In the 19th century, ivory trade was the second most profitable enterprise in Zanzibar next to slave trade that involved the Arabs, British and the Germans.
Forked stick used to capture slaves
Suna II, who reigned from 1832 – 1856, was the 29th Kabaka of Buganda and the first to allow foreigners, who were Arab traders, into the Kingdom.
In 1844, the first group of Arabs led by Ahmad bin Ibrahim (Medi Abraham) from Sudan reached Buganda. They found an established Kingdom with a strong culture, religious beliefs and political institutions, which were centralized with the Kabaka at the helm. The Arabs did not alter the religious landscape. They were mostly merchants commonly known as 'Khartoum' or 'Kutoria Arab traders engaged in ivory and slave trade in exchange for goods such as beads and clothing.
Suna II befriended some members of the Arab groups who visited him: Ibrahim, Kyera, Amulain, Mina, Katukula Mungazija, and Zigeya Mubulusi. He gave them gifts and took an interest in Islam. The Kabaka was particularly close to Ibrahim with whom he discussed religious affairs and agreed for Ibrahim to read to him. Eventually, Suna II got through the first four chapters of the Koran.
However, the Arabs found aspects of the Ganda culture that were contrary to the teachings of Islam. Among the clashing practices was the belief that the Kabaka's blood can never be shed. This meant that the Kabaka could not undergo the rite of circumcision, which was a major principle of Islam. The Arabs circumvented the rule by considering that someone could embrace Islam without undergoing circumcision. Therefore, the group of Muslims in Buganda allowed Kabaka Suna II to lead Muslim prayers while uncircumcised.
Left: The British Richard Burton (above) always dressed like an Arab was fluent in Arabic. However, he was ill disposed to Africans whom he thought were inferior. These rationalizations helped to self justify the British colonial activities in the region as well as for the entry of missionary forces.
Suna II died of smallpox in 1856. One of his two surviving sons, Mutesa I, was his successor. It was the same year that Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid inherited the throne in Zanzibar. The British were increasing their presence in the prosperous offshore island. In this same year, Richard Burton and John Speke (associated with the search for the Nile) made Zanzibar their base for their exploration into the interior. Their route was along the tracks claimed by the Omani Sultans, which Arab traders used frequently.
Today, the doors in Stone Town, Zanzibar reflect the creative Islamic artiecture. Picture courtesy fenniewang – July 2010
The Conversation and Conversion to Islam
After his father died, Mutesa I continued associations with his father's Arab friends, including Makwega, the Swahili. According to the biography by Sir Apollo Kaggwa,[1] the Kabaka reportedly asked Katukula "what his father used to talk to them about, when they visited him." Katukula responded: 'we used to tell him about God, and King of Kings, and that He will raise people from the dead'.
On hearing that, the Kabaka inquired incredulously 'are you not lying? Is there a resurrection from the dead?' The Muslims confirmed that those who learnt the words of God would rise again after death. With these, the Kabaka relented 'well then, come and teach me to read,' and brought in Makwega, who gave him daily lessons. The King was a fast learner of Mohammedanism, which he mastered very quickly. He also learned to write in Arabic, which was taught to him by Kibali, the Mohammedian.
Other ranking personalities (chiefs) joined the Kabaka in the lessons. In 1886, Kabaka Mutesa I of Buganda manifestly adopted the tenets of Islam and favored its acceptance by his subjects. Like his father, Mutesa I remained uncircumcised but recited the Qur'an, performed the five daily prayers, observed the fasting of the month of Ramadan for over ten years and eventually declared Islam the official religion of the kingdom.
Arabs in Buganda in the 1850s
In fact, Mutesa I was both the Kabaka and the leader of Islam (chief khadhi or mufti) leading all prayers performed in his presence and he ordering all animals for human consumption to be prepared (slaughtered) as per Islamic protocol. His status as Imam conformed to the traditional status of the Kabaka whereby no one in the kingdom could be considered to have a superior standing above the Kabaka.
Apparently, the chiefs who were the Muslim converts were slower.
For example, when Kabaka was in Nakawa (located on the eastern edge of the kingdom) he went through with his reading, fasted and then ordered all his subjects to read Mohammedanism. But he realized they have not been serious in their Islamic practices. He told the head district chiefs, 'I want to know if people are learning to believe in Islam well.' His chiefs assured him that they were. To test the assurance, the Kabaka went further. 'Well,' he said, 'if they are, how do they salute each other as Mohammedans?' They replied, 'Some salute thus – Salamaleku dekimu musalamu – others, Sibwakede bwatulise.'
The Kabaka knew, then, that very few chiefs were learning Islam and issued orders that every man who had not learned was to learn the salutation, Salamu alekumu alekumu salaamu or Shabuluheri and everyone refusing to learn was to be "seized."
Many who would not learn were then seized, called infidels and killed. Thereafter, every married man fixed up a stone in his yard to pray at, and every chief built a mosque, and a great many people became readers, but were not circumcised, and all the chiefs learned that faith.
Credited Source: From the translation by, C. W. Hattersley in Uganda Notes, May 1902, p. 35.
Suna: Kabaka Suna died in 1856 and was succeeded by Mutesa I, Kabaka 1856-84.
Medi Abraham: Ahmed bin Ibrahim, trader from Zanzibar .
Change of Faith
Something happened that changed the Kabaka's allegiance. When a Muslim Egyptian thrust from Sudan threatened the crafty African ruler, Mutesa 1 expressed his willingness to receive Christian missionaries and invited them to bring "the light of the Gospel" to Buganda.
[1] Apolo Kagwa and Henry Wright Duta Kitakule, 'How Religion came to Uganda '. Kaggwa was the Prime-minster (Katikkro)of Buganda from 1890 to 1926
No comments:
Post a Comment