King without powers out to reclaim kingdom

By Allan Kisia

The Wanga Kingdom remains the most powerful centralised monarchy in Kenya’s history.

Today, the Wanga community has a population of 700, 000 and they still retain the Nabongo (the King) as their cultural monarch.

Nearly as old as the Roman Empire, the kingdom’s current king is Nabongo Peter Mumia.

However, its authority and recognition has been on the decline in recent decades.

Consequently, King Peter Mumia has embarked on a programme to rejuvenate the kingdom and restore its glory.

Ironically, King Mumia is the first monarch to seek employment to support his family. The council of elders earlier opposed the decision, but he remained adamant and had his way.

He retired in 2005 from Toyota Kenya where he had worked as a workshop manager.

Unlike his predecessors, King Mumia, 56, cannot impose taxes in form of food or cattle on his subjects.

Cultural centre

Mr Peter Mumia is the current Nabongo (King) of the Wanga kingdom. He is building a cultural centre in Matungu.

The Nabongo Cultural Centre, he says, will charge visitors an entry fee, which will be used to pay staff and cater for electricity and other bills.

"If we have excesses, the funds will be used to support orphans and pay school fees for children," he says.

King Mumia says they could not wait for the Government to help them showcase their culture.

Promote unity

The centre will be used to promote national cohesion by inviting students from other areas to get first hand experience of the Wanga Kingdom.

"We hope to have an exchange programme, which will enable students from other parts of the country to come and learn," he says.

King Mumia is, however, yet to receive the badge of office and two rings, believed to have powers to guide and protect the ruler. He says the coronation ceremony will be held once the centre is opened.

The ceremony involves reburying the remains of his father at a special cemetery at the centre.

According to traditions, the body of Nabongo Shitawa was wrapped in the skin of a bull speared by King Mumia and buried in his homestead in an unmarked grave.

After some time, the remains are exhumed, placed in a coffin and taken to the cemetery in Matungu, about six kilometres from Mumias town.

Bull skin

The bones are removed from the coffin and put into a bull skin and reburied.

When chief Mumia died in 1949, he was reburied in 1971, and guests travelled in a convoy of cars, stretching from Mumias to the site in Matungu.

The mausoleum housing graves of former Wanga kings: Nabongo Wamukoya, Nabongo Shiundu and Nabongo Shitawa in Matungu, Mumias District.

There is no time limit and that is why King Mumia has not reburied his father yet.

In the past, the kingdom provided food to the poor, new mothers and families mourning the death of their relatives.

The king also presided over the supreme court, which resolved disputes among villagers.

Recognition

King Mumia regrets that subsequent governments have not recognised the kingdom since independence.

"Our roles have been rendered totally cultural although I preside over traditional functions," he says.

He adds: "We feel it is our responsibility and that of Government to protect our heritage. We want to protect Wanga artefacts and educate the youth on the traditions."

He says their role must be recognised, especially in the new constitution the Government has pledged to Kenyans.

"A traditional leader should be considered an important arm of the Government," he says.

The king is often consulted when disputes arise, especially during funerals and marriages between his people and other communities.

After the coronation ceremony, King Mumia will inherit stools and spears, among other artefacts, used by his predecessors.

Uncles’ death

Usually, the ceremony is delayed until all his uncles are dead, but King Mumia says the elders have agreed to perform a special ritual even though the uncles are still alive.

The elders constitutes four groups: Advisory, historical, cultural and publicity committees.

During its heyday, the kingdom ran from Jinja in Uganda to Naivasha.

The British colonialists recognised the empire and in 1909 made Nabongo Mumia, a paramount chief of then North Kavirondo District in Nyanza Province

He exercised authority through chiefs in Kabras, Busia, Marachi, Bukusu, Kisa, Butsotso, Ugenya and Alego, among other areas.

Forced to retire

In 1926, he was forced to retire because of his advanced age and ill-health, despite insisting kings do not retire.

Islam in Mumias town owes a lot to Nabongo Mumia. Although Christianity is the dominant religion, Islam has many followers.

Nabongo Mumia converted to Islam and died a Muslim.