The Origins of the baNambya People of the Present Day Hwange Area

It is of paramount importance for a person to know where he or she come from, the past and that is the reason why I was forced into this kind of research, to enlighten my fellow colleagues about their ancestry origin. The oral history of the BaNambya people suggests that in the early 18th century Dende (one of the three sons of the Rozvi Changamire, i.e. King) broke away from his father to establish himself as an independent ruler in present day northwestern Zimbabwe. Dende's actions are said to have infuriated the Rozvi Changamire who gave orders that his son be captured and killed. Dende's actions in this period strongly suggest he felt in danger. He swiftly moved even farther away from his father, stopping briefly in several places and strengthening kingship ties through leaving behind sisters who married Tonga men. Three times he changed his name from Dende to Sawanga and finally Whange. Wange means to clear and make peace.

Dende and his followers, a patrilineal people of the soko-monkey totem who were later known as the Nambya, entered the Leya territory via Lowere Gwayi, settting in the Bhale area between the Gwayi, Nyatuwe and Lukosi rivers. Here they assimilated some of the Leya who had not resisted their incorporation into the Nambya State. On top of a strategic hill named Shangano deriving from the Nambya word, SHANGANO, meaning to meet they built a stone walled enclosure which became the first capital city of the baNambya people.
The baNambya people then moved from Shangano city to Bumbusi area in the upper Deka valley during the reign of the fifth Whange, Shana (1834 to 1860).
The walls of Shangano ruins are built of a vast quantity of small sandstone rocks laid on top of each other to a height of about four to five feet. Today most of the wall enclosure has mostly collapsed due to unprotecting from the weather and wild animals.
Shangano is a cornerstone of the valuable cultural heritage of the Hwange area.

There are three dominant ruins that characterise the heritage of the Nambya people of Hwange district in Zimbabwe: Matowa, Shangano, and Bumbusi' of which the last is the most famous.

The Bumbusi National Monument is a large site consisting of stone walls, boulders, platforms and the ruins of dwellings. Its main structures date from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Excavations in 2000 revealed the floors of eighteen original dwellings.  It is listed in the Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund because of the threats posed to the sandstone walls by wild animals from the surrounding nature reserve. It is also at risk from mining a few kilometres away. The site is located about 40 kms from Hwange.
The Shangano Ruins are located on top of a strategic hill. The walls of Shangano are built of a vast quantity of small sandstone rocks laid on top of each other to a height of about four to five feet. Today much of the wall enclosures have mostly collapsed due to lack of protection from the weather and wild animals.

The archaeological record suggests that Hwange (Hwange district) was established by Dendelende Swanga from the Nyai. He was the son of Mambo of the Rozvi Dynasty king. He is said to have fought and captured many tribes.

Below is the history of the Dendelende Sawanga kingship with approximate dates of ruling:

	Name of Nambya King	Period of Kingship	No of years in power
1	Dendelende Sawanga	1737 to 1780	43
2	Chilobamago	1780 to 1807	27
3	Shakwa Dembetembe	1807 to 1822	15
4	Nyanga Chazho	1822 to 1834	12
5	Shana Chazho	1834 to 1860	26
6	Lusumbami Debwelezilawa	1860 to 1868	8
7	Chilisa Mhuru	1868 to 1873	5
8	Chilota Chimukutu	1873 to 1895	22
9	Nchengwa Nengasha	1897 to  1903	6
10	Shambwa Nekatambe	1903 to 1955	52
11	Chimbipo Nemananga	1903 to 1948	45
12	Ndunduli Nedundwi	1950 to 1974	24

King Nchengwa Nengasha was the last King of the baNambya people in terms of authority before white settlers opened the Wankie colliery company. The rebellion from 1893 to 1896  brought down the Wange kingdom. After the death of Nengasha, instead of kingdoms, all leaders were appointed as chiefs of chiefdoms. Thus chief Nemananga and Chief Nekatambe ruled from 1903 to 1950.

Contact author: mawirak2007@yahoo.com