Kingdoms of Central Africa - Nzakara of the Ubangi
Nzakara of the Ubangi (Bandia Clan State) (Africa)The pre-history ofAfricacovers a long and uncertain stretch of unrecorded history. Much of this involves a great deal of uncertainty which can only be. . .
Nzakara of the Ubangi (Bandia Clan State) (Africa)The pre-history ofAfricacovers a long and uncertain stretch of unrecorded history. Much of this involves a great deal of uncertainty which can only be understood through archaeology. Even the more recent prehistory is shrouded in uncertainty, requiring analysis and archaeology to help define it. Central Africa was poorly defined as a region until the creation of colonial-era territories in the eighteenth century. Before that at least parts of it appear to have been virgin territory, with no recent occupation. A collection of sultanates emerged across the area which today is partially covered byCentral African Republic(or CAR), as well asChadto its north and the edges ofSouth Sudanto the east. Prior to that there were almost two centuries of gradual, increasing movement into the area. The people responsible for this gradual inwards migration were generally Adamawa-Ubangi-speaking peoples such as the Banda (orBandia) and the Zande-Nzakara (or Azande andNzakara) in eastern CAR, along withBantu-speaking groups to the west and south, andSudaneseinfluences from the east. They settled in largely stateless societies without hereditary or paramount chiefs. The Gbaya (including the Mandjia) in the centre and west of CAR, and the riverine peoples along the River Ubangi (or Oubangui) and River Mbomou in the south had no hereditary chiefs either. They had leaders of various forms such as clan leaders, hamlet headmen, and temporary war chiefs to lead warriors in battle, but no titled rulers with hereditary authority. The Nzakara or Nsakara group was initially dominated by the Bandia group into which it integrated quite heavily. In turn both groups were initially dominated by theVou-Kpatawho were related to the Sudanese Shilluk and the Dinka of Bahr-el-Gazal. But as well as being under the thumb of the Vou-Kpata, they also began forming their own clan states. Early attempts such as that of theNzakara of the Ubangiwere precursors to the first formal states to be established amongst the Adamawa-Ubangi-speaking peoples of Central Africa. This Nzakara state was one of at least two direct successors to the early Bandia clan state (the other being the Nzakara of Sinango). It was also the direct precursor to the sultanate ofBangassouwhich crystallised in the 1880s and the sultanate ofRafaïwhich crystallised around 1875. From a political and administrative perspective, these chiefs and also their many opposite numbers in similar small clan states held a fairly large court. The nobility resided in a few outlying quarters with their immediate entourage, whether their relatives or clients, who would often hold villages which were some distance away. It was in the royal court that public affairs were conducted. Clan states were divided into provinces orbinia, which were entrusted to representatives of the ruling chief, them'bia, who was assisted by advisors, thembafouka. Their powers were considerable. They could mobilise in the event of war, administer justice, and levy taxes. Military leaders guarded the state's borders. Socially, these kingdoms were made up of a mosaic of ethnic groups. Numerous marriage alliances were established. The same was true for blood pacts following conflict. TheZande, the Nzakara, and the Bandia practiced ancestor worship, making sacrifices to them and carrying out their will. The ancestors and the dead communicated with the living through dreams, and were able to express their 'wishes' through diviners and oracles. Revered spirits included the Koundou, the Siolo, the Ngoubengué, and the Ndounga. Crafts, ironworking, woodworking, and pottery were primary activities for these warrior peoples, who practiced a form of agriculture which was characterised by a large variety of crops. Principal author(s):Page created:Page last updated:(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Richard A Bradshaw & Juan Fandos-Rius, by Doctor Jean Kokide (University of Bangui), fromMonographie du Dar-Kouti-Oriental, Edmond A J Boucher (Typescript, 1934, copied and updated from the original by Pierre Claustre), fromDar al-Kuti and the Last Years of the Trans-Saharan Slave Trade, Denis D Cordell (The University of Wisconsin Press, 1985), fromUn ancien royaume Bandia du Haut-Oubangui, Eric de Dampierre (Plon, Paris, 1967), fromCentral African Republic, Pierre Kalck (Praeger Publishers, 1971), fromHistorical Dictionary of the Central African Republic, Pierre Kalck( Third Edition, Scarecrow Press, 2005), fromUn explorateur du centre de l'Afrique, Paul Crampel (1864-1891), Pierre Kalck (L'Harmattan, Paris, 1993), fromThe New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), fromTimes Atlas of World History(Maplewood, 1979), and fromExternal Links:Encyclopaedia Britannica, andCentral African Republic(World Statesmen), andAnne Retel-Laurentin et les Nzakara, Jean-Noël Biraben (Cahiers d'Études Africaines, Vol 27, Notebook 105/106,Démographie Historique, 1987, pp 187-197, and available viaJSTOR). )c. 1780The Bandia people have been settling the shores of the River Ubangi in today'sCentral African Republic(CAR) since the seventeenth century. They have intermixed with Nzakara groups and built up a clan state - which loosely can be termed theBandia of the Ubangi- which has been dominated by theVou-Kpataclan state. Bangui lies on the northern banks of the River Ubangi shown here, which serves in part to divide the modern states of Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in the eighteenth century was the home of several clan statesBantu-speakers have also been arriving, this time from the west, with others approaching from the south. Others, under pressure from the Ngombe, arrive from the south-west. Sudanesegroups join them a little later, driven out by the Shilluk and the Dinka. Around this time the earliest-recorded Nzakara clan states emerge, settling to the south of the River Ubangi, along the lower Bili and Ouelle rivers. As well as theNzakara of the Ubangi, the Nzakara of Sinango also form and later will become rivals. However, under the leadership of their chief, Ndounga, the Ubangi group begins to invadeVou-Kpataterritory, and their chief, Koudou, and his allies are seemingly soon defeated. Early clan states began to coalesce in Central African Republic in the 1700s, with true statehood beginning to emerge at the end of that century, and formal states emerging in the 1800sc. 1780 - 1800NdoungaFounder of theBandiastate of Nzakara. late 1700sFollowing the defeat of theVou-Kpata, Nzakara people begin to settle the region in stages. They drive back some tribes, subdue or enslave others, and expand into territory which they will hold thereafter. Farther north they also expand into territory which has been held by the Vou-Kpata. The northern areas of Central Africa have recently become increasingly drawn into larger states, mainly sultanates which are influenced bySudanand the sub-Saharan Islamic holdings. Ndounga oversees the creation of theBandiaclan state of Nzakara. To its east a similar figure - ostensibly Ndounga's brother, Kassanga - is forging theBandia of the Chinkointo a clan state. c. 1800 - 1830Mbilinga / BilingaSon. Fought to expand his territory. early 1800sUnder the reign of Mbilinga, son of Ndounga, the intermingling of populations intensifies. He is responsible for fightingBandiagroups and the Bougbou (Ngbougbou) around Kotto. Out of this a core Nzakara people form who still populateCentral African Republicto this day. By 1919, with the conclusion of the First World War, the African colonies found themselves being exploited for their resources more intensely than ever beforec. 1830It is about this time, around 1830, that the first columns of slave-tradingArabsarrive from Ouaddal (precursors to theZobeir) and Khartoum (precursors to theMahdists). They consist of between two and three thousand men who are armed with rifles. They plunder and carry off slaves, mainlyBandia, but also Nzakara who are fleeing the devastated and overly-exposed northern lands. c. 1830 - 1860Gbandi / BoendiSon. Killed by the Bougbou. 1830s - 1850sGbandi provides the state with more stable institutions and foundations, enlisting the help of servile clans to achieve this aim. However, he does lose most of his former territories to the south of the Ubangi following wars with the Nzakara of Sinango, who are driven to acquire slaves by this very intensification of the slave trade. c. 1860 - 1878Mbali / Mbardi-GandiSon. Died in a war against the Bougbou slavers. 1860s - 1870sGbandi's son, Mbali-Gbandi, is primarily responsible for defending his state against the slave-owning sultans of the north and north-east, principally those of Wadai and theSudanarea. Central Africa in 1897 was a land of uncertain, shifting borders, with small states expanding to incorporate previously stateless tribal societies (click or tap on map to view full sized)His son is not his rightful successor. Instead he has to use trickery or force to gradually eliminate all members of his family who still hold territories in order to unify the country and hold sole power. He also has to defend the Nzakara against the slave-trading Sultan Rabah, who is building a small empire in Ouaddal, to the west, starting in 1879. His efforts result in a direct successor to his father's Nzakara clan state along the Ubangi: the sultanate ofBangassou.