Wanga

Traditional Luhya homestead at the Nabongo Cultural Centre and Shrine

The kingdom was founded in the 12th century by Nabongo Wanga, a descendant of the rulers of the Buganda Kingdom. The Nabongo Wanga initially settled in Nyanza Province before moving the capital to Mumias, Western Province.[3]

In recent times Mumias has been dominated by the sugar cane industry, with the Mumias Sugar Company Limited being the largest sugar manufacturer in Kenya,[4][5] producing around 42% Kenyas annual sugarcane output.[6]

In 2008 the Nabongo Cultural Centre and shrine was opened, preserving cultural traditions and artifacts. The grounds also house a mausoleum containing the graves of past Wanga kings. The opening was attended by Nabongo Peter Mumia II, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, and ministers James Orengo and Fred Gumo.

Nabongo Mumia Shiundu (born:1849 – died:1949) was a prince who became 17th King of the Wanga Kingdom, a pre-colonial kingdom in Kenya 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 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-ugenya.[2][7] This slave trade between the Arab and the Wanga led to capturing of non-Wanga tribes into slavery such as Luo-ugenya and Bukusu who were also enemies of the Wanga kingdom because of their repeated insurgents against the kingdom.[7] 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][8]

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][9] 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.[10]

• List of rulers of Wanga
• Luhya people
• Luhya languages
• Wanga Kingdom

• Official website
• Wanga tribe WordPress site
• Abeingo Community Network
• Buganda home page