Research Article
Colonial Labour Migrations Among the Nyakyusa: Causes and Impacts (1920 - 1960)
Noah Constantine Sweve*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 2, December 2025
Pages:
56-66
Received:
28 April 2025
Accepted:
25 June 2025
Published:
16 July 2025
Abstract: Labour migration is an integral part of Tanzania’s history. This theme has been widely studied by various scholars in Tanzania. However, most of these studies have not focused mainly on the Nyakyusa despite the fact that this ethnic group, which is found mainly in the Mbeya Region, was largely involved in colonial labour migration. This study, therefore, has made an attempt to show that Nyakyusa labour migration began during the colonial period, where the subsistence economy of the Nyakyusa had become weakened due to the effects of the First World War. This caused the Nyakyusa not feed themselves sufficiently as they had done many years before. In the second decade of the twentieth century, the Nyakyusa began internal labour migration in colonial Tanganyika. For example, they moved to work in the gold fields of Chunya District. By 1930s, the Nyakyusa became used to external labour migration, too. They moved to work in the mines out of colonial Tanganyika. They worked in the copper and gold mines in Zambia and South Africa, respectively. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the causes and impacts of Nyakyusa labour migration during the colonial period. Evidence for this study came from various sources, namely, archival sources accessed at the Tanzania National Archives and oral recollections gathered from various informants in Rungwe District. The study also benefited from newspapers accessed at the East Africana Section of the University of Dar es Salaam Library, where they are intensively and extensively archived. Archival sources and oral accounts were supplemented by secondary sources, particularly books and journal articles. The study has demonstrated that the Nyakyusa labour migration was not caused by a single factor, but by multifaceted factors ranging from economic to social factors. The study has, in the final analysis, indicated that colonial labour migration had both positive and negative impacts on the livelihoods of the Nyakyusa communities.
Abstract: Labour migration is an integral part of Tanzania’s history. This theme has been widely studied by various scholars in Tanzania. However, most of these studies have not focused mainly on the Nyakyusa despite the fact that this ethnic group, which is found mainly in the Mbeya Region, was largely involved in colonial labour migration. This study, ther...
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Research Article
The Humanitarian Activity of American "Near East Relief" Organisation Among Western Armenian Refugees in 1915-1922
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 2, December 2025
Pages:
67-73
Received:
31 January 2025
Accepted:
14 July 2025
Published:
5 August 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.history.20251302.12
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Abstract: At the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of Western Armenians were subjected to genocidal policies carried out by the Ottoman Empire. These policies resulted in significant human losses and widespread deportations. Thousands of Western Armenians, particularly women and children, lost their families and support networks, leaving them orphaned and displaced. The Armenian diaspora required a coordinated programme of humanitarian and social assistance, which began to be implemented not only by Armenian charitable organisations and individual benefactors, but also with the involvement of various international institutions and missionary groups. In this context, the 'Near East Relief' organisation played a particularly significant role through its large-scale, systematic activities, making substantial contributions to the social protection, education and healthcare of displaced populations. The Near East Relief organisation's legacy significantly impacted the socio-economic development of the region, improving local economies and promoting educational advancement. Its programmes aimed to provide humanitarian aid and ensure long-term social stability in the area. During its fifteen years of operation, the organisation demonstrated a high level of humanitarianism and responsibility, contributing to the region's comprehensive development. Over its fifteen years of activity, Near East Relief grew into a major organisation that invested more than $116 million in saving Armenian refugees and 132,000 orphans. This powerful humanitarian institution spared no effort or resources during and after the Armenian Genocide, providing refugees with food, clothing and shelter. Combined with the humanitarian support of the American government and people, the efforts and resources of Near East Relief made it possible to save hundreds of thousands of Armenians and other people in need in the Near East from imminent destruction. Near East Relief's advocacy and practical measures made a significant contribution to protecting and supporting tens of thousands of refugees and orphans resulting from the Armenian Genocide, further strengthening the organisation's importance in the region. The study combines historical-comparative and analytical methods to achieve the goals and objectives set by the authors.
Abstract: At the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of Western Armenians were subjected to genocidal policies carried out by the Ottoman Empire. These policies resulted in significant human losses and widespread deportations. Thousands of Western Armenians, particularly women and children, lost their families and support networks, leaving them orpha...
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