma Rukidi I Mpuuga Kyeramaino | Babiito | Kyomya | Nywatoro | Bakwonga | early 1400 | Dyangi(Bukidi/gulu), garments (masaijagaka-Chope) |
24 | Ocaki I Rwangirra | Babiito | Rukidi I | Iremera | Balisa | early 1400, 9 years | Irangara, garments(Karara) Bugangaizi) | |
25 | Oyo I Nyimba Kabamba Iguru | Babiito | Rukidi I | Iremera | Balisa | mid 1400 | Kinogozi-Buruli, garments(Kigaju-Kuhukya) | |
26 | Winyi I Rubembeka Ntara | Babiito | Oyo I | Nyaraki | Bakwonga | late 1400 | Kiburara, Isingo/Rugonjo/Ssingo | |
27 | Olimi I Rwitamahanga | Babiito | Winyi I | Nyagiro | Banywagi | early 1500 | Kalimbi-Mutuba II, Isingo/Rugonjo/Ssingo | |
28 | Nyabongo I chwa Relemu | Babiito | Olimi I | Unknown | Muchwa | mid 1500 | Muyenje, garments(Busesa in Buyaga) | |
29 | Winyi II Rubagiramasega | Babiito | Nyabongo I | Unknown | Balisa | mid 1500 | Lapenje, Isingo/Rugonjo/Ssingo | |
30 | Olimi II Ruhundwangeye | Babiito | Winyi II | Unknown | Bakwonga | late 1500 | Burongo, Isingo/Rugonjo/Ssingo | |
31 | Nyarwa I Omuzarra Kyaro | Babiito | Olimi II | Runengo | Bagweri | late 1500/early 1600 | Kyaka - Toro | |
32 | Chwa I Ente Nkole Rumoma Mahanga | Babiito | Nyarwa I | Runengo | Bagweri | early 1600 | Rwanda | |
33 | Omujwera(Princess) Masamba Ga Winyi | Babiito | Winyi II | Unknown | Bakwonga | early 1600, 5 years | Rwembuba, Bugangaizi | |
34 | Kyebambe I Omuziikya | Babiito | Chwa I | Ihembe | Babiito | early 1600 | Kijaguzo, Nyakabimba-Toro | |
35 | Winyi III Ruguruka Macolya | Babiito | Kyembabe I | Gawa | Bakwonga | mid 1600 | Miduma, Buruli- Masindi | |
36 | Nyaika I Omuragwa Macolya | Babiito | Winyi III | Unknown | Unknown | late 1600 | Kihwera, Bujenje | |
37 | Kyebambe II Bikaju | Babiito | Winyi III | Kacubya | Unknown | late 1600/early 1700 | Nyamiryango, kihukya Saza | |
38 | Olimi III Isansa | Babiito | Kyembabe II | Mpanga Omwangamwoyo | Babiito | 1710-1731, 21 years | Kiguhyo-Buyaga, garments in Buhonda Bugangaizi | |
39 | Duhaga I Mujwiga | Babiito | Olimi III | Kindiki | Basaigi | 1731-1782, 51 years | Irangarra Muytba III, Bugangaizi | |
40 | Olimi IV Kasoma | Babiito | Duhaga I | Unknown | Muchwa | 1782-1786, 4 years | Ruhunga - Mumyoka, Buhaguzi | |
41 | Kyebambe III Nyamutukura | Babiito | Olimi IV | Kafunda | Bachwa | 1786 - 1835, 49 years | Kibedi-Nyamanunda, Buyaga | |
42 | Nyabongo II Mugenyi Biranga | Babiito | Kyebamabe III | Kajaja | Bafunjo | 1835 - 1848, 13 years | Bukonda Sabagabo - Buyaga, garments in Kitonzei, Mutuba I | |
43 | Olimi IV Rwakabale | Babiito | Nyabongo II | Unknown | Bazira | 1848 - 1852, 4 years | Kitonya, Mutuba III, Buyaga | |
44 | Kyabambe IV Kamurasi | Babiito | Nyabongo II | Unknown | Unknown | 1852 - 1869, 17 years | Busibika Ngangi, Buyanja | |
45 | Chwa II Kabaleega Yokana | Babiito | Kamurasi | Kenyange Nyamutahingurwa | Abayonza | 1870 - 1899, 29 years | Mparo, Hoima | |
46 | Kitahimbwa I Karukara Yosia | Babiito | Chwa II Kabaleega | Maliza Mukakyabara Bagaaya Akiiki | Babiito | 1898-1902, 4 years | Nyareweyo, Bugagaizi | |
47 | Duhaga II Bisereko Andereya | Babiito | Chwa II Kabaleega | Maliza Mukakyabara Bagaaya Akiiki | Babiito | 1902-1924, 22 years | Kinogozi, Buhimba-Hoima | |
48 | Winyi IV, Tito Gafabusa | Babiito | Chwa II Kabaleega | Maliza Mukakyabara Bagaaya Akiiki | Babiito | 1925-1967, 42 years | Mparo, Hoima | |
49 | Iguru I, Solomon Gafabusa | Babiito | Winyi IV | Getrude Gafabusa Komweru Ateenyi | Babiito | 1994 - Present | N/A | |
50 | Chwezi Empire | Khalai | Bachwezi | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Present | Unknown |
- The earlier dates as estimated using
Batembuzi. the disintegration of Aksum Kingdom in 940 AD Bachwezi. Historical accounts Babiito. Biharwe full moon eclipse that happened in 1520 AD when Omukama Olimi I Rwitamahanga was on expedition from Rwanda and Ankole
References
- Doyle, Shane (2006). Crisis & Decline in Bunyoro: Population & Environment in Western Uganda 1860-1955. James Currey Publishers. pp. 11–13. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
External links
- Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom ""
- Mwambusya Ndebesa, "Impure Royals? All Baganda Have Some Foreign Blood", The East African, February 3, 1999
- The Batembuzi Dynasty (at Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom website)