clan composition in Ankole and Kigezi

Clan Composition in Nkore and Kigezi:

There are four main clans that make up the traditional Nkore (Ankole) nation as we have historically known it, and which is the epic center of Kigezi star magazine operations. The rest of the clans as we shall see are called Sub-

Clans (English), Emiryango (Runyakyitara),Imiryango(Kyinyarwanda/Kyirundi/ Kinyamulenge).

These four main clans are: Abahinda,Abashambo, Abeishekatwa and Abagahe.

In the traditional Kigezi nation, the clan composition that make the sub region’s tribes of Bakiga, Banyarwanda, Bafumbira and Batwa, is known to be ten. This composition comprises such clans as: Ba Kyinyangyiro,

Abasigyi, Abashambo, Ba- Mugyesera,

…………….

Abagahe Origin- The Nkore- Kigezi Account:

According to various accounts in Kigezi sub region, all members of this “Abagahe” Clan originate from a very charismatic, wealthy but polygamous ancestor called KAGAHE. Like King Solomon of the biblical times, Kagahe had hundreds of wives to his name. With his humongous conjugal endowment, he produced many sons and daughters who became prominent in their own right, creating different sub statuses that came to be known as Emiryango/Imiryango/sub clans.

According to the Kigezi account amongst Kagahe’s sons were two prominent ones; Kasigyi and Nkurukumbi. These two sons became prominent over the rest of the siblings largely due to their military prowess and exploits in the region. The rest of the offspring spread far and wide but their progeny kept tagged to their lineages way up to these two prominent sons. Many of those unknown children spread across the Great Lakes Region and beyond, mainly because of his expansionist military prowess.

With this, these two great patriarchs and several families and their progeny found it easier to affiliate along their family lines.

For example, many offspring of Kasigyi took on the nomenclature- Ba Kasigyi/ Ba- Musigyi and occupied large swathes of Kigezi, Northern Rwanda and Eastern DRC.

His brother Nkurukumbi had very many wives too. But one his many wives emerged more prominent, almost overshadowing her husband. He name was Kyinyagyiro. She was from the Omwinika- Muhutu clan, a renowned PRIESTESS with unique spiritual powers and a herbalist who was skilled in strategic military warfare and tactical military manoeuvre.

Various accounts say she wielded immense spiritual power, so powerful that she would mobilize women to take food and herbs to the men on the frontline. She would cause rain to fall on the enemy while protecting her warriors. She would keep extra weapons while repairing spoilt ones.

She would also hold special prayers for her fighters that would aid them to win various wars.

As years of military success kept piling up, everyone started calling themselves ‘Ba-Kinyagyiro.’ Prominent of her children were Kaheesi, Karegyesa, and Kayundo. There was also Kacucu (Abacucu Sub clan) but this one was from a different man.

Nevertheless, many sub clans sproutedfrom these two lineages as we shall see in our subsequent revelations.

The Nkore Version:

As noted in the beginning, Nkore Sub region is composed of three main clans. Namely; Abahinda, Abagahe and Abashambo.

People of the Abasingo clan usually like to portray themselves as a distinct clan.

Abasingo are the children of the larger Bagahe Clan.

What distinguishes them from the rest of the Bagahe sub clans is that their Ente Ngoobe Totem (Omuziro…), has a distinct white strip up to its tail (Ey’omurara).

Origins:

In Nkore, the same is said of the Bagahe having originated from one ancestor called Kagahe. The children of Kagahe were: Kasiita, Kariisa and Kagina. They came with a sister from Karagwe in northern Tanzania to Mpororo. When they moved up north, legend says they built a house at Kyabujuko in present day kingdom of Mpororo. These three boys and their sister had only twenty cows. One night, a crow (Ekyihirira) came to dwell on top of their house in Kyabujuko. But the next morning, it was gone. The three siblings found it strange and went to consult a sorcerer who told them to watch and follow the bird for it would bring them a kingdom, one day. The crow came every night on top of their house and in the process erected a nest therefrom. After the hatching period, the crow went away with its chicks. This is the time the three siblings decided to follow it. The crow went very far up to Bunyoro Kingdom palace. When the king of Bunyoro saw the siblings, his face beamed with blessedness when he particularly their very attractive sister. Unfortunately the many accounts I have read do not mention her name. The king then asked Kasita, Kariisa and Kagina for their sister’s hand in marriage.

The boys accepted. So the king was very pleased and he gave every one of them hundreds of cows,a drum and a kingdom.

So, all of them received a kingdom for the marriage

of their sister and they subsequently became kings of Buhweju, Buzimba and Butaye (failed to locate this one).

The sub clan in Nkore known as ‘Abariisa,’emerged from the Buhweju line.

Space cannot allow me to exhaust it. But to be understood, one must know about the role played by the crow in everyday life. It is supposed to signify good or bad lack. No wonder the crow (particularly the one known as Ekihirira) is said to be the friend of every Mugahe in Nkore and beyond.

Bagahe Sub

Clans of Nkore :

  1. Aboyombo
  2. Abariisa
  3. Abasinga
  4. Abagina
  5. Abazigaba
  6. Abangwi
  7. Abatorogo
  8. Abasiita
  9. Abakibiza
  10. Abareega
  11. Abashegi
  12. Abasingo
  13. Abamoori
  14. Abayebe
  15. Abakyekyezi
  16. Abacwezi
  17. Abagyenza
  18. Abaami
  19. Ababito
  20. Abanyonza
  21. Abenebiraro
  22. Abanyigana
  23. Abenekihiimba
  24. Abanyeitaka
  25. Abakurungo
  26. Abanyara
  27. Abenemakuma
  28. Abayanzi
  29. Abaziro
  30. Abataayi
  31. Abanuma
  32. Abanyakafunjo
  33. Abamigwa
  34. Abarura
  35. Abanyimbi
  36. Ababuga
  37. Abayanja
  38. Abaishanza
  39. Abanyakyahi
  40. Abaheesi

 

 

Bagahe Sub

Clans of Kige zi,

Mpororo ,

Rwanda

& the Kiv us

  1. Abatabarwa
  2. Abasheegi
  3. Beene Kiyombo
  4. Abasiita
  5. Abarihira
  6. Abacucu
  7. Abasigi
  8. Bakarobwa
  9. Mwitsya

Murengye

  1. Ababare
  2. Ababiga
  3. Abahigwa
  4. Ababuringa
  5. Ababwiga
  6. Abafungurira
  7. Abaiguru

(Abaheiguru)

  1. Abakokora
  2. Abarimba
  3. Abaryoriho
  4. Abashoma
  5. Abatambara
  6. Abateete
  7. Abazoora
  8. Ababanda
  9. Ababinyi
  10. Abagwisa
  11. Abahingo
  12. Abakokoma
  13. Abakongwe
  14. Abarahusya
  15. Abarengye
  16. Abagaro
  17. Abashaaru
  18. Abatukuza
  19. Abanyama
  20. Abareere
  21. Ababunde
  22. Abafumbira
  23. Abagambo
  24. Abagina
  25. Abagyeri
  26. Abahaka
  27. Abahiiga
  28. Abahundo
  29. Abajara
  30. Abakamba
  31. Abakoma
  32. Abakonzo
  33. Abambibe
  34. Abandari
  35. Abanyonyera
  36. Abariisa
  37. Abarinda
  38. Abarundo
  39. Abasaka
  40. Abashaaki
  41. Abashongye
  42. Abatambira
  43. Abatimbo
  44. Abatuura
  45. Abazooba
  46. Abakungu
  47. Abasindi
  48. Abakongoro
  49. Abashamure
  50. Abanyabutumbi
  51. Ababeizi
  52. Abahuurwa
  53. Abahwihwa
  54. Abanyakaaju
  55. Abanyampo
  56. Abanyonyi
  57. Abaramba
  58. Abaregyeza
  59. Abashanja
  60. Abasiiga
  61. Abasiku
  62. 79. Abeenebwiru
  63. Abashengura
  64. Abaheesi
  65. Abacucu
  66. Abayundo

 

Location: Mara Region, Tanzania

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