Majanga, The Shaka Zulu Of West Budama
Oct 30, 2003
In the 19th century, eastern Uganda was the centre of a great war in which thousands of people were displaced and killed in an expansionist programme by the Jopadhola.
By Davis Weddi
In the 19th century, eastern Uganda was the centre of a great war in which thousands of people were displaced and killed in an expansionist programme by the Jopadhola.
Neighbouring tribes such as the Banyole and Bagisu were treated to sleepless nights with frequent attacks from the Jopadhola leader, Majanga, son of Kinara, whose raids aimed at acquiring land and increasing the population of his tribe by capturing children and women.
Majanga’s descendants today say that even the Buganda Kingdom and the British colonialists in the late 1800s,s got concerned about Majanga’s expansionist agenda.
They invited him to Mengo and asked him where his territory ended. He answered, “it ends where the sky ends.â€
Today, Majanga rests in peace by the roadside at Senda (a name derived from centre), about three kilometres on the Busolwe-Tororo road. He is still held in high esteem.
Politicians vying for leadership positions in Tororo often pay respects to him during their campaigns. Some visit the grave and offer sacrifices the traditional way.
The New Vision traced Majanga’s great grand son, Justin Majanga, who narrates the story of the Jopadhola and their great king. Justin Majanga lives adjacent to Majanga Kinara’s grave.
“The top of his grave at first had stones. In 1954, our people managed to cement the grave. Two pots were placed at his grave for ceremonial purposes. This is where food from every new harvest is offered,†says Justin Majanga.
The story of Majanga dates back to the migration of the Luo people, who moved from Bahr-el-Ghazal in Sudan, about 1,000 years ago. They travelled along the river Nile and reached present-day Pakwach, where they split. One group moved to eastern Uganda, from where others proceeded to western Kenya to form the Luo tribe.
The Majangas say the Jopadhola settled in their present location, West Budama, by accident. A splinter Luo-speaking group was travelling towards the eastern side of Lake Victoria, when one of them failed to move further.
He had a big wound, which earned him the nickname Adhola. At the same time, his first wife was heavily pregnant. So, he remained behind with his family, hoping to follow his brothers later. Todate, his descendants are referred to as Jopadhola, often erroneously referred to as Badama.
When Adhola grew old and died, his eldest son, Nyapolo, became heir. Nyapolo handed over the mantle to his eldest son, Ogule. Ogule handed over the heritage to his son Okung, who brought forth Kinara, the father of Majanga, whose military exploits made an everlasting mark.
By Majanga’s time, the Jopadhola had multiplied and needed more land. He therefore drove away neighbouring tribes in order to create more space. He drafted all energetic men into an army and trained them.
Descendants of Majanga say that before going to war, he would light a fire on top of a grass-thatched house and roast chicken without burning the house. They also believe he had the ability to foretell who would be killed in the war. So, he would take only fighters who would not be killed.
Majanga would fight by leading, then his soldiers would follow. He was a man of great courage who feared nobody.
Like Shaka Zulu, he believed it was risky to throw a spear at an enemy from a distance. The enemy would kill you with the same spear.
So, Majanga and his soldiers instead fight face-to-face with the enemy, holding a spear in the right hand and a shield in the left hand.
Majanga’s first victims were the Banyole. He took most of their land. To-date, many of the places occupied by the Jopadhola still have Banyole names. Under Majanga’s leadership, they pushed the Banyole from Ngagoongera (modern day Nagongera) to a bridge about three kilometres away from Busolwe, the biggest township in Bunyole.
Majanga’s exploits also affected the Bagisu, Samia and Basoga and a Kalenjin group that has vanished from the area.
Eventually, the Jopadhola made peace with the Bagishu at a place called Merekit, where they exchanged gifts and brides.
“Majanga’s military campaign made him a famous warrior. He became known all over the countryside. He got land for his people. He increased their population. Wherever he raided, men who resisted were killed with spears and clubs while the women and children were taken away. That is how he increased the population,†says Justin Majanga.
The Jopadhola referred to Majanga as rwoth (chief). He had more than 80 wives.
Majanga eventually became ill and died in 1904 after increasing tenfold, the land occupied by the Jopadhola. The date of his death was not written, but his descendants believe it was in June.
His eldest son, Alim, took over the mantle butwas killed by Semei Kakungulu’s men. Kakungulu was the British colonial agent who was expanding the British colonial rule into eastern Uganda.
Additional reporting by Charles Wendo
luck was not on his side. It was around his time that Semei Kakungulu, the colonial agent started expanding the British colonial rule into eastern Uganda.
Word reached the high command that foreign enemies were advancing with gadgets that spit fire from a distance. Alim mobilised his fighters and mounted resistance. Intimidated by gunfire, Alim’s men fled in disarray.
However, Alim’s pride could not let him surrender. He charged on single-handedly, carrying the spear and shield that he inherited from Majanga. A bullet went through his chest and he collapsed, dead.
Semei Kakunguru’s men carried away the spear and shield with which Majanga Kinara had captured vast territory. The Jopadhola never saw these items again. The Majanga Kinara legacy collapsed, and the colonial masters took power.
Today, the Jopadhola still talk about the gun that killed Alim. To emphasise how terrible anything is, they will tell you it is like the fire that killed Alim the son of Majanga.
Additional reporting by Charles Wendo
In the 19th century, eastern Uganda was the centre of a great war in which thousands of people were displaced and killed in an expansionist programme by the Jopadhola.
Neighbouring tribes such as the Banyole and Bagisu were treated to sleepless nights with frequent attacks from the Jopadhola leader, Majanga, son of Kinara, whose raids aimed at acquiring land and increasing the population of his tribe by capturing children and women.
Majanga’s descendants today say that even the Buganda Kingdom and the British colonialists in the late 1800s,s got concerned about Majanga’s expansionist agenda.
They invited him to Mengo and asked him where his territory ended. He answered, “it ends where the sky ends.â€
Today, Majanga rests in peace by the roadside at Senda (a name derived from centre), about three kilometres on the Busolwe-Tororo road. He is still held in high esteem.
Politicians vying for leadership positions in Tororo often pay respects to him during their campaigns. Some visit the grave and offer sacrifices the traditional way.
The New Vision traced Majanga’s great grand son, Justin Majanga, who narrates the story of the Jopadhola and their great king. Justin Majanga lives adjacent to Majanga Kinara’s grave.
“The top of his grave at first had stones. In 1954, our people managed to cement the grave. Two pots were placed at his grave for ceremonial purposes. This is where food from every new harvest is offered,†says Justin Majanga.
The story of Majanga dates back to the migration of the Luo people, who moved from Bahr-el-Ghazal in Sudan, about 1,000 years ago. They travelled along the river Nile and reached present-day Pakwach, where they split. One group moved to eastern Uganda, from where others proceeded to western Kenya to form the Luo tribe.
The Majangas say the Jopadhola settled in their present location, West Budama, by accident. A splinter Luo-speaking group was travelling towards the eastern side of Lake Victoria, when one of them failed to move further.
He had a big wound, which earned him the nickname Adhola. At the same time, his first wife was heavily pregnant. So, he remained behind with his family, hoping to follow his brothers later. Todate, his descendants are referred to as Jopadhola, often erroneously referred to as Badama.
When Adhola grew old and died, his eldest son, Nyapolo, became heir. Nyapolo handed over the mantle to his eldest son, Ogule. Ogule handed over the heritage to his son Okung, who brought forth Kinara, the father of Majanga, whose military exploits made an everlasting mark.
By Majanga’s time, the Jopadhola had multiplied and needed more land. He therefore drove away neighbouring tribes in order to create more space. He drafted all energetic men into an army and trained them.
Descendants of Majanga say that before going to war, he would light a fire on top of a grass-thatched house and roast chicken without burning the house. They also believe he had the ability to foretell who would be killed in the war. So, he would take only fighters who would not be killed.
Majanga would fight by leading, then his soldiers would follow. He was a man of great courage who feared nobody.
Like Shaka Zulu, he believed it was risky to throw a spear at an enemy from a distance. The enemy would kill you with the same spear.
So, Majanga and his soldiers instead fight face-to-face with the enemy, holding a spear in the right hand and a shield in the left hand.
Majanga’s first victims were the Banyole. He took most of their land. To-date, many of the places occupied by the Jopadhola still have Banyole names. Under Majanga’s leadership, they pushed the Banyole from Ngagoongera (modern day Nagongera) to a bridge about three kilometres away from Busolwe, the biggest township in Bunyole.
Majanga’s exploits also affected the Bagisu, Samia and Basoga and a Kalenjin group that has vanished from the area.
Eventually, the Jopadhola made peace with the Bagishu at a place called Merekit, where they exchanged gifts and brides.
“Majanga’s military campaign made him a famous warrior. He became known all over the countryside. He got land for his people. He increased their population. Wherever he raided, men who resisted were killed with spears and clubs while the women and children were taken away. That is how he increased the population,†says Justin Majanga.
The Jopadhola referred to Majanga as rwoth (chief). He had more than 80 wives.
Majanga eventually became ill and died in 1904 after increasing tenfold, the land occupied by the Jopadhola. The date of his death was not written, but his descendants believe it was in June.
His eldest son, Alim, took over the mantle butwas killed by Semei Kakungulu’s men. Kakungulu was the British colonial agent who was expanding the British colonial rule into eastern Uganda.
Additional reporting by Charles Wendo
luck was not on his side. It was around his time that Semei Kakungulu, the colonial agent started expanding the British colonial rule into eastern Uganda.
Word reached the high command that foreign enemies were advancing with gadgets that spit fire from a distance. Alim mobilised his fighters and mounted resistance. Intimidated by gunfire, Alim’s men fled in disarray.
However, Alim’s pride could not let him surrender. He charged on single-handedly, carrying the spear and shield that he inherited from Majanga. A bullet went through his chest and he collapsed, dead.
Semei Kakunguru’s men carried away the spear and shield with which Majanga Kinara had captured vast territory. The Jopadhola never saw these items again. The Majanga Kinara legacy collapsed, and the colonial masters took power.
Today, the Jopadhola still talk about the gun that killed Alim. To emphasise how terrible anything is, they will tell you it is like the fire that killed Alim the son of Majanga.
Additional reporting by Charles Wendo