Nuya of Machame

"Nuya" or "Nuya of Machame" (c.1856-1954), (Manka Nuya in Kichagga; Malikia Nuya in Swahili) served as the wife of Mangi Ndesserua from the late 1860s to 1871. From 1889 to 1890, she was the regent of her son, Mangi Shangali. Nuya is regarded as one of the most powerful women in Chagga history.^[1][2][3]

Nuya of Machame
Queen consort of Machame
Tenure	1869–1871
Regent of Machame
Tenure	1889–1890
Born	Nuya Lema c.1856 Foo, Machame Kingdom
Died	1954 Wari, Machame
Burial	Wari, Machame Kingdom
Spouse	Mangi Ndesserua of Machame
Issue	Shangali Sawe

Nuya was Ndessrua's last and youngest wife. Nuya was noted for her striking appearance and strong character, comparable to that of Nassua, another influential figure in Ndesserua's life. Together, Nuya and Nassua formed a formidable alliance that garnered respect and admiration within Ndesserua's inner circle. As Ndesserua’s health declined, Nuya gained significant influence, ultimately displacing Kekwe, the mother of Ngamini, who had previously held the position of the most powerful wife. During this period, it was Nuya to whom supplicants would turn, seeking her intercession with Ndesserua to avoid his wrath.^[4]

Nuya's son, Shangali, was born approximately three years before a significant raid by the Waarusha on Machame, during which Ndesserua stepped down from his role as Mangi. Nuya later had another son, Sawe, who was also accepted by Nassua. Throughout her life, from her marriage until her death in 1954, Nuya remained a prominent figure in the community. Her influence was recognized by a German Lutheran missionary in 1912, who described her as possessing a "queenly" bearing and a keen, discerning gaze, likening her to Catherine the Great in the guise of an African peasant.^[5] This encounter highlighted her strong political presence and influence over her sons and other males in the community.^[6]

Legacy

In contemporary remembrance, Nuya is held in the highest regard by the Machame community, celebrated as one of the most notable women in their history. Nassua's loyalty to Nuya is evident in his refusal to claim the chiefdom for himself. This loyalty also influenced his decision-making when attempting to replace Mangi Ngamini; rather than supporting Ndesserua's adult sons or Ngamini's eldest son, he chose to endorse the young Shangali, further illustrating Nuya's enduring impact on the political landscape of the time.^[7]

See also

• Mangi Ndesserua
• Mangi Shangali
• Mangi Mamkinga
• Mangi Saiye
• Mangi Ngalami
• Mangi Rengua
• Mangi Meli
• Chagga states

References

1. Stahl, Kathleen (1964). History of the Chagga people of Kilimanjaro. London: Mouton and Co. p. 124. ISBN 0-520-06698-7.
2. Berry, L., editor. Tanzania in Maps. University of London Press, 1971; Africana Publishing Corporation, 1972.
3. Dundas, Charles. Kilimanjaro and Its People: A History of Wachagga, their Laws, Customs and Legends, Together with Some. Routledge, 2012.
4. Stahl, Kathleen (1964). History of the Chagga people of Kilimanjaro. London: Mouton and Co. p. 125. ISBN 0-520-06698-7.
5. Missionsblatt, Lutherischen. "Bearbeitet von Matthias Eger und Christoph Langer."
6. Stahl, Kathleen (1964). History of the Chagga people of Kilimanjaro. London: Mouton and Co. p. 126. ISBN 0-520-06698-7.
7. Stahl, Kathleen (1964). History of the Chagga people of Kilimanjaro. London: Mouton and Co. p. 126. ISBN 0-520-06698-7.