Kenya's only king, King Peter Mumia II, cries out for recognition, bemoans loss of cultural identity

When the British arrived in Western in 1883, they found the Wanga Kingdom, the only organised state with a centralised hereditary monarch in Kenya.

In fact, the British used much of the Nabongo administrative system, which was up and running from the 18th century, as a stepping stone to territorial and political expansionism. The Wanga, who mainly inhabit Mumias in Kakamega County, have partly stuck to their culture. Some still build their houses and granaries using the architecture of their forefathers, use traditional herbs and medicines to treat the sick, cook using traditional pots, cultivate their lands using oxen ploughs and hoes and store their water in large pots as their ancestors did.

But like many other Kenyan communities, western culture, rural-urban migration and civilisation have taken a toll on this kingdom that takes pride in having one of Africa’s most organised traditional ruling structures.

The kingdom is now bent on conducting more cultural festivals to enable its people know who they are and what is expected of them, and bring on board the ‘modern’ Wanga who has gone astray.

Ali Wamanya, the secretary general of the Wanga Council of Elders, says ceremonies like blessing of harvest, circumcision, child naming, marriages and appointment of the next king helps safeguard their culture.

“The council consists of 100 elders drawn from clans and meets for different occasions. To keep our culture vibrant, we usually encourage communal activities like harvesting, sports, singing and dancing. Harvesting ceremonies where crops are blessed before consumption are held every year,” Wamanya explained.

Harvest festival

The Standard on Sunday was recently invited to witness one such occasion. When we arrived at the shrine where the harvesting ceremony was to be conducted, an elder trained to blow Eshitibira, a flute used to signal the community to key events, was seated, ready to summon everyone.

The elders sprinkled sacred water on various crops, slaughtered a goat for everyone to feast on and drank local brew (Busaa) as they sang 'Ndumbu eh yo mwana wefwe, eh yakhomera' in praise of the women of Wanga.

“Young generations are expected to know their culture. During such festivals, the Wanga community displays their traditional foods, attire, storage equipment such as Shisabo used to preserve sour milk, omweretswa the cooking pot and Eshiyonzo, a bird nest used to keep quails,” said Wamanya.

Wanga kingdom is ruled by a king. Peter Mumia II is the current monarch. Born on September 14, 1952, Mumia II ascended to the Nabongo throne in 1974 following the death of his father Nabongo Shitawa. But unlike his predecessors, Mumia II took up modern education. In fact, he decided to venture out to look for employment immediately after his coronation, instead of sitting at home receiving gifts from visitors.

A trained accountant, Mumia worked for the East African Road Services before joining Lonrho Group as a financial accountant.

He later worked for Toyota East Africa as workshop manager and later as sales manager in Nairobi, a position he retired from in 2004.

But the king is quick to say life has not been easy for him because of his royalty. He insists that he rose up his career ladder through hard work and experience.

“While working in Nairobi, I did not perform much of the royal duties until after my retirement when I took on my traditional leadership role to revive the Kingdom of Wanga. I joined Elders of Kenya Peace Initiative, and attended various workshops on cultural issues,” he said.

Mumia II is the national coordinator of the House of Traditional Elders in Kenya, a unifying social organisation for all traditional leaders and their councils from the different communities in Kenya. The organisation aims to bring harmony among tribes and ensure peaceful co-existence.

“I urge the government to recognise Wanga Kingdom and because traditional leaders have not been recognised in the Constitution. The government should embrace culture by involving us in national events like Toro Kingdom in Uganda where their leaders are treated as royalty. We want our culture maintained and emulated by others,” he said.

“We should restructure our cultural institutions by putting them in the Constitution. Let traditional naming be maintained for the sake of identity,” he added.

In 2011, Mumia II led other Kenyan elders to a forum of African Kings held in Libya where he met his counterparts from across the continent.

“After the Libya trip, where we learned cultural issues and how to unite communities, we were recognised in 2013 by the Head of State. Leaders should be recognised not because of their background but for their traditions,” he said.

Community shrine

Nabongo II opened a shrine in 2008 where the community can meet and showcase their way of life and pass it on to younger generations.

“The Nabongo was and still is the custodian of traditions and customs of the land. He guarded the royal regalia which consisted of the copper bracelet and sacred spears, royal regalia —  likutusi and lishimbishira — made of leopard and monkey skins which every king has to wear during festival,” the king said.

Zakayo Shiundu, an elder from Koyonzo, said the king’s court consisted of a chief judge, Weyengo, and a group of elders who acted as judges, Eshiabusi.

“They constituted the Court of Appeal held under a tree. A group of Eshiabusi linked the executive and the judiciary. The elders in his council were voluntary members who were being assisted by legal experts drawn from the local government. The Weyengo presided over all deliberations. It was this arrangement which reduced the chances of a civil war,” Shiundu explained.