tna:PieceReference=co1069p108

Yao - not Gao again

What a great image - an umbrella and a flintlock - both absolute necessities for a chief.

Nowadays referred to as the "magololo"

The Makololo were not "indigenous" to Malawi, i.e. not part of the Maravi people who, according to oral history, arrived from the Luba country of the upper Congo in the 15th century. They were originally part of the Southern Sotho. Driven from their homeland in what is now the Free State province of South Africa during the Nguni migrations of the early 19th century, they eventually found themselves cornered between the Zambezi and Chobe rivers, where they established their dominance. David Livingstone encountered them there in 1851 and became friendly with them. The resulting long association led to the arrival of a number of them as porters with Livingstone at the initial U.M.C.A. mission at Magomero in 1861. They were with him when he first sighted "Lake Nyassa". The Makololo then followed Livingstone to the Lower Shire where they remained and established their dominance.

Katunga's was 'the port of Blantyre' (Sir Harry Johnston) and lies not far from the bottom of the current Blantyre - Chikwawa escarpment. It handled goods and passenger traffic. Early arrivals by boat would be carried by machila teams up to Blantyre. There are still traces of the ALC Katunga's depot to be seen on the banks of the Shire River.

Mbame was the site of a wooding station towards the top of the Blantyre - Chikwawa escarpment where the machila parties rested. There is still a sign for Mbame Estate on the main road.