HISTORIA YA WAMERU.
HISTORIA YA WAMERU.
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Historia hii iliandikwa na;
Moore, S.F. Na Purity, P. (1997).
Jina la kitabu walichokiandika ni
"THE CHAGGA AND MERU OF TANZANIA" Historia hii inapatikana ukurasa namba 90 hadi 102.
Moore, S.F. Na Purity, P. (1997).
Jina la kitabu walichokiandika ni
"THE CHAGGA AND MERU OF TANZANIA" Historia hii inapatikana ukurasa namba 90 hadi 102.
Meru story may be divided into four stages;
1. Pre-Arusha influence 1650-1850
2. Arusha influence 1850-1900
3. European contact 1902-1961
4. Independence 1961 to present
1. Pre-Arusha influence 1650-1850
2. Arusha influence 1850-1900
3. European contact 1902-1961
4. Independence 1961 to present
1. Pre-Arusha influence.
Approximately 300 years ago several hundred people, perhaps over thousand, migrated from usambara mountains to the fertile slopes of mount Meru. They were organized in patrilineal clans each with leader and all under authority of a chief called "KAAYA" The pathfinder was a man called "Lamireny" or sometimes "NRWA", the leader of MBISE clan. One of the reasons given for undertaking this long trek in search of new Land is that there was famine in the Usambaras and a serious outbreak of malaria.
" Inakadiriwa miaka 300 kitambo iliyopita, mamia kwa maelfu ya watu yaliama kutoka milima ya Usambara kuelekea miinuko ya mlima Meru iliyokuwa na rutuba kwa shuhuli za kilimo.
Makundi haya ya watu yaliungana katika koo zilizokuwa za kipatrilinia ( jamii ambazo mwanaume ndiye hutoa maari na watoto huitwa kwa jina la baba) na kila kikundi kilikuwa na kiongozi wake na wote kwa ujumla walikuwa chini ya kiongozi wao Wa kichifu aliyeitwa KAAYA. Mgunduzi wa wapi waelekee/ njia alikuwa MTU aliyeitwa LAMIRENY au jinajingine aliitwa NRWA, na huyu alikuwa kiongozi Wa ukoo Wa Mbise.
Moja kati ya sababu zilizofanya watu hawa kuanza safari na kutafuta mahali pa kwenda ni njaa Kali pamoja na kushika kasi kwa ugonjwa Wa malaria katika milima ya usambara wakati huo"
Moja kati ya sababu zilizofanya watu hawa kuanza safari na kutafuta mahali pa kwenda ni njaa Kali pamoja na kushika kasi kwa ugonjwa Wa malaria katika milima ya usambara wakati huo"
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Each clan Was allocated some land on the eastern and southern slopes of the mountain. Extended families cultivated beans as their staple food as well as some other vegetables..
They tended small flocks of sheep and goats, and they hunted wild animals and collected wild fruit, vegetables and honey. In less than two generation they had intermarried with and/ or driven out the VAKONINGO, short, hunter-gathered people who had accupied the mountain before them.
They tended small flocks of sheep and goats, and they hunted wild animals and collected wild fruit, vegetables and honey. In less than two generation they had intermarried with and/ or driven out the VAKONINGO, short, hunter-gathered people who had accupied the mountain before them.
"Kila ukoo ulipata sehemu ya ardhi sehemu za kaskazini na mashariki ya mwinuko wa mlima. Familia zilizokuwa kubwa zilijikita katika kulima maarage kama chakula kikuu kwa wakati huo lakini pia na aina nyingine za mbigamboga. Walianza kufuga makundi ga mbuzi na kondoo, wakawinda wanyama pori, wakajikusanyia matunda ya porini, mboga na asali na vyote vilitumika kama kitoweo.
Ndani ya vizazi visivyozidi viwili, wameru walikuwa wamekwishaoana na baadae kuwafukuza kabisa VAKONINGO watu waliokuwa wafupi, wliojishuhulisha na maisha ya uwindaji pamoja na ukusanyaji na hawa ndo watu Wa kwanza kuishi katika kabla ya ujio Wa Wameru"
The Meru prospered on the mountain and grew in number. Meanwhile, other people within a radius of 200 miles of of the mountain were also drawn to it's fertile slopes. For a period of 200 years they came in small groups, accepted the authority of the chief, were given a clan name ( usually the name of their leader) and were allocated Land on the mountain.
" wameru walifanikiwa na idadi yao kuongezeka na wakati huohuo jamii iliyoishi umbali Wa maili 200 kutoka eneo la miinuko ya mlima walivutiwa sana na ardhi hiyo yenye rutuba. Hatimaye ndani yamiaka 200 jamii hizo zikiwa katika makundi madogomadogo zilizokubaliana na ungozi Wa chifu zilipewa majina ya koo/ ukoo ( sanasana majina ya viongozi wao) na kupewa ardhi katika miinuko ya mlima Meru.
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In this way the people he mountain grew from perhaps on original five clans to over 35 clans which can be identity today. Also in this way new ideas, technological innovations, and different life style were added to the cultural inventor of these mountain folk. For example , during the long reign of Mangi Ndemi, which ended 1887, bananas replaced beans as the main food. Maize and finger Millet were also introduced at this time and during this period of agricultural diversification the Meru begun to dig long irrigation ditches such as those on Mount Kilimanjaro.
In this way the people he mountain grew from perhaps on original five clans to over 35 clans which can be identity today. Also in this way new ideas, technological innovations, and different life style were added to the cultural inventor of these mountain folk. For example , during the long reign of Mangi Ndemi, which ended 1887, bananas replaced beans as the main food. Maize and finger Millet were also introduced at this time and during this period of agricultural diversification the Meru begun to dig long irrigation ditches such as those on Mount Kilimanjaro.
"Kwa utaratibu huu watu walioishi mlima Meru walianza na koo tano mpaka kufikia koo zaidi ya 35 zilizopo Meru sasa. Vilevile ujio Wa wageni ulipelekea kuwepo kwa mawazo mapya, ugunduzi Wa teknolojia
Pamoja na staili mbalimbali za maisha kama vile utawala Wa Mangi Ndemi uliofikia ukomo mwaka 1887 ndizi zilichukua nafasi ya maarage kama chakula kikuu. Mazao ya nafaka yakiwemo maindi na mtama yalikuja wakati huu na pia baadae kilimo cha umwagiliaji kama ilivyokuwa sehemu za mlima Kilimanjaro"
Pamoja na staili mbalimbali za maisha kama vile utawala Wa Mangi Ndemi uliofikia ukomo mwaka 1887 ndizi zilichukua nafasi ya maarage kama chakula kikuu. Mazao ya nafaka yakiwemo maindi na mtama yalikuja wakati huu na pia baadae kilimo cha umwagiliaji kama ilivyokuwa sehemu za mlima Kilimanjaro"
