# Shangali

Shangali or Mangi Shangali Ndesserua Kombe (c.1870s–1950s), also called Mangi Shangali of Machame (Mangi Shangali in Kichagga; Mfalme Shangali in Swahili), was a well-known monarch of the Chaga in the second half of the 19th century. He was the son of Mangi Ndesserua of Machame and a king of the Chagga. Mangi means king in Kichagga.

## Rise and reign

Shangali was Nuya of Machame's firstborn child. When Shangali's brother Mangi Ngamini went into exile in 1889, his mother and his uncle Nassua became his regents after his half-brother Mangi Ngamini's exile in 1889. Shagali was introduced as the Mangi of Machame in August 1890. Legend has it that Nagamini was never the true Mangi because Ndesserua had willed the kingdom to him when he looked into the baby's face upon seeing signs of his own blood when Shangali was born. This story has been handed down generations.
Shangali was recognized as chief in 1890, primarily due to the practical assistance of Mangi Sina as well as the support of Nassua and Nuya. His acceptance as king coincided with the transition to German administration, which ratified his position. Had the German authorities been firmly established just fourteen months earlier, they would have likely recognized Mangi Ngamini as king, potentially altering the historical trajectory of the region.
Shangali's tenure as chief lasted for eleven years, concluding in 1901, during which time he was regarded as one of the most fortunate leaders on Kilimanjaro. However, his chieftainship was characterized by a vassalage relationship with Mangi Sina of Kibosho, a dynamic acknowledged by the German authorities and maintained until Sina’s death in 1897. During this period, Nassua effectively governed Machame, only relinquishing his regency after Shangali’s circumcision in 1894.
Throughout the last decade of the 19th century, Machame experienced significant decline, a trend that had persisted for many years. Cattle were a key indicator of wealth and political power during this period, and the region faced severe shortages, reflecting its impoverished state.

## German conquest of Machame

During Shangali's tenure as chief, the socio-political conditions in the region were unfavorable, and his character appeared ill-suited to address these challenges. In contemporary Machame, the figures of Nassua and Nuya, affectionately referred to as "Mama Shangali," are often recognized as the more influential leaders of the time. Nevertheless, it was under Shangali's leadership that the foundational elements for Machame's 20th-century prominence were established. His perceived weaknesses, characterized by his amiability and willingness to cooperate, ultimately served as an asset. This disposition was advantageous to three external parties—namely, the German authorities, the Lutheran Mission, and Mangi Marealle of Marangu—each of whom found Shangali's friendliness beneficial for their respective interests.
The German authority was represented by Captain Johannes, regarded as the most capable German officer assigned to Kilimanjaro. He played a significant role in the German conquest of Kibosho in 1891 and Moshi in 1892, subsequently assuming control of the Moshi station, where he remained from 1892 until 1901. Johannes aimed to consolidate his authority in the region, with his headquarters located in the heart of the mountain within the Moshi chiefdom.
To the east, Johannes sought to strengthen ties with Mangi Marealle of Marangu, who was supportive of German interests. Conversely, to the west lay the powerful chiefdom of Kibosho, which retained its significance even after the German defeat in 1891. In this context, Johannes appointed the Swahili agent Funde to reside alongside Mangi Sina in Kibosho, ensuring oversight and surveillance. Ultimately, Johannes desired a secure foothold west of the Weru Weru River, necessitating a friendly chief. Shangali, as the leader of Machame—located immediately west of the river—was particularly noted for his cordial relations with European visitors, making him a favorable choice for Johannes's objectives.
The Lutheran Mission in Kilimanjaro was significantly influenced by Reverend Müller, who arrived in Moshi in 1893. His objective was to establish the Lutheran Mission as the primary Christian organization in the area, competing with the existing Roman Catholic presence in Kilema and Kibosho. Recognizing the potential for expansion in the western regions, Müller initially traveled to Foo, where he received support from Chief Shangali and Nuya, who provided shelter and protection for his belongings.
Müller chose Foo as the headquarters for Lutheran activities, aiming to develop it as a central hub for outreach to the west. In exchange for land granted by Shangali, Müller became a protector and advisor to the chief, thereby assuming a role previously held by the aging Nassua. The interests of Müller and Captain Johannes, representing the German administration, were closely aligned, facilitating regular communication between the mission and the German authorities. This collaboration allowed Müller to serve as an important source of intelligence for both Shangali and Johannes, enhancing the Lutheran Mission's influence in the region.
Reverend Müller recognized that the larger the territory ruled by Chief Shangali, the greater the potential for increasing his Lutheran following. Since the German government allocated mission zones based on chiefdoms, this expansion would also limit the influence of the Roman Catholic mission in the lands west of the Weru Weru River. During Shangali's leadership, the boundaries of various chiefdoms on Kilimanjaro were established, with missionaries documenting the names of mountain streams designated as dividing lines by the ruling chiefs. A German officer, accompanied by local chiefs and missionaries, recorded these boundaries, a process that was often dependent on timing and human factors.
At a pivotal meeting in Foo, Müller and Shangali participated in defining the chiefdom of Machame, which was established to encompass the area from the Weru Weru River to the Kiruwau stream. This designation significantly expanded the chieftaincy from the small regions of Wari and Foo to include the entire Kikafu basin and parts of the Shira plateau, making Machame the largest chiefdom on Kilimanjaro.
The delineation of boundaries was also seen by other Chagga states as an opportunity for settling scores, but no other chiefdom capitalized on territorial expansion to the same extent as Machame. This approach to boundary-making was influenced by German practices, as unoccupied land was still plentiful and had not yet acquired significant value. It appears that Rev. Müller’s foresight played a crucial role in shaping the dimensions of the Machame Kingdom, which would become a source of prestige in the 20th century.
Another influential figure during Shangali's reign was Mangi Marealle of the Marangu kingdom, located to the east in the central zone of Kilimanjaro. Marealle, who became Mangi in the 1880s, was younger than Mangi Sina of Kibosho and Mangi Rindi of Moshi, yet older than Shangali. Like Machame, Marangu was at a low point economically during the onset of German authority, but Marealle maintained favor with Captain Johannes throughout the 1890s.

## Shangali's narrow escape from excecution

Captain Johannes was primarily focused on extending and consolidating German authority on Kilimanjaro, while Mangi Marealle sought to enhance his position as Mangi of Marangu. To counter the influence of the powerful Kibosho Kigdom, Marealle aimed to form an alliance with Shangali of Machame, who was strategically positioned to serve this purpose. Funde, a Swahili government agent in Kibosho with whom Marealle had cultivated a friendship, acted as an intermediary in this alliance.
This collaboration culminated in a conspiracy during the final battle against the Waarusha in 1900, which led to the mass execution of Chagga, Arusha and Rwa kings (killing Mangi Ngalami and Meli) and their prominent supporters by the German authorities in Moshi on 2nd March 1900. The charges against them included conspiring with the Masai to overthrow German governance. Although Shangali was a minor participant in the conspiracy, his involvement brought him perilously close to ruin.
When the condemned chiefs were summoned to Moshi Boma, Shangali was also called. The intentions of Captain Johannes regarding Shangali's presence remain ambiguous; he may have genuinely believed Shangali was implicated or sought to protect him from the wrath of the other Mangis. Regardless, Reverend Müller took the situation seriously and, accompanied by Nuya, traveled across Kilimanjaro to Moshi. There, Müller successfully argued for Shangali's innocence, allowing the three to return triumphantly to Machame.
The following day, those less fortunate were executed outside the Boma in Moshi, including the heirs of Mangi Sina and Mangi Rindi, effectively dismantling the two most powerful Kingdoms on Kilimanjaro. While Shangali emerged unscathed and saw his old rival Kibosho weakened, the magnitude of this success caused him anxiety. He feared that the German authorities might uncover the Chagga ruse and that rival factions within Machame could betray him, potentially seeking retribution for land appropriations he had made during his leadership.

## Abdication

Following a period of intense anxiety, Shangali sought to relinquish his responsibilities as chief just ten days after returning from Moshi. His closest advisors were divided on this decision. After the death of Nassua, two principal relatives, Karawa son of Mangi Mamkinga and Membe, the younger brother of Nassua, recommended that Shangali retire. It is likely that Nuya, his influential mother, supported this counsel, as Shangali rarely opposed her wishes.
Conversely, Reverend Müller advised against retirement, cautioning that such a move might be interpreted by the German government as an admission of guilt. However, Müller’s advice was based on incomplete information about the situation, and ultimately, Shangali's desire to abdicate prevailed. He was not permitted to step down until a successor was appointed, which took several months. Eventually, his elder half-brother, Ngulelo, accepted the Machame throne on August 16, 1901. Shangali attended the installation ceremony but, still in a state of fear, subsequently took refuge at the mission station of Müller.