Origin of Bantus, Who are Bantu-speakers? (State the meaning of the term Bantu)

THE PEOPLES OF KENYA UP TO THE 19TH CENTURY [BANTU SPEAKERS]

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• THE PEOPLES OF KENYA UPTO THE 19TH CENTURY [BANTU SPEAKERS]
  • Origin of Bantus, Who are Bantu-speakers? (State the meaning of the term Bantu)
    • Tracing the origin of the Bantu
  • Describe Bantu migration
    • Describe four major waves of Bantu migration into east Africa (In what four waves were the Bantu divided as they migrated  into east Africa?)
    • Identify the dispersal points through which the Bantu migrated from and settled in various areas
  • State the reasons for the migration and settlement of the Bantu into Kenya
  • Discuss Socio-political organization of the Kenya Bantu during the pre-colonial period
    • SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
    • POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
  • Explain the economic activities of the Kenya Bantu in the pre-colonial period

Origin of Bantus, Who are Bantu-speakers? (State the meaning of the term Bantu)

​The term Bantu refers to a group of people who speak related languages. They constitute the largest language group in Africa and occupy two thirds of the sub-Saharan region.

Tracing the origin of the Bantu

• The original homeland of the Bantu was between eastern Nigeria and the Cameroon highlands
• They moved from Cameroon through the Congo forest into the lake region of east Africa, Zambia and Shaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo
• They then spread into east, central and southern Africa
• Due to their size and strength, they managed to conquer and now occupy two thirds of sub-Saharan Africa
• They form the majority of Kenya‟s population

Describe Bantu migration

• Bantu migration was slow and gradual, involving small groups at a time.
• Around 500 BC, they were living in the Congo forest, which was a major dispersal point from where they began to migrate.
• Their movement  was in four major waves, two of which led to their settlement  in Kenya.

Describe four major waves of Bantu migration into east Africa (In what four waves were the Bantu divided as they migrated  into east Africa?)

• That which moved south-eastwards through the area west of lake Victoria, which became the second dispersal point and from where some groups, especially the Western Bantu, passed through present-day Uganda and eventually settled in Western Kenya from 1000AD as others, such as the Banyoro and Baganda, settled in Uganda.
• That which moved and entered east Africa at a point south of lake Victoria and proceeded eastwards across northern Tanzania up to the area between Taita hills and mount Kilimanjaro. At this point, some Bantu groups such as the Sukuma, Kuria, Nyamwezi and Haya were left in Tanzania.
• That which proceeded northwards from the area between Taita hills and mount Kilimanjaro up to Shungwaya.
• That which proceeded from Shungwaya up to the Kenyan coast. These became referred to as the Eastern Bantu.

Identify the dispersal points through which the Bantu migrated from and settled in various areas

The Bantu migrated from and settled into various places through four major dispersal points, namely:

• The Congo forest,
• The area west of Lake Victoria,
• The area between Taita hills  and mount Kilimanjaro,
• Shungwaya

State the reasons for the migration and settlement of the Bantu into Kenya

• Population pressure due to food production, enabled by their knowledge in ironworking, with which they made and used better farm implements.
• Their might and strength due to better weapons and farm tools, which enabled them to easily fight and defeat other people and to clear new lands for agriculture.
• Internal pressure (family or clan rivalry).
• Natural calamities such as famine, drought, etc.
• Search for new farmland.
• The spirit of adventure i.e. their desire to taste life in new lands.
• Invasions and frequent attacks by warring neighbours.
• Diseases and epidemics, which affected both people and livestock

Discuss Socio-political organization of the Kenya Bantu during the pre-colonial period

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SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

• They were divided into clans, with the clan as the basic unit in the community.
• They practiced circumcision.        
• They believed in the existence of a supernatural being: God.    
• Diviners  and medicine-people were highly valued. Some communities had seers.
• They had rituals  that marked different  stages of life, e.g. birth, naming, circumcision, marriage  and death.  They had a regimental (Age-Set) system. circumcision formed the basis for an age-set and age-grade system

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

• They were divided into clans, each with a clan head.
• They had councils  of elders, who settled disputes and presided over ceremonies.
• Some like the Wanga were centralized under monarchs. The Wanga were led by a King (Nabongo).
• Some, like the Mijikenda, lived in fortified  villages.
• They were organized into Age-sets and age-grades.
• They had warriors chosen from the Age-sets to defend the community or enrich it through cattle raids on their neighbours

Explain the economic activities of the Kenya Bantu in the pre-colonial period

• They participated in local, regional and international trade.
• They practised farming.
• They kept cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic animals.
• Some were hunter-gatherers.
• They practised crafts such as iron smelting, basketry and pottery
• Some communities such as the Mijikenda practised fishing

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