Page "History of Malawi" Paragraph 7

The decline of the Maravi Empire resulted from the entrance of two powerful groups into the region of Malawi.

In the 19th century, the Angoni or Ngoni people and their chief Zwangendaba arrived from the Natal region of modern day South Africa.

The Angoni were part of a great migration, known as the mfecane, of people fleeing from the head of the Zulu Empire, Shaka Zulu.

The Ngoni people settled mostly in what is modern day central Malawi ; particularly Ntcheu and parts of Dedza districts.

However, some groups proceeded north ; entering Tanzania and settling around Lake Victoria.

But splinter groups broke off and headed back south ; settling in modern day northern Malawi, particularly Mzimba district where they mixed with another migrant group coming from across Lake Malawi called the Bawoloka.

Clearly, the mfecane had a significant impact on Southern Africa.

The Angoni adopted Shaka's military tactics to subdue the lesser tribes, including the Maravi, they found along their way.

Staging from rocky areas, the Ngoni impis would raid the Chewa ( also called Achewa ) and plunder food, oxen and women.

Young men were drawn in as new fighting forces while older men were reduced to domestic slaves and / or disposed off to Arab slave traders operating from the Lake Malawi regions.