Ankole


Ankole was a traditional Bantu kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in south-western Uganda, east of Lake Edward.

Geography

The kingdom of Ankole is located in the South-Western region of Uganda bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ankole is home to some of the most favorable grazing lands in Africa:

History

Under the Empire of Kitara

Before the collapse of the Empire of Kitara, Nkore was a small and remote area on the edges of the empire.

Founding

According to legend, the first king of Nkore, Ruhinda Rwa Njunaki, was born as the illegitimate son of Wamara, the last emperor of the Empire of Kitara. His mother was known as Njunaki and was a servant in the king's palace. The Hinda clan later took adopted Hima identity for itself in order to gain more support from the Hima pastoralists. Shrines to Wamara and Ruhinda were associated with fertility. The initial core of the kingdom was in Isingiro, 20 km south of Mbarara.

Colonial and post-colonial periods

On 25 October 1901, the Kingdom of Nkore was incorporated into the British Protectorate of Uganda by the signing of the Ankole agreement.
The kingdom was formally abolished in 1967 by the government of President Milton Obote, and since then, the kingdom has not been restored officially.
Because of the reorganisation of the country by Idi Amin, Ankole no longer exists as an administrative unit. It is divided into ten districts, namely: Bushenyi District, Buhweju District, Mitooma District, Rubirizi District, Sheema District, Ntungamo District, Mbarara District, Kiruhura District, Ibanda District, and Isingiro District.

Culture and society

Organization

Nkore society evolved into a system of ranked statuses, where even among the cattle-owning elite, patron-client ties were important in maintaining social order. Men gave cattle to the king to demonstrate their loyalty and to mark life-cycle changes or victories in cattle raiding. This loyalty was often tested by the king's demands for cattle or for military service. In return for homage and military service, a man received protection from the king, both from external enemies and from factional disputes with other cattle owners.
The Emitwe leaders were the second most powerful group after the Mugabe in Ankole. They spent most of their time in court when not fighting. They had their encampments near the palace but not in it. The Emitwe leaders were also the top regional administrators. Their chief duties were to mobilize their warriors in times of war and to lead them in the actual fighting and also to carry out the duties of civil administration during times of peace. Their official positions and personal standing made them the most influential single group in court since their advice was sought on most matters of public policy. The leaders of the emitwe could be either Iru or Hima.
The reign of Ntare V is full of examples of famous Bairu emitwe leaders, such as Ruhara, who was also a regional chief. Ruharu was a close friend of King Ntare V. He gained great fame and renown because of the leading part he played in conquering large parts of Rwampara County, which was previously part of the Mpororo kingdom. Ruhara, together with other Iru such as Koyokoma and Rwankwiiziire, played the leading role in traveling across Nkore to stop the flow of people fleeing Nkore after the death of Ntare V, showing their great influence and personal standing in the society.

Iru and Hima relations

Nkore society was composed of the Iru and Hima. The Iru were cultivators who had some cattle while the Hima were those engaged almost exclusively in pastoralism. The Bairu and Bahima did not have many opportunities to mix much due to the simple fact that they had different lifestyles which did not give them much time left for communal leisure gatherings. The Bairu engaged in the cultivation of finger millet like, the building of homesteads, brewing beer, and the hunting of wild game for meat, which the Bahima often demanded their rights as cattle owners, leading to feuding and cattle-raiding. From what is present-day Rwanda groups launched repeated attacks against the Hima during the nineteenth century. To counteract these pressures, several Hima warlords recruited Bantu men into their armies to protect the southern borders of Nkore.
Aili M. Tripp describes the role of women in the kingdom of Nkore:

Military

The Iru were able to join the army and even lead army units. Bairu warriors were considered far superior to the ordinary Iru farmers and also to the ordinary Hima. Bairu leaders of the emitwe were as equal as the Bahima who held the same office and were of greater standing than those Bairu or Bahima who did not. Poems and songs of praise were sung about the exploits of Iru warriors against the rival Kingdom of Rwanda.
Kananura, a member of the Hororo people, speaks of the military organization of Nkore: "A war expedition without the Bairu could not be contemplated or be successful. The Omukama used to call out all his male subjects to fight if there was a war to be fought."
An Iru named Katare was one of the most famous warriors during the reign of Ntare IV, and his praises are still sung in Ankole today;

List of Abagabe of Ankole

Names and dates up to 1967 taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers.
NameReign datesNotes
Ruhindac. 1430–1446
Nkubac. 1446–1475
Nyaikac. 1475–1503
Nyabugaro Ntare Ic. 1503–1531
Rushangoc. 1531–1559
Ntare II Kagwejegyererac. 1559–1587
Ntare III Rugaambac. 1587–1615
Kasasirac. 1615–1643
Kiterac. 1643–1671Joint rulers.
Kumongyec. 1643–1671Joint rulers.
Mirindic. 1671–1699
Ntare IV Kitabanyoroc. 1699–1727
Macwac. 1727–1755
Rwabirerec. 1755–1783Joint rulers.
Kararac. 1755–1783Joint rulers.
Karaigac. 1755–1783Joint rulers.
Kahaya Ic. 1783–1811Joint rulers.
Nyakashaijac. 1783–1811Joint rulers.
Bwarengac. 1783–1811Joint rulers.
Rwebishengyec. 1783–1811Joint rulers.
Rwebishengyec. 1811–1839Joint rulers.
Kayungac. 1811–1839Joint rulers.
Gasiyonga Ic. 1811–1839Joint rulers.
Mutambukac. 1839–1867
Ntare Vc. 1867–1895
Kahaya II1895–1944Monarchy placed under the Uganda Protectorate in 1896.
Gasiyonga II1944–8 September 1967Monarchy abolished in 1967.
Ntare VI1993–2011Titular king.
Charles Rwebishengye2011–presentTitular king.

Nkole people

Nkole people are a Bantu ethnic group native to Uganda. They primarily inhabit Ankole. They are closely related to other Bantu peoples of the region, namely the Nyoro, Kiga, Tooro and Hema peoples. Their population is 4,187,445.People from Ankole region are referred to as “Banyankore”.
The Banyankore speak Orunyankore, a Great Lakes Bantu language. There were an estimated 12.3 million native speakers in 2014.

Counties of Nkole (Amashaza)

Nkore Kingdom was divided into ten counties. These counties are now divided into various political constituencies. But the original ten counties of Nkore include:
The Nkore calendar was divided into 12 months. They were named according to weather conditions and activities done in that period. They include:
  • Biruuru
  • Kaatambuga
  • Katumba
  • Nyeikoma
  • Kyabahezi
  • Kahingo
  • Nyeirurwe
  • Kamena
  • Kicuransi
  • Kashwa
  • Museenene
  • Muzimbezi