Origin of Bantu

They are Bantu speaking people who belonged to the Highland and coastal Bantu.
They comprise of that group of Central and Northern Tanzania Bantu that continued with their migration from the Congo basin.
They are closely related to other Bantu tribes like Gweno, Sukuma and Shamba.
They entered Tanzania through the West using the route between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Edward.
Their migration took place between 1000 1300 AD
They settled around Mt. Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanganyika.
The Chagga decided to settle around Mt. Kilimanjaro permanently and came to be known as the highland Bantu.

Political organisation

The Chagga had a decentralized system of administration with chiefs at the centers of authority.
The chiefs were distinguished elders in society with political and religious powers.
Chiefs were always encouraged to extend the political frontiers of their chiefdoms.
Chiefs were also in charge of administering justice in their chiefdoms.
The Chagga had political rivalries with their neighbours especially the Masai over grazing lands.
Below the chiefs were other influential leaders called judicial counselors.
Judicial counselors were directly appointed by the chiefs.
Judicial counselors were also charged with tax collection.
Below the judicial counselors were the clan heads who were prominent and influential.
Clan heads were also used in maintenance of law and order in their clans.

Social organisation

The Chagga were organized on clan basis.
They had several clans with each clan having a clan head.
Chiefs also served as chief priests and presided over religious ceremonies.
They believed in a god called Ruwa.
Ruwa was considered not to have been the creator of the world.
Ruwa was believed to have freed mankind and provided him with fruits and plants to feed on.
They believed in the powers of ancestors i.e. life after death.
Sacrifices were therefore offered to appease the spirits of the ancestors.

Economic organisation

Agriculture was the important economic activity among the Chagga.
They grew crops such as bananas, millet and coffee.
Irrigation was carried out to support agriculture during the dry season.
They applied manure in their farms and also carried out crop rotation.
They also kept animals like cattle, goats and sheep.
They also practiced iron working and made implements like spears, pangas and arrows.
They carried out trade with their neighbours and exchanged their surplus goods for salt.
They later participated in the long distance trade with the coastal Arabs.

N.B By the 18^th century, they had developed a system of kingship.